Sociology

In studying sociology, you will develop what is known as a ‘sociological imagination’ this is a way of looking at the world in a different way, normally a critical way. You’ll see patterns, trends, inequalities and injustices perhaps where others might not see them. It is important that you have a good understanding of events and issues that have happened and that are happening in the world around you.

You should therefore listen to and read the news over the summer. Almost all news is sociologically relevant. You should also start to consider some of the events and issues that have impacted people in the UK and across the world over the last few years. Access the resources suggested on this page to begin building this knowledge.

Click the icons to visit the highlighted reading material.

Everyone taking A level Sociology should complete the following tasks. Notes and answers to these questions can be typed or handwritten. They should be available to hand in to your subject teachers at the start of the course.

Task 1:

Watch the YouTube lecture on the key concepts you will need to understand in order to access A-Level sociology https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cdg-ExMzZ4  make detailed notes on this lecture.

Task 2:

This task focuses on the topic of gender. This is a key topic for the education and culture and identity topics that you will study in Year 12.

You should watch the documentary - No More Boys and Girls: Can our kids go gender-free? From the BBC in 2017. Watch episode 1 available on YouTube at: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4lgKnmWSk   

There is a strong sociological argument that gender (how we see ourselves in relation to our biological sex) is learned and not inherent (‘nurture’ and not ‘nature’). This documentary explores what happens if we challenge some of the learning about gender. Could going ‘gender free’ be better for our children?

Answer the following questions: 

1. Give examples of different words the children use to describe boys and girls

2. Give examples of words the teacher uses to describe the boys and girls.

3. What does this language suggest the children are learning about being a girl or a boy?

4. What does the careers drawing activity show us about the children’s understanding of gender in the workplace? 

5. Who is Gina Rippon?

6. What has she found out about boys and girls brains?  

7. According to the documentary, why do boys have better spatial awareness?

8. What happens in the baby-gendered-clothes-swap experiment?

9. What does this tell us about the role of parents in children understanding gender?

10. What are your views about the documentary and about whether gender is something we learn?

Notes on the lecture. There will be a test on the lecture content in class.

Answers to the questions (can be typed – but please print off to hand in)

You will need an A4 ring folder for Sociology with dividers in your folders for the different topics - there are lots of handouts that need to be kept in order, along with lecture and classwork notes. You will need to keep notes for Unit 1 (Education) and Unit 2 (Culture and Identity) separate.

AQA A Level Sociology Book One Including AS Level: Book one

Napier Press; 3rd Revised edition

ISBN: 0954007913

Contribution

£4 contribution for Exampro - an online question bank that is an integral part of your revision.