LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

First Quarter, Week 7

Name of Learner: _____________________________ Date: ________________________

Section: _____________________________________Grade Level___________________

Use of Codes, Convention and Language of Media

Background Information for Learners

In our previous discussion we learned about the information source and the different types of
source of information. On the said discussion we found out that the Internet is the most
popular source of information. And most of our learners which define as 21st century
leaners did not use a library.
Media and information language have a different class or types and it classified in the
different features like codes and convention. Media codes and conventions are like the
building blocks of all the media around us. Media languages are codes, convention, formats,
symbols, and narrative structures that indicate the meaning of media messages to the
audience.
Code are the systems of signs, which create meaning. It is divided into two categories which
are technical and symbolic. Media codes generally have an agreed meaning, or
connotation, to their audience. There are three types of media codes: symbolic codes,
technical codes and written codes.
Symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface of what we see. Symbolic codes are
social in nature. What this means is that these codes live outside the media product
themselves, but would be understood in similar ways in the ‘real life’ of the audience. For
instance, if you saw somebody receive a red rose in a film, you would assume there is a
romantic relationship between the two characters. If you gave somebody a red rose in real
life, you might be hoping the same. Symbolic codes in media include setting, mise en
scene, acting and colour.
Example of this is a character action show you how the character is feeling.
(Symbolisms in Films: 2010 You Tube Channel: Chris Constantine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhijmmePlU8)
Setting is the time and place of the narrative. When discussing setting, you can describe the
setting of the whole story or just a specific scene. A setting can be as big as the outback or
space, or as small as a specific room. Setting can even be a created atmosphere or frame of
mind.
Mise en scene is a French term that means ‘everything within the frame’. In media
terms it has become to mean the description of all the objects within a frame of the media
product and how they have been arranged. An analysis of mise en scene includes:
• Set Design, Costume, Props, Staging and Composition
 Acting actors portray characters in media products and contribute to character
development, creating tension or advancing the narrative. The actor portrays a
character through:
• Facial expression, Body Language, Vocal qualities, Movement, Body contact
Colour has highly cultural and strong connotations. When studying the use of colour
in a media product the different aspects to be looking at are:
• Dominant colour, Contrasting foils, Colour symbolism
Technical codes are all the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text.
camera work, editing, audio, lighting. Example of this is like the camera work in film.
(2014, You Tube Channel: King Film School September 14, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD63b6Z-Tr0). Technical codes are codes that are
specific to a media form and do not live outside of them. For instance, our understanding of
different camera shots and their connotations make sense when we look and films and
photographs, but mean nothing to us outside of those forms. Technical codes in media
include Camerawork, Editing, Audio and Lighting.
Camerawork refers to how the camera is operated, positioned and moved for specific
effects. Aspects of camerawork include: Positioning, Movement, Framing, Exposure, Lens
choice
Editing is the process of choosing, manipulating and arranging images and sound.
Editing is generally done for four different reasons: Graphic edits, Rhythmic edits, Spacial
edits, Temporal edits.
Audio is the expressive or naturalistic use of sound. Audio can be diegetic or
non-diegetic. The three aspects of audio are: dialogue, sound effects, music.
Lighting is the manipulation of natural or artificial light to selectively highlight
specific elements of the scene. Elements of lighting include: Quality, Direction, Source,
Colour
Written Codes use of language and textual layout like headlines, caption, speech bubbles,
language style. Written codes are the formal written language used in a media product. Just
like technical and symbolic codes, written codes can be used to advance a narrative,
communicate information about a character or issues and themes in the media product.
Written codes include printed language which is text you can see within the frame and how
it is presented, and also spoken language, which includes dialogue and song lyrics.
Conventions are generally accepted ways of doing something it also the expected ways in
which codes are organized in a product. Conventions are closely connected to the audience
expectations of a media product. Different types of conventions include form conventions,
story conventions and genre conventions.
Form conventions are the certain ways we expect types of media’s codes to be
arranged. For instance, an audience expects to have a title of the film at the beginning, and
then credits at the end. Newspapers will have a masthead, the most important news on the
front page and sports news on the back page.
Story conventions are common narrative structures and understandings that are
common in story telling media products. Examples of story conventions include: Narrative
structures, Cause and effect, Character construction, Point of View
Genre conventions point to the common use of tropes, characters, settings or themes
in a particular type of medium. Genre conventions are closely linked with audience
expectations. Genre conventions can be formal or thematic.
 LEARNING COMPETENCY
Present an issue in varied ways to disseminate information using the codes, convention, and
language of media.

ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 1
Direction: Read and analyze the questions carefully, encircle the letter of the correct
answer.
1. A. narrative structures that indicate the meaning of media messages to the audience.
a. Media languages b. Code c. Index d. Convention
2. Are the systems of signs which create meaning?
a. Media languages b. Code c. Index d. Convention
3. Code shows what is beneath the surface of what we see.
a. Media languages b. Technical Code c. Written Code d. Symbolic
Code
4. Language and textual layout like headlines, caption, speech bubbles, language style.
a. Media languages b. Technical Code c. Written Code d. Symbolic Code
5. Codes that are specific to a media form and do not live outside of them.
a. Media languages b. Technical Code c. Written Code d. Symbolic Code
6. It express or naturalistic use of sound.
a. Audio b. Acting c. Colour d. Lighting
7. Which of the following is not example of technical codes?
a. Audio b. Acting c. Editing d. Lighting
8. Which of the following must be the character of an actor?
a. Beautiful b. Approachable c. Facial expression d. Happy
9. It refers to how the camera is operated, positioned and moved for specific effects.
a. Story Convention b. Cameraworks c. Editing d. Acting
10. French word means “everything within the frame”.
a. Obladi oblada b. Hacuna Matata c. Porque d. Mise en scene

ACTIVITY 2
Direction: Enumeration: Write what is being ASKED.

A. Give the Four character of an actor that need to portray in a media.

1.
2.
3.
4.
B. List the four-equipment used to tell the story in a media text.
1.
2.
3
4.
C. Give the Two types of written language?
1.
2.
D. What are the three types of Convention?
1.
 2.
3.
E. Give the Two types of media language?
1.
2.

ACTIVITY 3
Answer the following questions

• On a blank sheet of paper, think of a company name and illustrate or draw its OWN
symbol/sign/icon. Make sure it is not copied from the internet. And you will write a simple
explanation about that sign/symbol/icon.
REFLECTION
What do you think will happen if the media was not able to give messages to their audience
properly? Cite some examples.
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References for Learners

Robert Young; September 29, 2017 https://media.codes/media-codes-and-conventions-c03423c06aa8
MIL facebook: December 01, 2000
https://www.slideshare.net/arnielping/mil-media-and-information-languages-genre-codes-and-conventions
Mark Jhon Oxillo, IT Instructor at ACES Polytechnic College
https://www.slideshare.net/markjhonoxillo/media-and-information-languages

Prepared by: CHRISTINA E. NAMOC

Name of Writer

Noted by: LABERNE A. LADIGNON, JR

Division ICT Coordinator OIC-EPS