S3 Modern Studies

Course Overview

The S3 Modern Studies course builds on the S1/2 course and aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of recent international events and issues impacting British society. You will study a wide range of topics including:

· Crime and the Law in the UK: What are the causes, impacts and responses to crime in the UK? Are people born "bad" or does their upbringing lead them to commit crimes? Are prisons an effective way of tackling crime?

· World Powers Brazil: Is Brazil a powerful country? What inequalities exist in Brazil and how does this impact people living there?

· UK Democracy: Should Scotland be an independent country? What powers does the Scottish government have already? What are the arguments for and against independence

Learning and Teaching Approaches

Modern Studies lessons are varied and will include activities such as class debates, researching current affairs, individual and group tasks, analysing pie charts/graphs/diagrams, watching relevant documentaries and taking part in a mock trial. The teacher will set clear targets for pupils to complete and the work will be at an appropriate level for every pupil.

Homework

You will receive regular homework on a regular basis. This might involve finishing off class work, revising for assessments or undertaking research for investigations. 

Assessment Approaches

Assessment will take place both formally and informally throughout the course. This means evidence on how you are progressing will be collected throughout each unit in a variety of ways e.g. research work, presentation work, as well as formal assessments where some questions will test your knowledge of the subject; others will test the skills you have developed in the unit.