January assessment: Learner response

Feedback
37- B

WWW: Really impressive...this is top level (just!) with the potential to go even higher. Excellent use of quotes  & theories. 

EBI: Lack of an ending! Timing is a factor to consider. You could argue a little more positively (although I like the cynicism!) e.g citizen journalism as empowering & democratic. 

2) Read through the mark scheme (go to the last two pages of the document - Section B New/digital media). Of the six different statements for each level (e.g. A sophisticated and comprehensive essay, showing very good critical autonomy.) write which level you think YOU are currently working at for each one. Explain WHY and, for any that are not Level 4, what you are going to do to improve in that area. 

L3- A good essay, showing good critical autonomy- I need to include more arguments that support the statement with reference to relevant examples.
L3- Proficient understanding of new and digital media- Include more key terminology e.g hyper-reality, UGC etc
L4- A sharp focus on the question throughout
L3- Good application of range of media debates, issues and theories and wider contexts- I need to apply more theories/ wider contexts- e.g "feminism" in para that talked about the #metoo campaign. Also use recent events as examples e.g 2017 elections- young people engaging with politics on social media (Twitter).
L3- A clear individual case study, with a range of examples- I could have included more exmaples from my case study e.g Clay Shirky- news as a "social good" and paywalls. 
L3- Well structured and clearly expressed- I need to link each paragraph back to the statement and use the wording in the question. Also provide both sides of the argument, whilst coming to a clear conclusion 

3) Look at the Examiners' Report for this particular paper. Read page 10 - Section B New/digital media. How many of the good points or higher level answer examples did you include in your essay? What were they? What could you have added to improve your mark?
I included some of the points made in the Examiner's Report e.g the power and control of media organisations, the role of the audience and producers. However I could have improved my essay by talking about the digital divide in the UK and globally and linking it to wider contexts, issues and debates. 

4) Read through these exemplar A grade essays from previous Media graduates. What do these essays offer that yours does not? Identify THREE things you can take from these essays to improve your own responses in future.

• I need to include at least 3-4 quotes in each paragraph- embedding these quotes into my response will help me explain the different arguments better.
• I also need to link my arguments to wider contexts and recent events, whilst mentioning the changing media landscape and how that has affected the way we use social media.
• I need to include more key terminology e.g globalisation, gatekeepers, westernised culture etc

5) Write ONE new paragraph for your January assessment essay. Ideally, this should be a section you did not cover in your original essay. This paragraph needs to be comprehensive and meet the criteria for Level 4 of the mark scheme. Minimum 300 words.

From a pluralist perspective you could argue that the internet is in fact a “democratic space” and that “we are all free to participate equally” as our interaction with the news on popular social media sites such as Twitter, allow us to share our thoughts and opinions on current events. A recent example of this would be the controversial accusation that Aziz Anzari, an American comedian, sexually harassed a woman, while they were on a date. In the midst of the #MeToo, campaign it seems as if everyone supports the victims of such sexual misconduct, and believes that it is truly unacceptable for women to be treated this way. However after the accusations about Anzari’s “misconduct” were published online, it appears that some audiences often go against views that the woman in question, is the victim. Responses on Twitter read that the woman should have just told Anzari that she was uncomfortable or that she should have just walked away, whilst others claimed that Anzari’s actions were completely unacceptable. This debate on a global platform like twitter allow us to see that audiences often disagree with each other on certain topics and that it changes the way society sees movements like the #MeToo campaign. Therefore you could argue that the internet is indeed “democratic” and that “we are all free to participate equally” as we can comment on stories or current events that are not often portrayed in the news. However, inevitably, you could argue that major institutions still control and construct news stories in a specific way to spark controversy, as news organisations often publish information online that may make audiences think differently about a certain story. In terms of the Aziz Anzari story, texts and statements from the woman were published online, which eventually led to people taking Anzari’s side as they proved that the woman could have prevented what had happened. 

(...ANOTHER PARA BASED ON STUFF FROM LESSON)