An English Media Assignment

Film Review by ………………..

Blade Runner

Look at the advertisement for the film below. Who are the central characters and who are they played by?

Which other characters in the film caught your eye? Why?

What type or genre of film is Blade Runner? You can look at the information below which was taken from the DVD.

Who directed the film? This person has made some changes to the original film that was shown in the cinemas in 1982. What do you think the director has done to it?

The film was based on a...

Read the following extract from the review of the film ‘Titus’ from the Independent newspaper (http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/dont-put-your-slaughter-on-the-stage-697339.html).

Consider the views expressed here and makes notes on the critical opinions explored, in preparation for a class discussion on whether the aspects mentioned make Titus Andronicus worthy of academic study. In addition, having read this review, try to develop your own viewpoint on the play and be prepared to defend it.

In 1995, Antony...

Read the sample introduction below and think about how it has used the style model from Empire magazine.

Top 3 Classic Movies chosen: Citizen Kane, Singin’ in the Rain, The Godfather

From the revolutionary use of the camera in Citizen Kane to the utterly convincing mise-en-scène of The Godfather, via the meticulously choreographed song-and-dance routines in Singin’ in the Rain, Hollywood has produced some classic film gems that will stand the test of time. Each classic example of the genre – biopic, musical, gangster – contains more...

Talk explaining your reasons for choosing your Top 3/5 Films

You are preparing a talk which will be presented to the class – so you have to make sure that your language and tone are suitable for a Year 10 audience. Your talk will explain to the audience the reasons why you chose your Top 3 or 5 films, give a range of interesting information about each one and describe the film using a range of details.

You should prepare A set of Notes/Cue Cards rather than a script, as your talk needs to be as natural as possible and having a script will...

1) I am pleased at the first drafts: you have clearly attempted to capture the tone of an Empire magazine article.

2) I am, however, concerned at the amount of copying and pasting (or copying and pasting and “changing a few words”) that appears to have taken place. This is not acceptable. You must credit your sources (see below) and put quotations from websites in quotation marks (see below). If you have used a website in any way at all, you must credit it (see below). You risk failing your GCSEs in all subjects if you plagiarise.

3) You...

Empire Film Review

This teaching guide for students of medium to high-ability is designed as a self-contained unit which can be used to produce the AQA A GCSE English Media coursework. As this piece is assessed for writing (rather than reading), your students’ ability to craft their writing for their audience and purpose is key to this unit.

Let us remind ourselves of the assessment objectives for En3 (Writing):

English

Candidates are required to demonstrate their ability to:
(i) communicate clearly and imaginatively, using and adapting...

How to Write in an Abrasive Tongue

Fun activity. Lots of laughing and learning here. First off, read through Jeremy Clarkson’s offering on the French manufacturing industry.

See if you can fill in the blanks with something (in)appropriate.

Easing into a Clarksonesque Register…

‘While the French like a good-looking woman in the Elysée Palace, they plainly have trouble with aesthetics in other departments.

Take the oyster as an example. I have no idea who first cracked one open, peered at the …….. inside and thought: “Mmm. I’m...

Watch the video and analyse the lyrics. What does this song say about our culture in Britain today?

Why is the songwriter angry?

Roots by Show of Hands

Now it’s been 25 years or more
I’ve roamed this land from shore to shore
From Tyne to Teign, or Severn to Thames
From moor to vale, from peak to fen

Played in cafes, pubs and bars
I’ve stood in the street with my own guitar
But I’d be richer than all the rest
If I had a pound for each request

For ‘Duelling Banjos’, ‘American Pie’
It’s enough to make you cry
‘Rule Britannia’, or ‘Swing...

Think of an established TV magazine…whether it is Top Gear, Blue Peter or Grand Designs. These popular niche programmes have a ready-made template or formula that their fans recognise.

Once a template has been established, it is necessary to feed in new ideas to feed the creation to keep the programme attractive to viewers.

Media companies are therefore keen to have novel ideas to feed into their schedule.

Many ideas come from in-house production teams. Fortunately, many ideas come unsolicited from outside, whether from ardent fans or...

Being Persuaded…

Advertising Name:

Survey magazines for products and services aimed at teenagers.

An example of a product is:

An example of a service is:

Adverts aimed at teenagers fit into several categories.

First task is to identify them.

Advertisers use a variety of tricks or tactics to get at their audience.

They can cajole, tempt, entice, flatter, worry, disturb, attract, intrigue, move, persuade and appeal to their teenage audience.

They can use celebrity endorsement, special offers, sex appeal, authority figures and discomfort...

Language in Action

Daily Mail makes up with Poles

Stephen Brook
The Guardian, Tuesday August 5, 2008

The Daily Mail has reached a peace deal with Britain’s Polish community over its coverage following negotiations brokered by the Press Complaints Commission.

The Federation of Poles in Great Britain lodged a formal complaint with the PCC that the newspaper had defamed Poles working in Britain, accusing the Daily Mail of printing articles that gave rise to “negative emotions and tensions between the new EU immigrants and local communities”....[ read full article ] »

An English Media Assignment

A scaffold to help students write about a TV show.

Copies of the DVD are available from Channel 4. I would particularly recommend Episode One from Series Two for study.

If the kids don’t laugh reviewing this show then you may hit me with a stick!

Name:

This is a sitcom. The two words that make up this type of show are…

The show takes place in…

The humour comes from…

The credits for the show are based on…

Here is Moss. He is…

Here is Jen. She is…

Here is Roy. He is…

The best thing about...

An English Media Assignment

This guide tells students and teachers what to look for in analysing Daphne du Maurier’s short story The Birds and then reviewing Hitchcock’s film version.

The guide allows you to study each work separately or combine the two pieces together into an English Media Studies assignment.

Answer the questions on computer so you can rejig your comments into an essay by removing the question numbers and cutting and pasting the comments in different places.

The Short Story

The story is taken from a collection now...

An English Media Assignment

Why do you think American TV viewers were so appalled when they first saw ‘Malcolm in The Middle’ ?

Malcolm In The Middle is an award-winning sitcom on television. Although the series has now come to an end, lots of people now think it is brilliant and the show has millions of fans around the world. They enjoy endless repeats of the show.

This has not always been the case, though. When the pilot was first screened in the USA, lots of people were appalled and angry. They failed to see the show’s funny side.

The Language of Persuasion

What approaches do advertisers take to grab our attention?

Look at some magazine advertisements and note the technique they employ. Tick off the following categories from the list when you spot it being used.

The same ad may use a combination of these approaches.

• Humour
• Economics
• Sex appeal
• Celebrity endorsement
• Science
• Time limits
• Machismo
• Popularity
• Insecurity
• Luxury
• I laugh or smile when I see this
• I think I could save money
• I find this person attractive
• I would like to be like this person
• I think this product...

What are the basics of writing a review?

• Have a clear argument
• Introduce the plot
• Contextualise the film - how does it relate to other films around it?
• Contextualise the actors - how does this fit within their career and star image?
• Make specific reference to sections of the film
• Use the language of opinion giving
• Make specific reference to target audience
• Bring your argument to a conclusion, summarising what you believe the film’s good and bad qualities to be

What else do I need to do for an A in an EN3 Writing Assignment?

1. Shaped and...