Sociology
Subject Lead - Mrs Emma Richardson, 01805 623531 Ext. 304 or ERichardson@gts.devon.sch.uk
Intent
GCSE Sociology aims to broaden pupils’ minds, helping them to be inquisitive about their world through different sociological perspectives. This will give pupils insight into their role as active citizens of society.
Studying Sociology offers insights into social and cultural issues such as poverty and crime and encourages pupils to be inquisitive about the social world. This enables them to develop critical awareness of the social world and allow them to identify and combat discrimination.
Our intent is to allow pupils to explore the subject with imagination and inquisitiveness, and finish the course enthused about their role in society.
Implementation
- Theoretical and practical explorations of various Sociological principles.
- Regular assessment and feedback. Informally, during lessons and more formally, throughout both years pupils will be assessed on each topic, including regular opportunities to practice exam style questions.
- Pupils will follow the AQA scheme of work.
Specification:
Pupils will follow the AQA GCSE Sociology specification.
Pupils will sit all their exams at the end of the course in Year 11
Subject content:
Year 10: Paper One
- Sociological theories of society
Pupils will look at the key sociological perspectives used to study society including Marxism, Feminism, Functionalism and New Right. By understanding how society is studied pupils will apply these ideologies and theories when looking at the following topics:
- Research methods
Pupils will then study the different research methods that are used by sociologists to carry out their studies. They will be able to use the examples of studies to support any theoretical claims about problems studied within society. Pupils will also learn how to crucially assess the various types of research methods for example looking how a method may lack validity but be practical.
- Families and households
The topic of Families and Households focuses on various sociological perspectives and issues related to family structures, roles, and relationships. Pupils explore how families have changed over time and the impact of these changes on society and individuals.
- Education
Pupils will study the many different experiences of students in school in the sociology of education. Pupils will learn to apply the different theoretical ideas to the issues within education i.e. for a feminist; what is the experience of a female during school. They will also apply their knowledge of research methods by analysing the methods used to come up with findings about issues in education.
+ End of year examinations
Year 11: Paper Two
- Crime and deviance
Pupils will study the social construction of concepts of crime and deviance and explanations of crime and deviance as well as critically assessing the work of Merton on the causes of crime from a functionalist perspective and Becker from an interactionist perspective. Formal and informal methods of social control. The work of Heidensohn on female conformity in male dominated patriarchal societies. Pupils will be able to identify the factors affecting criminal and deviant behaviour and ways in which criminal and deviant behaviour have generated public debate. They will be able to explain the work of Albert Cohen on delinquent subcultures and Carlen on women, crime and poverty. The usefulness of the main sources of data on crime, the collection of official data on crime, patterns and trends in crime figures and the ‘dark figure’
- The sociology of social stratification
Pupils will study the different views of the functionalist theory of social stratification and the work of Davis and Moore on social stratification from a functionalist perspective. As well as debates and studies around, social class. Pupils will be able to identify, describe and explain factors affecting life chances including social class, gender, race and ethnicity, sexuality, age, disability, religion and belief. Pupils will study poverty as a social issue including, the culture of poverty, material deprivation, the way in which governments have attempted to alleviate poverty and unemployment, the impact of globalisation. Finally, pupils will look at the different forms of power and authority and be able to describe and explain different views on factors affecting power relationships.
+Spring term mock exams
For a more detailed look at the specification: GCSE Sociology 8192 | Specification | AQA
Impact
Through exploring various sociological perspectives and research methods, pupils will develop the ability to evaluate evidence.
Pupils will be able to consider different viewpoints and articulate well-reasoned arguments.
Assessment
| Paper 1 – The Sociology of Families and Education | Paper 2 – The Sociology of Crime and Deviance and Social Stratification |
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Useful Resources
Textbook: AQA GCSE (9-1) Sociology, updated edition. David Brown, Hodder education