A WORD OF ADVICE

1. Stick to the model outlined on the previous page and you will give yourself every chance to do well. Deviate from framework and approach developed by your teachers and you are putting yourself at serious risk of under-performance in January.

2. Do not expect it to be easy, it won’t be. This will be the hardest unit you will do for Media Studies. This is NOT a taught unit. We will advise and guide you, but we can't force you to do the research if you're not interested.

3. This unit is in the syllabus in order to test you in ways that the other units don’t. You are being tested on your ability to independently sustain and nurture a research study over a period of several months, as well as your ability to tackle and apply a range of theoretical concepts. How you do that will determine what you have to write about in the exam. The examiners will be looking to differentiate between you. Not all of you will consolidate your A grades in August – it may be possible but unlikely. You should be very realistic about your chance of an A grade on this unit – this is very different to what has gone before in Media.

4. Some of you may work really hard, do everything right and still not achieve the highest grades – this is either because academically you may struggle to understand and explore the theory needed to achieve the highest level or because you find it difficult to meet the criteria expected on the mark scheme. However if you are following the correct approach and working closely with your teachers, you are giving yourself the best chance to achive the score you need.

BUT: If you struggle with the theory/ academic side, and your approach is a mess as well, you will fail.