Why study A-Level Sociology? 

Sociology is the systematic study of society and the groups within it. It is about looking at the world you live in through a different lens to try and understand some of the problems and issues that face society and how society has changed through the generations. It is about looking at the experiences of different social groups and trying to understand their views and the structural causes of their experiences. Sociology is a good umbrella subject, meaning that it supports a number of careers and degree courses as one of the key skills of a sociologist is to look at the world in an  objective and critical way.

In your study of sociology, you will develop skills of objective and analytical writing, critical thinking, discussion and debate, as well as how to look at a situation from multiple viewpoints. You will need to be able to question assumptions about society and the rules by which we live our lives as well as examine how our experiences maybe different to others and may shape the choices and decision that we make in our own lives.

In order to do well in A Level Sociology, and in any A Level really, it is important that you take your learning beyond the classroom. Your teacher can teach you what you need to know in order to get a good grade in the exam, but to reach the top band, that A* level you need to go beyond what the textbook tells you and apply your learning to the world around you. 

What will I study?

Topics include: 

  • Education: At this stage of your education you have much more choice over what you study. This unit helps you to understand the processes within the education system that may have influenced your decisions and the path that you have taken. It will also help you to understand the processes within schools and the impact that can have on educational achievement.
  • Families and Households: Everyone will have had an experience of family in one shape or another and this unit helps you to understand the different types of family that exist in the world and the UK today. You will understand the social and demographic changes that have occurred and led to these changes and the increase in family diversity and the impact this has had on wider society. 
  • Beliefs in Society: It is suggested that the UK today is a secular society, however in this unit you will consider if that statement is really true, or if in fact religious belief and practice has become more private so it just appears that religion no longer plays a role in society. This unit will also help you to understand the role that religion plays in an individuals lives as well society in general. The study of different religious groups will also help you to understand why people join these groups as well as the similarities and difference between them.
  • Crime and Deviance: The criminal justice system impacts almost all aspects of our lives, including controls on our behaviour, telling us what we can and cannot do, to punishing us when we violate norms of behaviour. This unit will help you to understand the impact of the criminal justice system and the role it plays in maintaining our society. You will also look at how the criminal justice system impacts different groups in society 
  • Theories and Methods: This unit provides the background and basis for all sociological study. It provides the bones on which you will be able to build up your sociological knowledge and understanding of the social world. This unit will take you through the main sociological perspectives and how they view the social world as well as the different ways that sociologists conduct research into social phenomena. This will be built upon as we go through each of the topics we study. 

Which students do well at A -Level Sociology? 

  • those who have an interest in news and current affairs.
  • those who want to develop their essay writing skills further using evidence to support arguments. 
  • those who have an interest in society and wish to learn about the inequalities between rich and poor, male and female, and ethnic minorities. 
  • those who have an appreciation of the global changes in the world today and would like to develop this knowledge further.  

 How you will be assessed:  

At the end of the two year course:

3 x 2 hour exams worth 80 marks each

Each is work 33.3% of the final A level

Paper 1          Education with Methods in Context and Theory and Methods

Paper 2          Families and Households and Beliefs in Society

Paper 3          Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods 

Course Reading List

AQA A Level Sociology Books 1 and 2 by Webb, Westergaard, Trobe and Townsend. Napier Press

Succeed At A Level Sociology Books 1 and 2 by Webb and Trobe, Napier Presss

Useful websites 

https://revisesociology.com/

https://thesociologyguy.com/

https://www.thesociologyteacher.com/

https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-sociology-show

https://soundcloud.com/thesociologicalreview

Sociology: Introduction to sociology course: https://ondemand.tutor2u.net/students/introduction-to-aqa-a-level-sociology-getting-started

Listening:The Sociology Show -The sociology starter pack for new students:  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sociology-starter-pack-for-new-students/id1507196347?i=1000577076173

 Who can I contact for help? 

 Miss E Weir  (e.weir@poolehigh.poole.sch.uk )

 

Sociology students go on to a variety of different career paths including nursing, occupational therapy, criminology, childcare, media and social work.