2.2 Response to Visual Text 2017 EXAM FEEDBACK 2.2 Response to Visual Text

General Feedback ‘Analyse how’ means talk about techniques – you MUST use specific film terminology throughout your essay (E.g. camera shot should be specific ‘two-shot’, ‘wide shot’ etc. Without film techniques you can not achieve at Merit or Excellence. Answer the whole question – write the question out at the top of the paper, underline the key words of the question BEFORE you start writing your essay. Unpack the question – there are often several aspects you need to cover PLAN – at this level your essay will not survive without a plan (take at least 10 min) Never retell the plot – no question EVER requires this (a brief summary in the intro can be helpful – no more than this is required). Introduce each new character with a brief phrase or adjective E.g.: “Anthony, Philomena’s son”

Remember: There is no credit in repeating the material from a practice question and twisting it to a different topic. Pre-learned essays often focused on one key word of the topic and did not address the whole topic Do make use of what you know (from your notes and practice essays) but link it to your new topic with new keywords and a new essay structure The best answers show an appreciation of the effect of techniques in combination, working together Your examples must be specific and use plenty in each paragraph. Remember to give background context so the picture is clear for the marker who doesn’t know your text.

Also …. At the end of each body paragraph your comment must link to the question and develop your argument. You can also comment throughout as you analyse your examples. For Excellence, a sense of argument and logical flow of ideas is needed An idea/theme is not a single word. ‘Forgiveness’ is not enough; explain the idea to prove you know what you are talking about - ‘the power of forgiveness’ is much better

Questions 1 – Analyse how the text manipulated the audience to think a certain way about a key issue or issues. Many students did a good job of this question. Need to be specifically state what the key issue was, and what the audience was manipulated to think about it. Linking to director’s purpose here was needed to be convincing. The best answers had clear analysis around the techniques used to influence the audience’s emotions. E.g. Dialogue (the how) was used to encourage the audience to feel angry with the nuns at Roscrea. ‘The pain is her penance’. Answers that did well developed the roll on effect from this manipulation eg. This also manipulated the audience to feel sympathy with Philomena and see her as a positive person as she does not exhibit the same anger.

Question 2: Analyse how techniques were used to be compelling at the beginning of a visual or oral text. Some good answers structured body paragraphs according to language features Some confusion around the term ‘compelling’ (interesting, leaving the viewer wanting to know more) Answers needed to develop the ‘how’ and ‘why’ it was compelling more. ‘Beginning’ refers to the opening sequence of the film only.

Question 3: Analyse how a text integrated both the setting and the characters for a purpose in a visual or oral text. The best answers talked about how setting and character worked together in each main body paragraph. Some students failed to understand that ‘integrated’ meant ‘worked in combination’ ‘A purpose’ could be interpreted as linking to ‘director’s purpose’ but also other ‘purposes’ around character development, relationships, issues etc.. were fine to talk about too. ‘Setting’ includes the physical, social and historic place of a text A clear link between the aspect of setting and the character was needed, E.g. The severe atmosphere Roscrea Abbey helped us understand Philomena’s sense of shame…

Question 4: Analyse how structure was used to build the creator’s purpose in a visual or oral text. A good question though not many students chose to answer this. Structural Techniques could include flashbacks, links between beginning and ending, motifs, editing, foreshadowing, contrast. ‘Creator’s purpose’ is another way of saying ‘Director’s purpose’

Question 5: Analyse how the method of narration developed a main character in a visual or oral text. Not a popular choice although this is potentially a good topic. This was referring to narrative point of view, use of flashbacks (with-in that point of view)

Question 6: Analyse how visual/verbal features were used to develop a captivating first impression of a character in a visual or oral text. ‘First impression’ is really implying in the first few scenes of the film. It was not appropriate to talk about the middle or end of the film in this question. Need to explain how the visual/verbal features made you have that first impression. Discussing film techniques in combination to create an effect worked well. Good essay structures included: structuring paragraphs in relation to the sequence of the opening OR a technique per paragraph OR an impression per paragraph. Have to explain how the impression is captivating (engaging, demonstrated an interesting idea, foreshadowed future events).

Questions 7: Analyse how the visual/verbal features conveyed the creator’s intention for the visual or oral text. A very popular choice – a good question to choose, as it is asking you directly for director’s purpose. Lots of scope to write about almost anything you studied (it’s about THEMES). ‘Creator’s intention’ meant ‘Director’s purpose’ Good essay structures included: a technique per paragraph OR an idea per paragraph showing an aspect of the creator’s intention.

Questions 8: Analyse how the visual/verbal features achieved a clear sense of resolution during the final scene. Another popular question Good answers clearly explained the issues (linked to creator’s intention) and developed how these were resolved in the final scene. Talking about something being resolved, but not explaining clearly what the issue was could not be convincing. Many students needed to included more context of background issues. Explain how film techniques were effective in developing the resolution of issues.