Having read a number of your essays, it is clear that the more comprehensive the notes taken, the better the essay - invariably, those taking fewer notes, struggle when it comes to the right level of detail in the essay. Relying on memory is not good enough (it is inevitable that you will get shot distances muddled up, or leave them out altogether) and it is essential that you take your notes in the right way, if you are to gain a decent grade for this section of the exam.
The most important thing to consider when it comes to note taking is that YOU understand them clearly - it doesn't matter whether the examiner can make sense of them. They are there to help you write a detailed analysis of the clip and as long as they help you, it doesn't really matter what form they are in. You must, however, make sure that the notes you take are detailed enough for you to write the essay!
Students often struggle with the note taking for a number of reasons. They find it difficult to watch the screen and write at the same time and complain that the room is too dark to see their notes clearly. The clip moves too quickly, meaning that they miss out important sections of the extract. They forget some of the terms or try to write detailed sentences instead of notes (which is obviously time-consuming).
Don't panic if the above seems all too familiar - it is not unusual for students new to timed textual analysis to struggle when taking the notes. The most obvious thing to say is that practice makes perfect. it will get easier the more times you attempt note taking. If you like, instead of writing the whole essay for the clips i've posted on the blog, just practice making notes - watch the clip as you would in the exam, take the notes and email them to me at alexmorphey@btinternet.com. I'll mark them and give you some tips about how to improve them.
Think about the following before you attempt any more note taking:
- Make sure that you have learnt all of the terms - you will really struggle to take notes if you are spending time trying to remember the difference between a long shot and a medium close up, or a cut and a wipe!
- You could split your page into separate sections - one each for camerawork, editing, sound and mise-en-scene. Write down any points related to each area under the relevant heading. Be aware, though, that this only really works if you intend to write the essay in separate paragraphs for camerawork, editing, sound and mise-en-scene. This isn't the most sophisticated way to do it BUT if it helps you, then it's fine - don't worry, you can still get a top grade doing it this way. My only real concern is that you could end up talking about the same bit of the clip four times at separate points in your essay (once each for camerawork, editing, sound and mise-en-scene).
- Many students, however, prefer to take the notes chronologically - as they realise that meaning is more often created by a combination of all of the elements of film language, rather than one in isolation. If you are going to do it this way, just be aware that it is inevitable that you will miss key bits of the scene whilst you are writing. Just leave appropriate gaps in your notes and fill in the gaps during the next screening. Split your page into four vertically, with a heading in each section for camerawork, mise-en-scene, sound and editing - DO IT IN THIS ORDER!
- During the first screening, write down the camera shots (vertically, in the order they appear) - use abbreviations rather than the full term in your notes, as this will save you time (for example, use CU for close up, ELS for extreme long shot, HA for high angle, 2S for two shot, B-E-V for bird's-eye-view - some terms already have obvious abbreviations, for the others, come up with your own, but make sure that they are ones that you will instantly remember!). If you want, during your note taking you can write down the reasons why these shots are used BUT just remember that this will be time-consuming. If you have learnt all the terms, you should also have learnt why they are most commonly used and the effects that they generally create for the audience. YOU DON'T NEED TO WRITE THIS IN YOUR NOTES - ADD THESE BITS DURING THE ESSAY!
- During the break between the second and third screening, try to jot down some notes about mise-en-scene, in the second vertical section on your page. Obviously, some of this will be from memory BUT it is important that you use the breaks between screenings productively - you must use the time to write, rather than staring out of the window! Whilst you might need to add to the mise-en-scene section during the third screening, you will already have noticed certain elements of mise-en-scene such as setting, costume, props and figure behaviour. Jot down what you can - even if it is just a key phrase to jog your memory for the next screening.
- During the third screening, fill in the gaps regarding mise-en-scene. Make the notes in the gaps next to the camera shots that you have identified. During this screening, flesh out the points you have made about mise-en-scene BUT also begin making any notes (at the relevant points) about sound and editing.
- During the break between the third and fourth screening, look over the notes you have made so far and begin thinking in more detail about the use of sound (particularly non-diegetic music) and editing (particularly any noticeable changes in pace). Again, you must use this time to write as much as you can - if you like, this would be a good time to jot down ideas about what certain aspects of film language suggest about the area of representation.
- During the fourth and final screening of the extract you must work quickly to fill in any gaps regarding camerawork and mise-en-scene BUT what is most important is that you make some notes about sound and editing. Four, strong points on each of these areas will more than likely be enough (don't forget that you will be constantly referencing editing in your essay by using "...the director cuts to..." as linking sentences between the shots you analyse).
- In the final break, before you begin writing the essay, try and scribble down anything that you think you may have missed, and begin linking the comments that you have made on each area of film language.
- During the note taking you can make notes on the area of representation BUT I would advise against this, as you don't want to waste time! Save these comments until your essay - remember, that you will be analysing the way that the use of certain aspects of film language creates meaning, before describing specifically what happens in the clip. This should take up the first two-thirds of your paragraph - in the last third of each paragraph, you should discuss what is being suggested about the area of representation.
Note taking is tough BUT it is important that you get it right. You need as much practice as possible. Try different ways of note taking until you find one that suits you best. Practice by looking at the clips on the blog, simply making notes - not writing the essays. You can write the essays when you have mastered the note taking!
No comments:
Post a Comment