The Hurt Locker Task

Lesson 1 (Tuesday 15th March)

Watch the clip in the post below.
Make notes for all the questions.
Use the terminology where appropriate.

Homework:

Answer the questions.
Use the terminology where appropriate.

DEADLINE: You need to complete this by Tuesday 22nd March. Post it on your blog or email your work in as a Word document.



The Exam Questions

Q 1. Explain two ways the characters and/ or events fit the action adventure genre.

Use examples from the extract. [10 marks]

Layout as follows:
Explanation 1...
Explanation 2...

Q2. Explain how each of the following is used to create effects:
soundtrack
editing
mise en scene
camerawork
Use examples from the extract. [30 marks]

Q 3. Discuss the ways in which people are represented in the extract.

Refer to stereotypes in your answer.
Use examples from the extract. [20 marks]

Marking Q2

To gain the marks you need to:

• Write about all of the four areas of your textual analysis
• Use examples from the clip as evidence - more than one for each area of the film analysis
• Use terminology from the glossary of moving-image
• Explore the director's intention
• Explore the effect on the audience
• Check your spelling, punctuation and grammar
• Make sure your answer reads well and makes sense

Task: Complete your analysis answer. Make sure you read the feedback in your books and use it to improve your answer. Upload your final improved answer onto your blog as your example of a question 2 answer.

Read the example full mark answer below and compare it with your answer. Are there any elements of the answer that you could incorporate into your final answer on your blog.

Complete this for homework DEADLINE = 9am Tuesday 15th March

Example answer (based on a different film) which gained full marks.

Soundtrack
The soundtrack is notably used to create effects for the audience which fit the genre. For example, the introduction of Nic Angel is combined with a majestic soundtrack which emulates the hero’s power and status. This is regularly used in the genre to emphasize the power of the protagonist to the audience. The soundtrack also crescendoes, which aims to create tension which will be subverted by the inevitable convergence of characters. Western sounds are also used to create the effect of hybridizing comedy with action as the audience recognizes the cliché. In addition, it also serves to imply there is an upcoming fight scene where the characters will ‘draw’ weapons, reminiscent of Western films. The soundtrack also abruptly stops to mimic the surprise of the audience at Butterman helping Nic Angel.
Editing
Editing is also utilized in different manners to create effects which help to heighten the action. For example, editing is very slow-paced at first to create a tense atmosphere which again hints at an upcoming convergence.
The editing then speeds up, and cross-cutting is used frequently to help to bring together the characters in an imminent fight-scene, and the fast editing builds-up to the action, heightening tension. The cross cuts then start to match the soundtrack to emphasize tension, and the cut pace is momentarily slowed down when Nic delivers the line ‘Morning’ before speeding up again. During the fight shot-reverse-shot editing is used to show the conflicting emotions of antagonist and protagonists, and discontinuous editing is used to mimic the chaos of the situation.
Mise-en-scène
Mise-en-scène is predominantly utilised at the start of the extract, with Nic on a horse to make him higher-up, to the effect of conveying his power and presence. In addition, Nic features a distinctive costume, to further isolate him from the antagonists and make him stand-out to the audience.
The conventional set-design of English suburbia creates the effect of comedy when the tranquility is displaced for action, as it is unexpected to the audience.
The props also mainly consist of weapons, providing a catalyst for action, which also creates comedy by satinsing the genre through having excessive amounts of weapons. Lighting is natural simply to create the effect of realism in the town. 
Camerawork

Camera devices are extensively used to connote ideals and create effects. For example, a high-angle shot is used on the school children to show their obedience and Nic’s power over them. In addition, many mid-shots and close-up shots are utilised before the action to portray the characters’ fear. An establishing shot is also utilised near the start to depict the quiet suburbia, which is then displaced when the action begins. During the conflict, a handheld camera is employed when the glass window breaks to mimic the chaos and disorientation the fighting creates. In addition a focus pull is used to bring the armed old lady into focus, and similarly the camera zooms in to the sidekick near the start, both the establish the character importance. 

GCSE Media: Exam Paper June 2012 (Hurt Locker)

Here is an example exam paper which outlines the different questions we have been looking at in class. this will give you an overview of the exam layout.




