What is sociology Part 1 AQA ALEVEL SOCIOLOGY

What is sociology? Part 1 AQA ALEVEL SOCIOLOGY • Sociology provides a fascinating insight into society and our social behaviour • It helps us to understand how factors such as social class, ethnicity, age and gender influence the way we live and behave within society • It also helps us to understand how key institutions within society (such as the family, the criminal justice system, education and the media) operate and function

What is sociology? Part 2 AQA ALEVEL SOCIOLOGY • Sociology focuses on group behaviour, rather than the more individualistic focus of psychology • Sociologists disagree with each other; it is a subject where competing arguments are put forward and then evaluated on the basis of evidence • It is a fully academic subject, just like History, Geography, English, etc.

A-LEVEL SOCIOLOGY You will study four key topics over two years: q The Family (Y 12) q Education (Y 12) q The Media (Y 13) q Crime and Deviance (Y 13) …. PLUS the ongoing topic of sociological theory and methods Paper 1: Education/Methods in the context of Education Paper 2: Families and Households/Media Paper 3: Crime and Deviance/Theory and Methods All papers are 2 hours and count for 33% of your final grade

A-LEVEL SOCIOLOGY Why should YOU study sociology? IF YOU ARE • Curious about how the powerful commit crime but ‘get away with it’ • Curious about why some ethnic groups in education succeed and others don’t • Curious about the power that the media seems to have • Curious about why some family types are often seen by politicians as more desirable than others …. then sociology may be for you

A-LEVEL SOCIOLOGY What do YOU Need to study A-level sociology? • • • An active, enquiring, curious and open mind The ability to question your own attitudes and beliefs The willingness to work hard A positive attitude The ability to write extended essays Good literacy skills

A-LEVEL SOCIOLOGY The previous slides give you a brief idea - but not the full picture – of what will be a new subject for many of you. If you want more information, try to speak to me in school; I live in the Humanities workroom and welcome questions about sociology and what it involves. Alternatively, if you know any Y 10/11 (or even Y 12/13 ) students who do sociology, speak to them; ask them what they think of the subject. Mr. Bathgate/CTL Sociology