Modern Studies
National 4/National 5
Course Overview
The purpose of Modern Studies is to develop learners’ knowledge and understanding of contemporary political and social issues in local, Scottish, United Kingdom and International contexts. In these contexts, learners will develop an awareness of the social and political issues they will meet in their lives. By undertaking this Course, learners will develop a wide range of important and transferable skills, including researching, understanding and evaluating sources; constructing arguments in a balanced and structured way; and communicating, by a variety of means, views, opinions, decisions and conclusions based on evidence.
The course has three units, plus an assignment, which is in the form of an individual project. The three units of study are:
Democracy in Scotland and the United Kingdom
In this unit, learners will develop their knowledge and understanding of the main democratic processes, institutions and organisations which make up political life in Scotland and the United Kingdom and develop skills in detecting bias and exaggeration.
Social Issues in the United Kingdom
In this unit, learners will develop their knowledge and understanding of crime and the law in the UK and develop skills in making and justifying decisions
International Issues
In this unit, learners will develop their knowledge and understanding of the socio/economic and political system in the USA and develop skills in researching and justifying conclusions
Faculty Principal Teacher
Mrs J Irvine
Assessment Methods
National 4
This course is internally assessed. To achieve the Modern Studies (National 4) Course, learners must pass all of the required Units, including the Added Value Unit (project). National 4 Courses are assessed on a pass/fail basis.
National 5
This course is subject to external assessment. They must pass an external exam and complete an assignment (project). National 5 Courses are graded A-D
Learning and Teaching Approaches
A variety of learning and teaching approaches will be used throughout the course including: teacher exposition; group work; discussion; individualised learning; evaluation of source material; personal and group research and problem solving; self-evaluation and peer assessment.
Homework
Learners will complete various investigative/research tasks using surveying techniques and ICT. Homework will also involve written knowledge and understanding questions and the evaluation of source material.
Recommended Next Steps
National 4 Pass:
National 5 C or D:
National 5 A or B: