Work to be Completed
Weekly work for Higher Politics will be set by Mr Summers in the class Team
See below for more information about the Higher Politics course
Teams Code is mxhhr4h
Please contact Mr Summers (greig.summers@aberdeenshire.gov.uk) if you have any questions.
Course overview
In Higher Politics we cover three main topics: Political Theory, Political Systems & Political Parties and Elections.
You will develop your essay writing skills whilst learning about UK, Scottish and worldwide politics. You will also develop source handling skills through comparison questions and election data analysis
Political Theory
Pupils study the key political concepts of power, authority and legitimacy, with particular reference to the work of Steven Lukes and Max Weber, and analyse the relevance of these concepts today.
They study the nature of democracy and the arguments for and against direct and representative democracy, including the works of relevant theorists.
Pupils study the key ideas of two political ideologies (from Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism, Nationalism, and Fascism) including the works of relevant theorists, and draw balanced conclusions about the chosen ideologies.
Relevant case studies are used from either local, national or international contexts, as well as different historical contexts.
Political Systems
Pupils study the constitutional arrangements in different political systems. The detailed study of the political systems focuses on the roles of the executive and legislative branches within each system.
Pupils compare and contrast the respective powers of individual branches of government within the two political systems, and draw balanced conclusions about these.
Pupils study two of the following four political systems: the UK political system; the Scottish political system; the political system of the United States of America; or the European Union political system.
Pupils take a comparative approach which reaches conclusions about the sources of power within two political systems.
Political Parties and Elections
Pupils compare the electoral impact of two different dominant ideas. This can either be from within one political party or between two different political parties.
Pupils can choose from the following: the Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats or Scottish National Party. These ideas are studied alongside the impact of political campaign management strategies and theoretical analyses of voting behaviour.
Relevant case studies are used from Scotland, the United Kingdom, or both Scotland and the United Kingdom.
January update
Political Theory - this unit is complete
Political Parties and Elections - We have completed the dominant ideas section of the course. We will come back and look at voting behaviour later this term.
Political Systems - Finish off the American political system.
Learning from home
Below is an update on the learning from home schedule for Higher Politics that will be shared with the class. Pupils should continue to work on weekly tasks during timetabled lesson times. Mr Summers will be available at all times during timetabled lessons. Live lessons will take place to support pupils with instructions, provide feedback, and answer any questions. Mr Summers can also be contacted at greig.summers@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
If pupils cannot attend live lessons or complete work during the week then please contact Mr Summers for further learning support.
