Sociology

The study of sociology aims to provide students with an understanding of the social world in which we live. We examine how society is organised and the key factors influencing individuals and groups within that society. Key questions will include:

Who benefits from our current organisation of society?
Who is disadvantaged as a result?
How do we interact within our society?
How do class, gender and ethnicity influence our place and role in society?

GCSE

Subject:

Sociology

Contact Teacher(s):

Miss Jeffers

Lessons per Week:

2 per week

Examination Board:

AQA

Specification no.:

AQA 8192

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/sociology/gcse/sociology-8192/introduction

Qualification:

GCSE

Course Content

Paper 1 (50%): The sociology of families and education

1 hour 45 minutes

The sociology of families
The sociology of education
Relevant areas of social theory and methodology

Paper 2 (50%): The sociology of crime and deviance and social stratification

1 hour 45 minutes

The sociology of crime and deviance
The sociology of social stratification
Relevant areas of social theory and methodology

Student Grouping

Mixed Ability

Monitoring Process

Pupils will have one written homework per week
All pupils have to find and bring to the lesson one news article per week for discussion

Coursework Titles

Textbook/Materials/Visits

· AQA GCSE 9-1 Sociology Student Book, Wilson, Kidd and Addison (Collins)

· AQA GCSE 9-1 Sociology Student Book, Owens and Woodfield (Hodder)

· AQA GCSE Sociology Revision Book (Collins)

· Newspapers, BBC news app & website

Possible jobs, careers and courses

GCSE Sociology helps students to gain knowledge and understanding of key social structures, processes and issues. Students will develop their analytical, assimilation and communication skills by comparing and contrasting perspectives on a variety of social issues, constructing reasoned arguments, making substantiated judgements and drawing reasoned conclusions.

By studying sociology, students will develop transferable skills including how to:

investigate facts and make deductions
develop opinions and new ideas on social issues
analyse and better understand the social world

Those who continue with sociology to a higher level often gravitate towards careers helping others. This includes the police force, social workers, probation officers and charities. Sociology graduates also are found working in the legal sector, journalism and human resources

A-Level Sociology (AQA)

Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods

Examination: 2 hours (33.3%)

the role and functions of the education system
differential educational achievement of social groups
relationships and processes within schools
the significance of educational policies, including policies of selection, marketisation and privatisation

Paper 2: Topics in Sociology

Examination: 2 hrs (33.3%)

Research Methods

quantitative and qualitative methods of research
sources of data
the distinction between primary and secondary data
the relationship between positivism and interpretivism
sociological methods; the nature of ‘social facts’
theoretical, practical and ethical considerations

Families and Households

the relationship of the family to the social structure,
social change and state policies
changing patterns of marriage, cohabitation, separation, divorce, childbearing and the life course
gender roles, domestic labour and power relationships within the family in contemporary society
the nature of childhood, and changes in the status of children in the family and society
demographic trends in the United Kingdom since 1900

Beliefs in Society

ideology, science and religion,
the relationship between social change and social stability
religious organisations, including cults, sects, denominations, churches and New Age movements
the relationship between different social groups and religious/spiritual organisations and movements
the significance of religion and religiosity in the contemporary world, including the nature and extent of secularisation

Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods

Examination: 2 hrs (33.3%)

Crime and Deviance

crime, deviance, social order and social control
the social distribution of crime and deviance
globalisation and crime in contemporary society
crime control, surveillance, prevention and punishment

Theory and Methods

quantitative and qualitative methods of research
sources of data
the relationship between positivism, interpretivism and sociological methods
the theoretical, practical and ethical considerations influencing choice of topic, choice of method(s) and the conduct of research
consensus, conflict, structural and social action theories
the concepts of modernity and post-modernity in relation to sociological theory
the nature of science and the extent to which Sociology can be regarded as scientific
the relationship between theory and methods
debates about subjectivity, objectivity and value freedom
the relationship between Sociology and social policy