GCSE Media: Exam Paper June 2012 (Hurt Locker): OCR Exam Paper (2012 HURT LOCKER) Unit b322 01 Textual Analysis and Media Studies Topic Moving Image

Textual Analysis Action Adventure Q2

Q2. Explain how each of the following is used to create effects:

• soundtrack
• editing
• mise en scene
• camerawork

Use examples from the extract. [20 marks]

Edge of Tomorrow

Edge of Tomorrow Film Analysis

Action Adventure Task

Edge of Tomorrow Representation Task

Preferred, Oppositional and Negotiated Readings

When analysing representation it is important to consider not only HOW a character is represented but also HOW the audience react.

In media we refer to films, TV, music, computer games etc as TEXTS. Just like in English, we 'read' these texts and we decide what we think. The creators of TEXTS set out to create a 'preferred' reading; a preferred reading is the one the director wants us to take. However audiences may take an 'oppositional' reading; an oppositional reading is - as you would think - when the audience take the opposite view, we reject the ideas of the director. Finally, and perhaps most commonly, audiences can make a negotiated' reading; a negotiated reading is one where the audience knows what the director wants us to think, knows why that might be an untruthful representation, but forms an opinion which is a combination of both.

I still don't get it!

Think of McDonalds. Think of a Big Mac.

The preferred reading McDonalds would like you to make is that Big Macs are delicious and that you'd like to eat one right now because they have fresh lettuce, gherkins, sauce, cheese, two beef patties etc.

The oppositional reading is that Big Macs are unhealthy, they will make you fat, lead to health issues in later life and never look like the advert.

The negotiated  reading allows us to know that Big Macs may be unhealthy, that they might not always be as attractive as the image BUT that if we eat them in moderation then we wont get fat and we can enjoy them.

When analysing representation in any TEXT, try and consider alternative readings, this will help you access the higher bands when discussing HOW characters are re-presented to an audience.

TV Comedy Exam Questions

Answer both the questions below. You have the whole lesson.

4. (a) Compare how and why two programmes were scheduled on different channels.

State the day, time and channel of each programme.
Who commissioned the programmes?
Who produced them?
What audience are they aimed at? Why?
Why are they on at that time and on that channel? Link to 'type' of comedy and target audience.
Are they on after the watershed? Why?
Know the audience demographic
You must know:
day
time
channel
for both programmes (Friday Night Dinner and Bad Education).

4. (b) Discuss in detail how one programme offers audience pleasures. Give examples from the programme. [15 marks]

The pleasures are:
narrative pleasures such as those of narrative resolution,
character identification, snowballing narrative, suspense, comedy, and so on
pleasures of recognition, familiarity and anticipation
pleasures of difference-within-repetition
performance unpredictability and spontaneity
transgressive pleasures
specific pleasures associated with performers or personalities.
Remember to include clear examples from the TV comedy you decide to write about.

Audience Demographic Categories

Writing an examination answer

4. (b) Discuss in detail how one programme offers audience pleasures. Give examples from the
programme. [15]
This 4b question is about Audience Pleasures and what inspires audiences to watch TV Comedy. You need to focus on Bad Education. Remember this is also about textual analysis, so you must include examples. The examiners say this question is often rushed so make sure you have left enough time to answer it fully.


Here is an example answer from the exam board.

Extract from Candidate Script 1: Marks awarded and rationale: 10 marks
‘Benidorm’ is a sitcom which is a comedy which is set in the same location with the same characters. This allows the audience to build a relationship with each of the characters as they get to know them, plus the audience is also included in the storyline as they they get to see each episode unfold.
‘Benidorm’ offers us audience gratification because of the various stereotypes presented in the programme. One stereotype presented is the ‘chav’ stereotype, in which we see this in the Garvey family. This can be seen as they are a white British family on holiday in Spain with their own set of normal and values. We can also see the ‘chav’ stereotype come through in them due to the fact that their teenage daughter is pregnant, which is also another stereotype shown in the programme which is teenage pregnancies. This can be pleasurable to the audience as it enables the audience to
feel superior towards to the family allowing the audience to look down upon the characters.
Another stereotype presented is the “snob” stereotype in which we see two of the characters. We see this by the way they both look down upon the other characters, and how they make crude remarks about the IQ of the Garvey family. This can be seen in one episode in which Mrs Garvey was speaking to one of the snobby characters and the snobby character spoke to Mrs Garvey in a very patronising way, making Mrs Garvey look rather stupid. This offers the audience
gratification because of humorous it is to see certain characters being ridiculed. Plus, in some sense it establishes a relationship the snobby characters and the audience due to the audience being able to relate with the characters with them agreeing with.

COMMENTARY

This is a good example of an answer that fails to earn the textual analysis marks for the question as it fails to give detailed exemplification.

This answer shows understanding of audience pleasures by citing various pleasures, such as ‘building a relationship with the characters’, feeling superior to stereotyped characters, and humour. However, the answer suffers from the common fault of lacking detailed examples. This limits its mark to level 3 at best.

There is a reference to the nature of the family, but the section on stereotypes solely refers to characters and does not give examples of narrative events that express their characterisation. This reliance on characters is very typical of answers in this band. There is one more promising reference to one episode that featured a snobby incident, but this is too vague to count as detailed.

Institution: Television Broadcasters

Key terms to support your answer to the 4a scheduling question.

Watershed 9pm is the normal watershed time when television content is not suitable for younger viewers. Programmes shown post watershed may contain inappropriate language or sexual references.

Public Service Broadcasting

Audience Pleasures

Watch the episode and then do the following:

• Make brief notes on all the audience pleasures.
• Answer the question.

Swap with a partner and peer mark. have you included 3 points? have you included 3 examples from the episode? Have you explained how the audience derive pleasure (have you linked the two earlier points?)

4. (b) Discuss in detail how one programme offers audience pleasures. Give examples from the programme. [15 marks]

The pleasures are:

• narrative pleasures such as those of narrative resolution, 
• character identification, snowballing narrative, suspense, comedy, and so on
• pleasures of recognition, familiarity and anticipation
• pleasures of difference-within-repetition
• performance unpredictability and spontaneity
• transgressive pleasures
• specific pleasures associated with performers or personalities.

Audience Pleasures

4. (b) Discuss in detail how one programme (Bad Education) offers audience pleasures. Give examples from the programme. [15 marks]

The pleasures are:

• narrative pleasures such as those of narrative resolution, 
• character identification, snowballing narrative, suspense, comedy, and so on
• pleasures of recognition, familiarity and anticipation
• pleasures of difference-within-repetition
• performance unpredictability and spontaneity
• transgressive pleasures
• specific pleasures associated with performers or personalities

Remember to include clear examples from episode one.

What do these terms mean?

Narrative pleasures refer to the audience enjoying how the storyline is constructed. In situation comedy, the plot starts and ends in exactly the same place (narrative resolution). What happens in between is usually a snowballing narrative of one problem added onto another problem, This is usually caused by the stupid decisions of the character and the audience laugh as they make each poor choice.

Character identification is how the audience knows the characters well and can predict how they will behave. Audiences feel they can relate the the characters and they become well loved because of these predictable character traits. How does Mr Wickers appeal to the target audience? He is seen as the worse teacher ever but he is surrounded by some of the weirdest teachers who by comparison make him seem far better than any alternative. His intentions are good and the audience identify with him, even though he is immature and makes such cringe-worthy decisions.

Pleasure of recognition means audiences enjoy the anticipation of what a character will say next. Certain characters have catchphrases or typical behaviours that the audience expect to see. This makes them predictable and adds to them being well-loved by audiences who feel like they know the character well. The action happens in the same setting, which the audience are familiar with.

Pleasures of difference-within-repetition means that the audience can easily recognise this as a situation comedy but the show plays with the repetition of the same narrative structure. Each episode sees the characters facing alternative plots and comedy through the script but the same sort of events happen.


Transgressive pleasures are the comedy elements which go beyond the boundaries and into offensive or rude topics. They are based on taboo and are designed to offend the audience into laughing because they feel uncomfortable.

Performers or personalities appeal to certain target audiences. Jack Whitehall is well known as a comedian and actor. He has an established fan base who would have watched Bad Education on the back of his previous success with Fresh Meat. Simon Bird is well-known for his role as Will McKenzie in the Inbetweeners and would attract a similar audience to Friday Night Dinner. 

Research for Scheduling Question (4a)

4. (a) Compare how and why two programmes were scheduled on different channels.


State the day, time and channel of each programme.

