MEST 4 NOTES

Those of you who have contacted me regarding the last post please read the following and we will discuss this further on Monday.

I understand the frustrations with this but believe me the agony of adapting and changing this now is better than trying to rework it later.

The advice I have had back from our coursework adviser is positive but it does involve significant tweaks and development for all of you.


Here are the notes from the CHIEF EXAMINER.


The major issue is that of not simply repeating the ground covered for MEST 3 - and also asking 'why'. But the areas they are looking into seem fine - the crux of the problem is creating a question or problematic that will permit them to tackle all Key Concepts, wider contexts and also be synoptic!
I also attach the MEST 4 Checklist to help when discussing the revisions which I suspect need making


Hafsa and Alana


Too much like an extension of a MEST3 case study - if they can be tweaked to deal with audiences and             institutions rather than so deliberately Representation then it could work. (focus needs to be on central and secondary texts)


Marwa

Presenter? Or narrator?  Could be a little too Media Language orientated but as long as it is synoptic etc. (see checklist) could work - Michael Moore/John Pilger et al? (we can look at examples and you can research - key thing will be identifying central and secondary texts)

Rasha and Safa

There needs to be a why? question at the heart of your investigations and you are advised like Alana and Hafsa to try and refocus onto audiences and institutions instead of representations. 

Crystal

This is a little too much like an extension of a MEST3 case study - but there is a topic area about the variety of ways that Film Companies now promote their product to attract different audiences. I can help with some inside track information and lots of cross media (print based) research materials.

Edel

Needs to be synoptic - see Checklist 

Manisha

Main text? as above avoid simple representation study and look at other areas of MIGRAIN.

Here is the checklist.

MEST 4 Checklist

Research Essay:

Does it allow candidates to explore the 5 key Concepts?

Does it negotiate an issue and/or debate?

Is it contemporary?

Is there a list of text(s)?

Does it go beyond MEST 3 topic areas?

Is it synoptic?

Does it answer the question ‘why’ rather than ‘how’?

Does it encourage independent research and  critical autonomy?

Is it truly individual?

Does it avoid the cliché – (women in the media etc)

Would it end up just being a list of facts?

Practical Production:

What are the links between the essay and the practical?

Will the practical exemplify issues raised in the essay?

Does it go beyond the MEST 2 artefacts?

Is it independent of the MEST 2 artefact?

Have we even been given info about the practical?

Is it substantial enough for an A2 exercise?

Does it seem to be more than just an ‘add-on’?

So lots to think about and debate on Monday. This isn't meant to be easy, it is meant to challenge and examine your skills as independent, autonomous thinkers and my job is to guide, question, cajole and occasionally bully you to be better, work harder and think deeper.

Come prepared to question on Monday and ensure that you have your MAIN TEXT and all the research you have done so far available.