Approaching the MS2 Report

Learning objectives:
List five key points found from research that helped  to create artefacts as MS2 report is approached.

Approaching the MS2 Report

You will be shown how to approach your written report. This includes structuring using relevant terminology to demonstrate your own understanding.

Between 1200 and 1600 words
Your report should include:
A brief outline of the task.
A discussion of the most significant research findings which informed the pre production.
A brief justification of the target audience for the production.
An evaluation of the production which highlights its strengths and weaknesses through, for example, a comparison with existing media products.

Tips for writing a suitable report

The report must be 1200 - 1600 words and can be submitted in a range of different formats including; an essay or a suitably edited blog. The first part of the report outlines the research findings that informed your preproduction work and the second part of the report evaluates your production work.

The report is worth 40 marks so it is important that you spend some time ensuring what you write will pick up marks.

You must stay within the word limit and you should draft and redraft your report with Mr Ealey so that you achieve this

Use any notes you made when you were completing your preproduction artefact to help you to write the first part of the report.

Set out your aims clearly at the beginning of your report. This will ensure that your teacher and the moderator are clear about what you set out to do.

'My task was to create a storyboard, a DVD cover and two film posters for a gangster film. In order to accomplish this I had to engage in research of the gangster genre and the specific sub-genre of the gangster heist film.

Later in the report you can develop how you achieved your aims.

Briefly discuss the research undertaken and how it informed the pre production.
Include specific examples to back up your findings. For example, include references to specific films and and state what you discovered when you analysed them that informed your pre production.
Avoid statements like; ' I looked at a lot of magazine front covers...'
In other words, be specific and detail your findings.

Your aim is to demonstrate that your research enabled you to discover the key codes and conventions of your chosen genre which you then replicated in your work. If you are stuck then refer to the Media Studies blog and the examples that were set out during class.

Briefly discuss the intended audience for the pre production and production and explain how they have been targeted. Remember to justify your decisions

Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the production through, for example, a comparison with your production and existing media products.
Here you can include visuals, for example screen shots from your production and compare them to shots in a similar, existing text.

You will also need to complete a cover sheet. (See handout) outlining your preproduction and production. You will also need to briefly outline the focus of your report.

• A report thus consists of three elements: the research informing the preproduction; a brief indication of the target audience; and an evaluation of the production.
  
• 􏰀The evaluation part of the report should discuss the production’s strengths and weaknesses through a comparison with existing media products. Candidates who have been working in a group need to base their evaluation on their role – for example camerawork or editing. 
  

Task 1:
List in your orange books under the dated title ' Approaching MS2 report';
five key points found from your research that helped you to create your artefacts.

Exemplar work: