Soap Opera Research Project

Starting G324 Coursework

Aim: To learn the main conventions found in Soap Operas.

Please do all of this work on computer, save it and we will upload it to

blogs as part of your research for your G324 project for Year 13! If a
task needs to be done individually this has been highlighted this is
important you do this, as you will all need research for your blogs!

For group work Groups should not be any bigger than 4 people!

FOR TASK 1 AND TASK 2 DO NOT DO ANY RESEARCH JUST

NOTE WHAT YOU KNOW!

Task 1: Individual Work: The Basics!

Mind map all you know about soap operas.

Include:
Names of soaps
Character names
Storylines

Task 2: Individual Work: The Specifics!

Mind map specific areas on soap operas:

Include:
Ideas on target audiences for soap operas,
Typical characters found in soap operas,
Typical settings for soap operas
Places found in soap operas (e.g: corner shops, pubs etc)
Include examples from soap operas on at the moment.
Task 3: Group Work: (Groups of 4) Analyse an Episode of a Soap
Opera

Watch an episode of a soap opera (from 2010). Everyone in the group

should aim to watch a different soap.

Examples could include:

Eastenders
Coronation Street
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks
Doctors
Neighbours
Home and Away

Use the Word Document Soap Opera Episode Analysis to complete this
task.

Make notes according to sections on the handout found on the blog do

this on the computer and save it as yournamesoapepisodeanalysis, e.g:
joebloggssoapepisodeanalysis.doc.

Task 4: Group Work: Comparison of Soap Opera Episodes

In your group, compare the key conventions found in each soap opera and
write a list of ALL of the conventions found in all four soap operas you
have analysed. E.g: Similar storylines if so, what? Similar characters if
so who? Similar settings?

Do the list on computer and save the list!

Task 5: Individual Work: Research the History of the Soap Opera

You will research the history of the soap opera.

Include:
Why the soap opera is called a soap opera
What the longest running soap opera is
Key conventions found in British soap operas.
Use the links on the A2 blog to help you, Handouts Miss Peacock has
given you, and use books in the resource centre!
Task 6: Group Work: Collaborating research together

Discuss your findings from Task 5 and highlight the history of the soap
and key conventions found.
Make a list of the key facts and conventions as a group

Task 7: Group Work: Creating a film to show the examiners your

groups initial research on the topic

Plan a film for your blog showing the examiners your research on soap
operas in a fun and exciting way. The film should only be a maximum 3
minutes long and should contain as much of the information (from tasks 1
6) that you have collaborated together as possible!

You could choose to present this in a number of ways:

A factual film for A level students just the facts!
A film that uses masks of well known characters from soaps and explains
the research in an informative manner
Dress up as soap characters and present it in a comical way.

It is your chance to have fun with this DO NOT spend days deliberating
over it/filming it/editing it as it is just a different way to show the
examiners your initial research on the topic!

Film the piece (should be done in school hours)

Edit the piece

Upload the piece to your group blog!

DEADLINE: MONDAY 5TH JULY 2010

(Use your time wisely!)