Preliminary Exercise: Learner Response

1) Type up your teacher's feedback in full.

WWW: You have displayed some great understanding of design and print publishing with your preliminary task. In particular your choice of cover image is incredibly vivid and strong, placing a good amount of focus on the subject whilst allowing enough of the setting to be visible to appreciate the visuals of it. The same can be said for your inner page with the layout of your photos being clear and specific, directing my focus to the rightmost image whilst still leaving the rest visible. Your choice of the classic large first letter works with the rest of the letter and the quality of the writing itself is great.

Next Steps: Consider the colour choices on the front cover as some of your cover lines fade into the setting given how active of a setting it is. The second cover line in particular unfortunately aligns the black writing with the darker parts of the mountain, making it less clear. Perhaps consider a drop-shadow, an outline, or a translucent box behind this writing to add clarity. I’d also like you to consider the voice of the journalist in your written section. Whilst the quotes help to push the narrative of the novel that is being sold, you are allowed to express opinions and a voice as the journalist revealing this story, pushing the narrative that the magazine wants to tell.

2) Using a combination of your own reflection on the preliminary exercise and the feedback you were given, write two WWW bullet points (What Went Well) and two Next Step bullet points for your preliminary exercise. 

WWW:

• Choice and layout of photos
• Quality of writing

Next Steps:

• Consider colour choice in order to make text clear
• Express opinions in order to push the narrative of the magazine

3) What have you learned from the preliminary exercise that will help you in the actual coursework project? List three things you have learned or will do differently as a result of this exercise. You may want to comment on organisation, actors, filming, editing or something else entirely but be specific.

• Be more expressive and opinionated with writing to imitate how magazines attempt to create enticing narratives for their audiences.
• Make text as clear as possible through drop shadow, colour choice, outline, etc.
• Spend more time on editing to see if anything can be made clearer, laid out better, etc.

Paper 1 Baseline Assessment LR

1) Type up your feedback:

a) 36/42 (Grade: 7) 

b) Targets for longer written questions:

• Q2: Consider how contrast is used for emphasis, analyse technical codes                                        
• Q3: Consider what these narrative features imply about the 'Galaxy' brand                                     
• Q4: Consider design (colour, layout, typography), and link comments back to how they alter the  perception of Tatler                                                                                                  

2) Look at the mark scheme for this assessment. For Question 2 (12 mark unseen) use the indicative content in the mark scheme to identify three points that you could have referred to in your answer.

• Athletic body connotes that the subject is in condition and well prepared for the ‘battle’.
• The brand name ‘Under armour’ has connotations of battle and war being connected to sport.
• Darkness has connotations of dangers to be faced and makes it more dramatic.

> Also: Contrast between darkness and brightness of logos connotes Under Armour is something to look forward to through technical code of lighting.

3) For Question 3 (Galaxy - narrative features) use the mark scheme to write down the main narrative theories and how we can link them to the Galaxy advert CSP. 

• The clear function of the narrative: to persuade people of the superior quality and sophistication of the Galaxy product.
• The use of locations in the narrative suggests a version of reality for the audience: Italian Riviera has connotations of romance, upper class and the old Hollywood era is evoked, suggesting the luxurious nature of the chocolate and reinforcing the ‘silk, not cotton’ message.
• Message of the narrative: Galaxy is a more sophisticated, classier product than other chocolate bars and, as such, needs time and relaxation for it to be enjoyed properly. The audience can also experience this luxury and a happier time (nostalgia) if they buy the product.

> Focus on effects of described comments.

4) Now look at Question 4 - Tatler and social/cultural contexts. Use the mark scheme to identify three points you could have made in your answer here.

• Serif font for title connotes formality, high class and how well established the magazine is (Britain’s oldest magazine).
• Use of green colour scheme (fresh and new) with white text (style, class, sophistication).
• Cover image reflects British culture’s interest in stately homes and high society events with Weymouth dressed in a ballgown in the gardens of her Longleat house.

> Analyse effects on perception of Tatler

5) On Section B, focus on Question 7 - film industry and Black Widow. Use the mark scheme to identify three ways Black Widow was marketed to its audience.

• Marketing Black Widow was a challenge due to the Covid pandemic and it therefore did not make as much money at the box office as other Marvel films despite this marketing and promotion.
• Section of the Marvel website with gallery, story synopsis, character posters and opportunities to buy or stream the movie.

6) Finally, write down three things you are going to work on before your next mock exam in December (e.g. time management; revising CSPs etc.)

• Revise exam technique and common question structures to ensure each question is answered properly (e.g. an 'analyse' question not only means describe but also explain)
• Time management: ensure an apt amount of time is spent on each question by doing past papers in timed conditions
• Revise CSPs consistently over half-term

Accountability Check: Coursework Checklist

Item	Progress
Statement of Intent (Max. 300 Words)
Front Cover
Title for the Magazine w/ Original Masthead Design
Selling Line
Cover Price
Dateline
Main Original Cover Image
Min. Four Cover Lines
Double Page Spread
Headline
Standfirst
Subheadings
Original Article (350-400 Words) that Links to Headline
Main Original Image (Different to Cover Image)
Min. Three Smaller Original Images

Real Statement of Intent

The title for my magazine will be 'Focus,' and it will be a left-leaning gossip magazine that discusses social issues and current events. The cover lines will mention popular celebrities and their predicaments to target a working-class demographic. For the masthead, I will use a serif font to make the magazine appear more informed, and for the cover lines, I will use a sans serif font to make the magazine more approachable for a working-class audience. The colour scheme will be mostly red and yellow due to their connotations of passion and danger, which will dramatise the stories mentioned.

The celebrity in the cover image will be a British Filipino man (BAME), and the image will use direct address to communicate them as powerful, and therefore highlight the Southeast Asian demographic as having power in British society. This will attract a Southeast Asian audience through a sense of personal identity (Blumler and Katz) from the celebrity influencer, and also 'the reformer' (Young and Rubicam) as they are socially aware and tolerant. By featuring a Filipino celebrity, the magazine will bring light to the lack of Southeast Asian representation in Britain when it comes to being in public, influential positions.

This celebrity will also be featured in the double page spread in multiple low-angle images to empower them, alongside their book. The article will reference the celebrity's book about how people can break free from online, toxic influences that cause them to be socially intolerant and spread hate, further targeting 'the reformer.' It will be written in a conversational tone to target a younger, C2DE demographic through its aspect of approachable information/education (Blumler and Katz).