To say the following is helpful would be an understatement. Referring to the following list of terms in every response you write from now on will ensure that you evidence knowledge and understanding. If you do not refer to key terminology in every response you make, your answer will be deemed common sense, and you will not achieve your target grade. Why not bookmark this post on your mobile phone right now?
With that, here is a list of every general concept, term and code you could be referring to in your answer. Just remember: it's just a list. You need to add your own detailed examples! Also if there's something here that looks unfamiliar, it's possible we have not covered it yet. Also do not try and cram every concept into an answer. It's not possible, and many concepts are not relevant to certain media. For example, you would not get many marks for trying to talk about diegetic sound if you get a questions asking you to analyse a magazine front cover!
TECHNICAL AND AUDIO CODES
- Camera shots
- Camera angles
- Camera movement
- lighting
- Editing – pace, special effects
- Graphics
- Sound – diegetic and non-diegetic
- Sound effects
- Music
- Dialogue
- Voice overs
VISUAL CODES / IMPACT
- Use of colour
- Iconography
- Gesture
- Expression
- Mise-en-scene
- Use of graphics
- Images
- The gaze
- Lighting
LAYOUT AND DESIGN
- Selection and use of images
- Graphics
- Colour
- Structure of text
- Font styles
LANGUAGE AND MODE OF ADDRESS
- Lexis/language
- Tone
- Use of vocabulary
- Hyperbole
- Use of quotations
- Formal/informal
NARRATIVE CODES
- Narrative strands
- Construction – linear/circular
- Generic conventions
- Enigmas
- Character relevance/purpose
- Action codes
- Filming techniques
- Manipulation of time and space
- Theory - Todorov
CHARACTERS
- Representational issues
- Relevance
- Place in narrative
- Relationships
- Theory - Propp