• Who commissioned the programmes?
• Who produced them?
• What audience are they aimed at? Why?
• Why are they on at that time and on that channel? Link to 'type' of comedy and target audience. 
• Are they on after the watershed? Why?
• Know the audience demographic

You must know:

1. day 
2. time
3. channel
4. for both programmes (Friday Night Dinner and Bad Education).

Use the links below to support you to complete the tasks. Post your work onto your own blog by the end of the lesson today.

Friday Night Dinner

Bad Education

Extension work:
Research original scheduling (time of broadcast) for both programmes and any subsequent scheduling that may be different.
Account for the reasons why the programmes were broadcast on their particular days. If this changed from series to series comment on this too.

Television Comedy Research Task

Here is a good example of the research task.
Media: Sitcoms from alwebley1707: Sitcoms from alwebley1707

Television Comedy

How many different examples of television comedy can you list?  You may find there are a variety of comedy shows that appear on the schedule of British television stations. There are many celebrity panel shows, situation comedies,  and comedy stand-up shows.

Task: Do some research into these programmes, initially focusing on the situation comedies.

1. What is the title of the situation comedy? Make a list and find a marketing image for each programme.
2. What channel is the programme broadcast on? Terrestrial channels include the BBC channels, ITV, Channel 4 and Five. Satellite channels include Sky, Dave etc.
3. What time is the programme scheduled to appear and has this changed as the show has become more popular? How long has the series run for?
4. Who is the target audience for the show?
5. Why do you think people watch television comedy?

Example Exam Answers: Q1

1. Explain two ways in which the narrative (characters and events) in the extract fits the action
adventure genre. Use examples from the extract. (10)

This question is the Action Adventure Genre question where you have to show that you understand the conventions of the genre. You need to identify the genre conventions and then use the clip as examples in your answer.This is the easier question and you must attempt it.

Extract from Candidate Script 1: This answer gained 8/10 marks.

The narrative in the extract fits the action adventure genre in various ways. There is a battle between the good and evil which is conventional of the genre, the protagonist (Nic) is shown as confident and able to fight because it’s almost like a one-man army. He is up against more ‘villains’ which makes him outnumbered as they have more weapons too, which again is conventional of action adventure, because it emphasizes his victory (or defeat) in the end.

Another way the extract fits the genre of action adventure is making Nic, the protagonist, independent and confident. The fact that the protagonist is chewing gum in the close-up at the beginning ‘shows’ his confident attitude as if he wasn’t expecting a difficult battle but has come prepared with weapons/objects and team.

COMMENTARY

The candidate doesn’t use the term ‘hero’, and the statement that ‘there is a protagonist’ does not count, in itself, as a generic convention. However, the heroic quality is clearly implied in the candidate’s description of the protagonist as ‘confident’ and like a ‘one man army’ so this answer does just enough to establish the heroic protagonist as a convention.

So the answer clearly states two conventions: a battle between good and evil and the outnumbered hero. The answer has already reached at least level three in the mark scheme by the end of the first page.

The fact the answer then uses some key terms – ‘conventional’ and ‘protagonist’ – raises the answer into level four, but there isn’t a confident, well-exemplified statement of conventions needed for the top of the band.

Example Exam Answers: Textual Analysis Q2

Question 2: Textual Analysis Answer.
This question is about film analysis and requires you to use media terminology to show how the director intends to share ideas with the viewer. You need to use the key words and find examples and show how they affect the audience.

Here is an example answer from a candidate. It gained full marks in the exam. 20/20

Soundtrack

The soundtrack is notably used to create effects for the audience which fit the genre. For example, the introduction of Nic Angel is combined with a majestic soundtrack which emulates the hero’s power and status. This is regularly used in the genre to emphasize the power of the protagonist to the audience. The soundtrack also crescendoes, which aims to create tension which will be subverted by the inevitable convergence of characters. Western sounds are also used to create the effect of hybridizing comedy with action as the audience recognizes the cliché. In addition, it also serves

to imply there is an upcoming fight scene where the characters will ‘draw’ weapons, reminiscent of Western films. The soundtrack also abruptly stops to mimic the surprise of the audience at Butterman helping Nic Angel.

