MEST3 mock exam - Learner Response

1) Type up your feedback in full (you do not need to write mark/grade if you do not wish to).

• Need more theory on news
• Need to mention citizen journalism, UGC, and didn't mention #BlackLivesMatter
• Lack of focus on question topic

2) Read through the mark scheme. Pay particular attention to page 9 that has suggested content for each of the questions in Section A. How many of these potential points did you make? Did you successfully answer the questions?
Q1 - Identification developed via montage celebrating universality of marriage, use of text on screen to provide a very contemporary scene, viewpoint of photographer
Q2 - Identification with celebrity

3) Now look at page 15 of the mark scheme. How many of the broad areas suggested by AQA did you cover in your Section B essay? Did you successfully answer the question?

• Exemplification via case study

4) Read the Examiner's Report in full. For each question, would you classify your response as one of the stronger answers or one of the weaker answers the Chief Examiner discusses? Why? What could you do differently next time? Write a reflection for EACH question in the paper.
Q1 - for question one, I need to develop my theories and discuss the editing more in terms of : the use of sound, both diegetic and non-diegetic, and how this impacted upon an
audience’s response to the products and the use of editing, particularly to generate pace in order to create audience appeal. I did mention how the use of montage is used to celebrate the universality of marriage.
Q2 - I discuessed briefly the identification with celebrity. I needed to include response to lifestyle activities and celebration of choices, creation of personal spectacle, increased opportunity for members of the public to control their own representations and the procs and cons of social networks.
Q3 - Next time I should discuss a positive audience response being key to advertising/marketing revenue for producers, the illusion of empowerment offered by new media technologies and platforms and direct audience feedback and how producers used these to their own ends. 
Q6 - This answer was poor and I could of gone into detail about agenda setting via consumption/production and globalisation and media manipulation.

5) Choose your weakest question in Section A and re-write an answer in full based on the suggested content from the Examiner's Report. This answer needs to be comprehensive and meet the criteria for Level 4 of the mark scheme. This will be somewhere between 3-6 well-developed paragraphs (depending on the number of marks).
Question 1:
Contrast the techniques used by each product to communicate its message.
The first product was an ad for the Nexus 5 smartphone used as a montage of different types of weddings which successfully helps to communicate it's message. Identification is developed via montage celebrating universality of marriage. Also, the use of sound, both diegetic and non-diegetic, is used in order to encourage the audience to respond to the products. The use of graphics of the screen is vital in physically demonstrating how the product is used, this can help the audience to familiarize with the features more. It's also shot from the viewpoint of photographer, this helps to take the audience on the journey through the celebrations. 

Secondly, the second clip helps to communicate it's message through the use of dierct mode of address to the audience. In particular, the direct address of the “who are you?” questioning is done through a range of questions provided onto the text-on-screen. the use of text on screen is to provide a very contemporary scene. The use of editing, particularly to generate pace in order to create audience appeal and make the audience really question their identity. This links to Blumler and Katz 'Uses and Gratifications' theory as the media text is helping the audience to go in depth to explore more about their personal identity and interests. This is useful in appealing to a range of audiences through use of different nationalities / ages etc. The clip is useful is addressing representational issues, particularly those that show attitudes of acceptance and community.

Furthermore, the first clip uses fast-pace editing and has a catchy soundtrack. The second clip is used to make the audience really think. One text creates the desire to own a product, while the other encourages self-realisation. Both successfully communicate their message, with the first clip it's more to do with the way the product is used in happy memorable celebrations and the second one encourages the audience to truly think about their identity in society through the variety of questions and display of a wide variety of different types of people.