Sociology - Key Stage 5
Until one is suddenly brought up against an insight that radically questions everything one had previously assumed about this familiar scene. This is the exact point at which one begins to sense the excitement of sociology.
– Peter L. Berger.
Fundamentally, Sociology is the systematic study of society, large groups of people and individuals. It is a social science that examines why people behave in the way that they do and how society and institutions such as governments, the media and education influence, and arguably even control, the way that people are. Studying Sociology offers insights into a wealth of contemporary social and cultural issues. It helps you develop a multi-perspective and critical approach to understanding issues around culture, identity, crime, family and social power. More than once during the course you are bound to ask the question ‘‘why has society developed like this? With poverty, ignorance, crime and injustice?’
Sociolo
gy students develop a plethora of transferable skills, from analysis and evaluation to empathy and critical thought. The subject complements several different A-level choices, such as Government and Politics, Psychology, Film Studies and History.
Examination Board/Qualification: AQA A Level
- 3 papers x 120 minutes at the end of Year 13
Topics Covered:
In Year 12 you study:
- Education
- Media
- Research Methods
- Introduction to Sociological Theories
In Year 13 you study:
- Crime and Deviance
- Families and Households
- Research Methods
- Sociological Theories
Timetable
Over a fortnightly timetable, students receive:
- 10 hours of guided classroom learning
- 10 hours of guided independent homework
Enrichment and Extra Curricular
To Read
- BBC News online- sections on education, politics, and culture are all incredibly relevant
- www.independent.co.uk/topic/sociology
- A range of right and left wing newspapers both in tabloid and broadsheet formats e.g. The Times, The Daily Mail and the Mirror- these are useful for showing bias in the media.
- Sociology Review
There are some great sociology websites such as:
To Watch
- Ken Robinson Changing Education Paradigms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
- Hidden Curriculum in Education: Definition and Example https://study.com/academy/lesson/hidden-curriculum-in-education-definition-examples-quiz.html
- David Harvey: Crisis of Capitalism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOP2V_np2c0
- School Swap: The Class Divide E1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXvaGrZINl4
- The Stanford Prison Experiment https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b008crhv
- The Bobo Doll https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b008fxv9
Careers
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