Sociology for AQA Revision Guide 1: AS and 1st-Year A Level

Ken Browne

• Publisher: Polity
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781509516247
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Sociology
• Index: Social Sciences

The essential revision guide for AS and 1st-year A level Sociology from trusted and best-selling author Ken Browne.

This indispensable book provides everything you need to revise for the exams, with a clear topic-by-topic layout to recap key theories and central ideas.

The revision guide maps perfectly onto Ken Browne's Sociology for AQA Volume 1 with each topic cross-referenced to the main textbook so you can revisit any sections you need to.

The book includes a guide to exam questions – and how to answer them – with sample worked answers showing how to achieve top marks. All specification options are covered, with exam tips throughout the book.

With this revision guide to take you through the exam and Sociology for AQA Volume 1 to develop your sociological imagination, Ken Browne provides the complete resource for success in sociology.

See also Sociology for AQA Revision Guide 2 for the 2nd-year A level coverage, and visit www.politybooks.com/browne for extra resources.

1
PREPARING FOR THE EXAM AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS

Note: This chapter covers the AS level exams only. Details of the A level exam are covered in chapter 1, ‘Preparing for the Exam and Answering Questions’, of Ken Browne’s Sociology for AQA Revision Guide 2 which, together with this book, provides the complete revision guide for both years of A level Sociology.

About the AS level exam

Two exam papers. Each worth 60 marks and each 1 hour 30 minutes. All questions are compulsory – no choice

Paper 1: Education and Methods in Context

Paper 2: Research Methods and Topics in Sociology

Education: 40 marks Two 2-mark questions: Define the term . . . (2 marks) Using one example, briefly explain . . . (2 marks) One 6-mark question: Outline three . . . (6 marks) One 10-mark question: Outline and explain two . . . (10 marks) One 20-mark extended essay, linked to an item: Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate . . . (20 marks) Methods in Context: 20 marks One 20-mark extended essay, linked to an item, on applying a particular research method to a particular educational context/situation: Applying material from Item B and your knowledge of research methods, evaluate the strengths and limitations of using (a research method) to investigate (an issue in education) (20 marks)

Section A Research Methods: 20 marks One 4-mark question: Outline two . . . (4 marks) One 16-mark essay question: Evaluate . . . (the problems, etc.) (16 marks) Section B Topics in Sociology: 40 marks Choose ONE from Culture and Identity; Families and Households; Health; Work, Poverty and Welfare. Two 2-mark questions: Define the term . . . (2 marks) Using one example, briefly explain . . . (2 marks) One 6-mark question: Outline three . . . (reasons/ways etc.) (6 marks) One 10-mark question: Outline and explain two . . . (reasons/ways etc.) (10 marks) One 20-mark extended essay, linked to an item: Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate . . . (20 marks)

What will you be examined on?

At AS Sociology, you are assessed on three main objectives:

AO1: Knowledge and understanding (46% of the marks)

This involves demonstrating what you actually know – your knowledge and understanding of sociological theories, concepts, key terms and evidence, and of the range of research methods and sources of information used by sociologists, and the practical, ethical and theoretical issues arising in sociological research.

AO2: Application (31% of the marks)

This involves applying sociological theories, concepts, evidence and research methods to the issues raised in the exam question. You must show how the material – the sociologists, theories, research methods and examples you use – are relevant (applied) to the question being asked.

AO3: Analysis and evaluation (23% of the marks)

Analysis means being able to explain the issue or point that is being raised in the question, such as being able to recognise sociologically significant information. Evaluation involves making critical points, such as the strengths and weaknesses of sociological theories and evidence, presenting arguments, making judgements and reaching conclusions based on the arguments and evidence for and against a view or statement presented in the question.

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See pages viii–ix in the accompanying textbook to find out more about how to address these three objectives in your exam answers.

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EXAM TIPS:

• ➤ Always focus on the wording of the question and apply what you know to the specific issue being asked about – don’t generalise.
• ➤ Where the question involves an item, you must refer to that item: e.g. ‘As shown by Item A . . .’.

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How to answer 2-mark questions

These questions take two forms:

1. Define . . . You must explain the meaning of a key term or concept.
2. Using one example, briefly explain . . . You must explain the issue asked about, and use a relevant and clearly explained example to illustrate the point.

Example 1

Q. Define the term ‘divorce rate’. (2 marks)

A. The divorce rate refers to the number of people getting divorced [1 mark, partially correct] per 1000 married people in the population each year. [+1 mark for full definition] (2 marks awarded)

Example 2

Q. Using one example, briefly explain why some schools may try to select the pupils who attend their schools. (2 marks)

A. They might want to select their pupils so they can get good exam results for a high position in the school league tables [1 mark for identifying reason], for example by selecting only the brightest and most well-behaved middle class pupils who are most likely to work hard and get good results. [+1 mark for example which explains reason for selection] (2 marks awarded)

How to answer 4- and 6-mark questions

These questions take the form:

Outline two/three . . . (ways/factors/reasons/advantages/differences, etc.).

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Outline means you identify a reason/factor/idea/concept, etc., say what it means, and briefly expand on its relevance to that question, perhaps using an example. Make the two/three points clear to the examiner by using firstly . . ., secondly . . ., etc.

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Example of a top-mark answer

Q. Outline three reasons why girls generally achieve more highly in education than boys.

A. Firstly, girls tend to mature more quickly than boys. [1 mark for identifying maturity] This means they are more likely to recognise the importance of success in exams at school, and so they work harder which results in better results than boys. [+1 mark for explaining link to question – higher achievement of girls] (2 marks awarded)

Secondly, girls’ peer groups are more likely to be pro-school. [1 mark for peer group support] This means girls are encouraged by their female friends to cooperate with teachers and not be disruptive like a lot of boys, and so they are more likely to do better in school work. [+1 mark for explaining link to achievement] (2 marks awarded)

Thirdly, teachers often have higher expectations of girls than boys. [1 mark for teacher expectations] These higher expectations could create a self-fulfilling prophecy, encouraging girls to perform better and therefore they achieve more than boys. [+1 mark for linking self-fulfilling prophecy to higher achievement] (2 marks awarded)

How to answer 10-mark questions

These questions take two forms:

1. Outline and explain two . . . (ways/factors/reasons/advantages/differences, etc.) These appear on both AS and A level papers
2. Applying material from the Item, analyse two . . .These questions appear only on A level pap...