How do I gain the marks for my textual analysis essay?

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Task: 

  1. Read through the mark scheme below to understand what the examiners are looking for when they mark textual analysis essays from Section A of the exam.
  2. Look at your own Hotel Babylon analysis. What level do you think you are working at and how do you think you could improve your essay further? 
  3. Read the tips below before setting your own EBI target and then improving your own work.
  4. Re-post your improved work by the DEADLINE: Friday 7th October

Some tips to improve. These should help you set an EBI for your own essay.

  • Start your answer with an overview of how ethnicity is constructed in the extract.
  • Avoid long introductions about what you are going to answer, or any background contexts about TV drama as you have limited time in an exam. You must get straight on to answering the question.
  • Move from description of key technical areas to analysis of how representations are constructed as your go through your answer.
  • Remember to write about all of the four areas of textual analysis with the same level of detail.
  • Moving chronologically through the extract will help to structure your response. 
  • Provide key examples of technical aspects to back up your ideas and discussion.

A successful answer would include....

Consider the representational differences between the white authority of the police and the ethnicity and status of the illegal migrant workers, The status of the various ethnicities is key to how representation is constructed here. 
How is the audience positioned in relation to the immigration officials and the immigrants? Look at the construction of the lead immigration official as antagonist because this is key to how the extract positions the audience to be sympathetic to the plight of the immigrants. There appears to be an apparent contradiction of an antagonist acting within the law. What do you understand about the way the extract challenged typical representations of illegal immigrants in the media? How is this constructed through technical elements of editing the narrative together? How is sound used to influence the audience's empathy with certain characters?
When commenting on camera work, consider how framing and composition are used to reinforce representation, for example, the framing of all the characters together in hiding and later through panning in the canteen creating a sense of community. Look at the use of the focus pull, for example, when Ibrahim was arrested to reflect his sudden awareness of danger and how this adds to the dramatic tension of the narrative.
Mise en scene is used substantially in this extract to contribute to representation. The contrast of the luxury hotel with the cramped storage room in which the immigrants were hiding is evidence of this. Contrasts in costume of suits and uniforms reinforces the status disparity, alongside the use of lighting (high key, artificial and low key) to establish contrasts from the reality of the working part of the hotel and the luxurious pretense of the front lobby. Looking at how power and status is defined by ethnic relations would improve your answer further. Reflect on the cleaner who used to be a doctor and explore the nuances of ethnicity and status through the use of the character of Jackie as a supervisor and carer of the immigrant workers. Comment on the characters of ethnic minority that held some status within the scene, for example the well dressed black male employee Ben and in the final scene the wealthy African couple with the female in traditional dress at the reception.

Mark Scheme


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