LO: To understand the structure of the
exam and criteria needed to write a
good answer
 In
the exam you will be shown a short
clip from a British or American TV Drama.
 You will be asked to textually analyse this
clip, which you will see four times.
 You will need to take notes on the area
which is being represented (which will
be outlined in the essay question).
For the exam you will need to understand what
representation means and how each of the
following groups is represented in British
Drama:
1. Class
2. Age
3. Gender
4. Ethnicity
5. Regional Identity
6. Sexuality
7. Physical ability/Disability
 The
question for TV Drama is always framed in
the same way and looks like this:
Discuss the ways in which the extract
constructs the representation of -----using the following:
 Camera
shots, angles, movement and
composition
 Editing
 Sound
 Mise en Scene
You
will have to discuss, in response to
the question, how these technical
elements (e.g. mise en scene, sound,
editing and cinematography) create
specific representations.
In
order to do this you need to think
about individuals, groups, events or
places and how the director has used
these elements to help create specific
messages.
 You will also need to comment on the
values that have social significance within
the clip presented.
 Think
about what ideologies are being created
or reinforced in the clip presented?
 How are they portraying the world and the
different societal groups?
 How is this reinforced through the techniques
used?

You need to comment on the effect of the following:
• Mise en Scene
• Sound
• Editing
• Camera shots, angles, movement, positioning and
composition
 Remember
that when the examiner
marks your essays they give you marks
for the following things:
 Your understanding of how technical
elements create meaning
 How relevant your answer is to the
specific question
Your
use of a wide variety of
frequent examples that are clearly
relevant to your answer
Frequent and accurate use of key
terminology
Your use of accurate grammar,
punctuation and spelling

The following questions will help you analyse any
‘unseen’ extract, or any sequence you
are watching for the first time.
The ‘big picture’ overview: what’s in the
structure and narrative of the sequence as a
whole. These are sometimes called macro
elements:
 – what it’s about and the story it’s telling – the kind
of drama it might come from – the characters and
performances of the cast – the particular
representations of people, groups, events or ideas,
and their potential impact on the viewer.
1.
2. The technical aspects of the production, or
micro elements, which construct
that impact: – the use of different camera
shots and angles – the lighting and colour
tones used in the sequence – the locations,
props and mise-en-scène, and their design –
the soundtrack – the editing of the sequence.
3. Representation: how these micro technical
aspects have been used by the producers of
the text to construct ideas and values around
the portrayal of social groups, places, events,
or debates.
Examining the 'big picture' can be easily mistaken
for writing a summary of what has just happened.
 Please DO NOT fall into this trap!
 You need to focus your response on analysing the
clip from the very first sentence:
 ‘The opening establishing shot of London
indicates the urban nature of the male/female
representation that are constructed in Luther; this is
clearly seen when we see a montage of workers
dressed in work suits emphasising their high status
jobs'

 This
shot/scene/example (etc.)...

Using your notes from the previous
lesson begin writing up your Rome essay.
 Due
next lesson.