A Level Sociology
What is it about at sixth form level?
Why does the average man living in Blackpool live 12 years less than a man living in the City of London? Why are there more young black men in prison in the USA than in college? Why do the richest 80 people in the world have the same amount of wealth as the poorest half of the world’s population? These are the kinds of questions that a sociologist seeks to answer.
Sociology is extremely diverse in its content and at A level students will get a real taste of the range of different topic areas. You will study topics as varied as educational inequality, mental illness and crimes committed by the state. The key to success at A level, however lies in developing a ‘sociological imagination’; that is, to develop an appreciation of the unique perspective sociologists adopt when attempting to explain human behaviour and human societies. This will involve delving beyond common sense and through adopting a rigorous methodological and theoretical analysis of social issues. As a sociologist you need to be able to appreciate the limits of your own experiences and to construct explanations which are appreciative of the strengths and weaknesses of different viewpoints.
Why study it and what skills does it develop?
Sociology is a rigorous academic subject with a broad range of content. It will involve you thinking about the political and historical context of the issues you study but with the social scientist’s eye for statistical and quantitative analysis. It will develop your ability to think through abstract ideas and develop your essay-writing skills. It will provide you will a mature and sophisticated understanding of real issues that affect the society you live in. It works well with any subjects. The focus on health issues means it is a subject that will be of use to those applying to study medicine or related areas and the focus on crime and deviance will likewise be of use to those interested in the law or social work.
What prior knowledge and skills are required?
You need a good knowledge of and interest in contemporary British current affairs and social issues. You must have good analytical and evaluative skills that you can demonstrate on paper. It is an academic subject with a lot of content to learn (it is not all about airing your opinions!) and so you will need to have a mind able to organise and draw connections between a lot of complex information.
How is the course assessed?
A level
The A level is assessed by three examinations on Units 1-3 respectively. The Unit 1 exam has short answer and extended writing questions on Education, a question on methods in context (on Education) and an extended written answer on Theory and Methods. The Unit 2 exam has two extended writing questions on Health or Families, and on Global Development or Beliefs in Society. The Unit 3 exam has short answer and extended writing questions on Crime and Deviance and an extended written answer on Theory and Methods. Each paper is worth 33% of the A level and lasts two hours.
Reading
AQA A Level Sociology: Book One
By Rob Webb
ISBN 10 0954007913
AQA A Level Sociology: Book Two
By Rob Webb
ISBN 10 0954007921
Revise AQA A level Sociology Revision Guide and Workbook
By Steve Chapman AQA
A Level Sociology Themes and Perspectives: Year 1 and AS
By Haralambos and Holborn
Sociology for AQA: Volume 1: AS and 1st-Year A Level (5th Edition)
By K. Browne
Published by Polity Press, ISBN 978-0745655512
Sociology for AQA Volume 2: 2nd-Year A level
By K. Browne, Blundell and Law
Exam Board and Specification Codes
AQA 7192
Konstantinos Foskolos
Head of Department
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