N4/5 Modern Studies

1. China – a social, economic and political look at one of the worlds big powers.

• How the Chinese political system works

• Participation - rights and responsibilities, voting and campaigning, case study of Hong Kong

• Representation - gender equality, ethnic minorities and pressure groups

• Why China is a global superpower, why it has influence around the world and how China uses that influence

• Social and economic issues in China - health, education, employment and wealth inequalities

• Government responses to these issues in China.

Or

Syria - – a social, economic and political look at the causes and consequences of the conflict

• Impact on those immediately affected and impact on other countries and their governments (including the UK)

• Regional and/or wider international consequences

• Attempts to resolve the conflict

• Bilateral, regional and/or international organisations — role and motivation

• Military and non-military attempts to resolve conflict

• Evaluation of international organisation(s) in tackling the conflict

• Evidence of success/failure ¨ reasons for success/failure ¨ consequences of success/failure

2. Democracy in Scotland

• Power and decision making – features of a democratic political society, developed and reserved matters, role and power of the Scottish First Minister.

• Participation – rights and responsibilities, elections and campaigning

• Influence – pupils research the media and one of the following; trade unions or pressure groups, to look at how they affect decision makers in Scotland.

• Representation – role of MSPs, women and minority groups

• Voting systems – key features as well as strengths and weaknesses of the system used to elect MSPs to the Scottish Parliament.

3. Crime and the law

• Nature of crime.

• Causes of crime.

• Consequences of crime – on local communities, individuals and victims.

• Efforts to tackle crime – the role of the police.

• The criminal justice system – High Court, Sheriff Court, District Court & Court of Session.

• Responses to crime – Government, the police and prisons.