Course Overview

GCSE SOCIOLOGY (9-1) C200QS 

Exam Board: WJEC Eduqas 

Course Content and Skill Development

Sociology is the study of society, and sociologists are interested in explaining why society works in the way it does. They consider the extent to which our behaviour, experiences and life chances are shaped by our social class, age, gender and ethnicity. You will study topics including education, families, crime and deviance, mass media, power and social inequality, and reflect on questions such as:

• The reasons for different rates of achievement at school, focusing on economic circumstances, parental interest and teacher expectations.

• The role of the family in society, including reasons for the rise in the divorce rate and the consequences of this.

• The rise in violent crime in inner-city areas in recent years and the extent to which media influences, such as ‘gangsta rap’, can be held responsible for it.

Sociology makes us challenge many of our assumptions about the world that we may take for granted, and forces us to look at things in new ways. It is inherently interesting and extremely relevant to the lives of young people.

Method of Study

• Your teacher will use a mixture of teaching and learning strategies and resources, including questioning, discussion, PowerPoint presentations, practice exam questions, activities to test retrieval, online video, group work, debate, and independent research.

• Timed assessments will take place once every half term to monitor your progress and give you plenty of exam practice.

• There will be a lot of reference to current affairs - so students need to keep up to date with the news and be ready to apply it to their studies.

Assessment Structure

There are two modules which each have an examination of 1 hour 45 minutes, both taken at the end of Year 11.

Component 1:

1. Sociology of the Family

2. Sociology of Education

3. Research Methods

Component 2:

1. Social Stratification and Differentiation

2. Crime and Deviance

3. Applied Research Methods
   
   

Assessment Objectives:

There are 3 A.O.s which all test different skills.

AO1= Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of sociological theories, concepts, evidence and methods

AO2= Apply knowledge and understanding of sociological theories, concepts, evidence and methods

AO3= Analyse and Evaluate sociological theories, concepts, evidence and methods

Question types:

• Basic 1 and 2-mark questions that require either selecting appropriate key terms or defining them (AO1)

• 4-8 mark ‘Explain’ questions that require you to apply your knowledge to a question

• 9-15 mark ‘Discuss’ questions that involve all 3 A.O.s and require an ability to draw out strengths and weaknesses of information, or come to a conclusion based on evidence.

Opportunities Beyond Year 11

Sociology is a well-respected academic discipline. It is useful for a number of careers including law, teaching, social work, journalism, television, the police, nursing and the civil service, as well as the world of business in general.