A-Level Media Studies Research
As you know, independent reading and research is a vital part of success at this level. You are lucky doing Media Studies: there are a lot of fascinating and relevant sites out there, so you can conduct a large part of that research via the Internet. Do remember to CHECK INFORMATION. Anyone can launch a website and not everyone is as responsible about accuracy as they should be.
Do check names/dates/facts with alternative sources, and remember that opinions are opinions and may be completely unfounded.
Beware!!!! There is a lot of misinformation out there. Try to check everything you read, and, remember, if you use information from a website QUOTE YOUR SOURCE as part of your bibliography.
If you want to cite this (or any other website) remember to include the full URL of the page you are referencing (ie not just "http://www.mediaknowall.com" but "http://www.mediaknowall.com/alevel.html" for this page, the site author and dates of publication (ie for this site, Karina Wilson 2000-7).
Remember that adequate research involves using information from the Internet AND the available textbooks. At A2 especially you will need to research topics in great depth - books are absolutely the best for this! Websites offer a great overview and introduction, but if you really want to understand a topic, hit the library.
A lot of schools and colleges are developing their own Media Studies websites which you can find online, and don't forget Cultsock for notes, ideas and information. The search function on this site (see panel below) is invaluable - there are many hidden nuggets of information - even I can't remember where everything is any more :)
A Word About Plagiarism
It seems very tempting to cut and paste - don't! It's vital that you put your thinking and explanations into your own words, especially when it comes to coursework. Many teachers and examiners now use services such as TurnItIn.com which instantly references your work against, well, the entire internet. Even more simply, your teacher can Google a phrase from your essay and find all other instances of its occurence online - you are immediately busted. DON'T DO IT.
Syllabi
