the Structure of an essay in frontline (1 Viewer)

[allstarr69]

Hey everyone!
Im having a bit of trouble knowing what the BEST structure is for an essay. The current essay im practicing is Frontline. In frontline I have two pieces of related material and two episodes of frontline that Im doing.

Should I mention a point, then give examples from one episode, another episode and then related material? Then mention another point and do the same thing etc etc.

Or should i mention one episode, give all the points from it... mention another episode give all the points from that... and then mention the related material giving all the points from them?

In other words, whats the BEST structure for an essayin frontline

 

[allstarr69]

oh yeah another question with frontline... How many episodes to you HAVE to do. Will you lose marks if you choose two? Like do you have to do three?

thanks

 

[einsteinthe2nd]

oh yeah another question with frontline... How many episodes to you HAVE to do. Will you lose marks if you choose two? Like do you have to do three?

thanks

A typical example question would ask The manipulation of truth can be achieved in many ways, describe how composers manipulate the truth in different ways. In your answer refer to your prescribed text and two related texts.

This would imply that you should evaluate at least TWO of the episodes if you are looking for a good response. Dont limit yourself to mentioning only TWO episodes though, as there is nothing stopping you saying

"The representation of truth is manipulated by chequebook journalism in both Add Sex and Stir and Smaller Fish To Fry. Alternatively, the truth is manipulated by selective questioning in The Siege"

As you can see, in this example, your two prescribed texts are Add Sex and Stir, and Smaller Fish to Fry, but you have compared it with another one of the episodes.

As for the structure of your essay, don't focus just on a written essay. You may be asked to write a speech, produce a feature article, you may even be asked to produce a web site. The main thing is, that your response is written to include the stylistic features common to the structure you are asked to produce. This means things like a 'by line' in a feature article, a speech would include common references to the audience throughout and an introduction in the context of the speech.

Generally, you need to find techniques which have been used in different texts including your own and the prescribed, and then to find out how these affect the representation of truth, and what effect they have.

 

[allstarr69]

thanks for the reply... is it crucial that you integrate BETWEEN different episodes of fronline eg like compare the various episodes? Or is it just about integrating your related material with frontline..

Also what should be the percentage amounts you should write about in Frontline and your related material. Should it be half related/ half frontline? etc

Thx

 

[frazzle]

who says you have to do it by episodes? i'm talking about frontline as if it's one text, because it is isn't it? and with episodes, i've got stuff on maybe 2 or 3, but it's not really obvious because i talk abotu frontline, not individual episodes. it sounds weird when i try to squeeze episode names in halfway through a sentence, so is it ok if i just leave them out [episode titles]?

 

[silvermoon]

who says you have to do it by episodes? i'm talking about frontline as if it's one text, because it is isn't it? and with episodes, i've got stuff on maybe 2 or 3, but it's not really obvious because i talk abotu frontline, not individual episodes. it sounds weird when i try to squeeze episode names in halfway through a sentence, so is it ok if i just leave them out [episode titles]?

not really. you aren't doing yourself any favours in leaving out the names of the episodes. you must mention them and give specific examples from within them to show that you have studied your texts well. just think: what sounds better: a vague, generalised response, or an integrated, detailed response with examples from the text to back up your argument? not a hard one to answer.

 

[einsteinthe2nd]

Yeh. definitely refer to specific episodes, even though they are as you say in one way one big text. You need to demonstrate you have a good knowledge of the texts.

 

[silvermoon]

just to clarify what i meant - coz i dont think i explained it all that well! - you need to refer to specific episodes to show how the Frontline team manipulate the truth. dont forget though, you still have to refer to Frontline over all to demonstrate the concepts of truth that Rob Sitch et al are trying to convey. also, dont forget it doesn't have to be just manipulation of truth - the module is representation AND truth, not representation OF truth. so you can also inculde things about the nature of truth, different methods and means of representation without talking about manipulation, though, obviously, this will come into it in a big way.

 

[allstarr69]

ok...
with regards to related material... can you choose related material that is of the same text type as frontline eg another tv series?

and also what is the time wieghtings for the related material vs frontline... should you spend 50 - 50 on each?

 

[silvermoon]

yes, definately balance between your text - the markers are always emphasising that a common mistake is when candidates think that their prescribed text is more important and should be given more time than their found texts. Remember, its with the found text analysis that you can really show your research and skills.

 

[silvermoon]

oh, and no, it doesn't technically matter if your found text is the same text type as your prescribed text - but it would be better if it wasn't. Otherwise, you are restricting the range of techniques etc. you can show that you understand and you'll find that you are repeating yourself a lot. if you choose two texts that are the same text type make sure you don't fall into the trap of lumping them together - eg. We see this in both Frontline and whatever through the use of some technique. You need to show that you can identify different features.

 

[allstarr69]

alrighty that helped alot.. thanks silvermoon!

 

[lukebennett]

i think the best way ios text by text as you can explore the texts in more depth. the other way you refered to with a point and mention each text on that point is good if you are comparing but that doesnt take into account differences well. do text by text and slip in comparison in each paragraph which show you see similarities but just be short with that

eg like in frontline text bla bla bla explores how the media distort the truth. however this text employs realism not satire as a way of exploring this.

basically make brief links between the texts. the best responses do that.
good luck

ps two frontline texts is prefered as markers dont want a lopsided response which focuses too much on frontline.

 

[allstarr69]

yeah... is it marked 50-50 tho? Like if i did an awesome frontline essay with no relted texts would my max mark be 50%?

 

[lukebennett]

yeah it would be.

 

[lukebennett]

maybe not that low but it would be capped off alot. in the trial people who only missed a text were capped at 9/15 in AOS

 

[DaRanjed]

You should mention the episodes' names.

As for me, I'm writing my essay text by text...but I'd keep referring or comparing back to an earlier one.