Editing

Editing is also utilized in different manners to create effects which help to heighten the action. For example, editing is very slow-paced at first to create a tense atmosphere which again hints at an upcoming convergence. The editing then speeds up, and cross-cutting is used frequently to help to bring together the characters in an imminent fight-scene, and the fast editing builds-up to the action, heightening tension. The cross cuts then start to match the soundtrack to emphasize tension, and the cut pace is momentarily slowed down when Nic delivers the line ‘Morning’ before speeding up again. During the fight shot-reverse-shot editing is used to show the conflicting emotions of antagonist and protagonists, and discontinuous editing is used to mimic the chaos of the situation.

Mise-en-scène

Mise-en-scène is predominantly utilised at the start of the extract, with Nic on a horse to make him higher-up, to the effect of conveying his power and presence. In addition, Nic features a distinctive costume, to further isolate him from the antagonists and make him stand-out to the audience.

The conventional set-design of English suburbia creates the effect of comedy when the tranquility is displaced for action, as it is unexpected to the audience. The props also mainly consist of weapons, providing a catalyst for action, which also creates comedy by satirising the genre through having excessive amounts of weapons. Lighting is natural simply to create the effect of realism in the town.

Camerawork

Camera devices are extensively used to connote ideals and create effects. For example, a high-angle shot is used on the school children to show their obedience and Nic’s power over them. In addition, many mid-shots and close-up shots are utilised before the action to portray the characters’ fear. An establishing shot is also utilised near the start to depict the quiet suburbia, which is then displaced when the action begins. During the conflict, a handheld camera is employed when the glass window breaks to mimic the chaos and disorientation the fighting creates. In addition a focus pull is used to bring the armed old lady into focus, and similarly the camera zooms in to the sidekick near the

start, both the establish the character importance.

COMMENTARY

This is an example of an answer that easily achieves full marks by giving a number of examples that are accurately described and analysed in a sophisticated manner.

Marks awarded and rationale: 20 marks
The section on soundtrack gives four examples – the ‘majestic soundtrack’, how it ‘crescendoes’ (sic), the use of ‘Western’ music, and the rapid stop to the soundtrack – and gives a succinct analysis of the effect of each. Not all of these examples are as specific as one might like, but enough are, and the quality of the connotative analysis makes up for any lack of specificity.
The section on editing again has four well-made examples with analysis.
The section on mise-en-scène contains at least two sophisticated and well-argued examples – the horse and the excessive weaponry – among some more mundane ones.
The section on camerawork again gives two excellent examples of analysis – of the high angle and the hand held camera – plus a couple more.
Two examples plus connotative effect per bullet point establishes an answer in level 4. This reaches the top of band on two counts – the number of examples analysed and the sophistication of the analysis. Some answers would make it to the same mark on just one of those counts.
An answer does not need to be perfect to earn full marks. It just needs to be at the top end of the range of answers produced in exam conditions. This is so that the full range of marks is used, which serves to differentiate between candidates more accurately.

Examples of what to include.

Soundtrack
Reward ‘diagetic’/’diegetic’ as terminology, but the description of sound as diegetic or non-diegetic does not count as an example.
Accept:
• Heroic brass and choral (spaghetti western) music at the start of the extract
• Sound effects emphasising the whip pans
• Sound effect of horse’s hooves over the montage of the townspeople’s reactions
• Suspense music as Angel dismounts
• Sound effect of a bird flying as one is seen in the windscreen
• Exaggerated sound effects of clothes opening to reveal weaponry
• Exaggerated sound effects of echoing gunfire
• Computer game sound as fight starts
• Sound effect of the shop alarm as the kids rush in followed by a woman’s scream
• Sound effect of Angel being hit by a bullet
• Sound effect of collision and a bicycle bell as woman hits Danny’s car door
• Short silence – calm before the storm – as Danny gets out of car
• Sound effect as the thrown gun flies through the air
• 70s buddy cop music as Danny and Angel fight together
• Any other relevant example.

Editing
Only accept answers other than visual editing if there is an explicit link made to the editing process (so soundtrack elements, for
example, should only be rewarded if there is a clear explanation that they are post-production sound effects).
The term ‘jump cut’ should only be rewarded where there is a clear breach of continuity editing.
Accept:
• Use of body wipes (eg Angel on his horse – do accept ‘jump cut’ for this transition, but no other – and on the man looking
through the supermarket window)
• The montage of the townspeople’s reactions to Angel
• The increasing pace of editing of this montage as the tension increases
• The faster pace of editing as the fighting starts
• Use of slow motion (eg when Angel rises from crouching near the fountain)
• Shot-reverse shots during the gun fight
• Any other relevant example.

