Sociology

A level exam board & specification:AQA SOCIOLOGY A LEVEL
Textbook(s): 

AQA A Level Sociology Book 1: By Robb Webb/ Westergaard/ Trobe/ Townend AS Level

ISBN: 9780954007911

 AQA A Level Sociology Book 2: By Robb Webb/ Westergaard/ Trobe/ Townend

ISBN: 9780954007928
 

How to help your child: 
1. Plenty of “non-fiction” reading: a strong grasp of the English language is a must.

2. Keeping up to date with current affairs related to study. Encourage reading of broadsheet newspapers to help support arguments with contemporary examples.

3. Practice writing free hand. Encourage your child to regularly write/take notes in timed conditions to develop their ability to write under pressure. Speed writing and recall is an essential skill that is required at A Level.

 

A-Level Sociology

Background information about studying Sociology

Sociology is the study of human societies and the institutions within them, in all sorts of contexts. It is a very broad discipline. The subject is a combination of politics, history and philosophy. It is classed as a social science, but its status as a science is under scrutiny, often from sociologists themselves.

What can I expect from studying Sociology?

Level of Difficulty: In Sociology there are a lot of theories that you have to learn and you also have to learn how to apply the theories to exam questions. During the course of the two years you will hone your powers of critical thinking and evaluation. It is a rigorous academic discipline that many find difficult when they start. Once the main theories begin to click…it is much easier to apply them to the different topics you will study. You have to have an interest in current affairs and politics. Reading widely is essential and a good grasp of the English language is key.

Workload: Sociology is a mainly essay based subject so be expected to write a lot of essays! You will also be expected to do your own research and keep up to date with current affairs.

Required Individual Study: You will be required to do extended reading into topics you have touched on in class. You can expect two pieces of homework per week, and one hour of classroom study should be matched with one hour of individual study.

How is it assessed? This subject is 100% exam based – there is no coursework. A-Level exams are sat in the second year of the course in May and June.

Where can I go with a Sociology A-Level? Sociology is a good foundation subject as the knowledge you learn can be applied to all aspects of society. Many sociology students go on to study Sociology, Criminology and Law at university. Sociology can lead to careers in teaching, law, social work, government, research, police force etc.

Student Perspective:

“What I like about studying this subject: I like that the information we're learning about in class has direct real-world application, often in current news stories. It's also a really good accent subject to others such as Psychology and English Literature, sharing research methods and the different approaches to topics e.g. Marxism, Feminism, Socialism... The opportunity for debating that I enjoyed in my AS year, only get better at A2. It's been so interesting to gain a greater understanding of the kind of society we live in and how changes or ideas shape behaviour and what this all means.

What I dislike about studying this subject: Sometimes, it can be a bit mentally exhausting trying to learn theorists. Keeping arguments for and against can also be a challenge but good revision and reading around the subject really help to clarify certain key areas or recurring themes.”