Mise-en-scène
This media language element can lead to very descriptive answers (eg ‘there is a man on a horse, he is in a town’) so reward
explanation of connotative effects.
Candidates might comment on:
• Angel’s ‘warrior’ costume and white horse
• The unusual location of a sunny English country town decorated with bunting, natural lighting emphasising this
• The kids dressed in identical school uniforms and ‘hoodies’
• The townspeople dressed in traditional clothing – tweed jacket, vicar’s dog collar, duffel jacket.

Camerawork
Accept:
• Slow tracking in to the faces of the townspeople (accept ‘zooming’ for this, but tracking is more accurate)
• High angle (eg of the kids on the wall)
• Low angle (eg of Angel on his horse)
• Over the shoulder shot (eg of Angel on his horse)
• Close up (eg of ‘Zitto Colour’ spray cans)
• Whip pans (eg between walkie talkies, from the shop window to Angel, as the kids enter the shop, the shoot out around the
pillars)
• Handheld camera (eg Angel at the fountain then looking up at the window)
• Focus pulls (eg from CU of end of gun barrel to Angel’s face, from Angel to the woman under the hanging basket)
• Tracking shots (eg of woman on bicycle, as Danny and Angel run down the road)
• Crash/whip zoom (eg to the woman under the hanging basket)
• Any other relevant example.

Q3 Example Exam Answer

3. Discuss the representations in the extract.
Refer to stereotypes in your answer.
Use examples from the extract.
You might consider the representation of:
• age
• gender
• race and nationality
• the English country town
• the police. [20]

Question 3: Representation Answer
This question focuses on Representation and how a character is constructed for the audience. Avoid just describing what the character looks like and consider what group of people the characters are presenting. You need to discuss stereotypes of key social groups in our society to fully gain the marks for Representation.

Extract from Candidate Script 1: This answer gained 20/20
Throughout the extract, characters are portrayed stereotypically and atypically to connote and celebrate different values and ideals. For instance, the representation of age is predominantly unconventional, as it doesn’t follow the stereotype of older people being weaker and calmer. This is shown through the elderly women with a machine gun, who is represented as a powerful, and a threat to Nic. Similarly, most of the adults fighting Nic are fairly old, and so their uncharacteristic representation of using extensive violence perhaps celebrates older people, but also creates humour
as there counter hegemonical role is unexpected. The only main stereotype of age is the hero being fairly young.
Gender is also mainly utilised counter-stereotypically, as the genre stereotype of women is to be weaker and less violent and less powerful than men, however, the female antagonists the same violence and power as the male ones, therefore celebrating and connoting gender equality. The fact that women are equal to men also make the hero’s role harder and so his success even more impressive. Again, the only stereotypical representation of gender lies in the hero – he is male, strong and dominant – which are dominant features.
Race and Nationality are not represented prominently – except for the fact that it is an all-white cast, and this representation is stereotypical to the setting of a rural English town. In addition the hero is English, which therefore is patriotic in celebrating England – the country in which the film was produced. The town is similarly stereotypical as it is quintessentially English – pubs, schools and bunting – and the stereotype of the ‘stiff upper lip’ is represented through the antagonists’ serious emotions and nuances such as the ‘one school child’ sign. Finally, the police are mainly represented counter-stereotypically – although Danny Butterman at first fits the lazy, sluggish stereotype – this is
subverted by the counter stereotype of him and Nic being powerful and successful in the conflict. This is suprising to the audience and hybridizes action with comedy. The sidekick is also stereotypically portrayed through his overweight build, making him more endearing and vulnerable for the audience. Similarly, the hero is stereotypically represented as powerful, male, calm and violent – thus fulfilling the expectations of the target audience.

COMMENTARY
This answer analyses the representation of age, gender, race and nationality, the country town and the Police. Any answer covering such a range of groups effectively will certainly reach level 4 in the mark scheme. This answer, however, uses the concepts of stereotyping and hegemony exceptionally fluently and is clearly aware of the deliberate use of a particular representational strategy
by the text. This means that the answer easily achieves full marks.
An answer does not need to be perfect to earn full marks. It just needs to be at the top end of the range of answers produced in exam conditions. This is so that the full range of marks is used, which serves to differentiate between candidates more accurately.