Modern Studies
Modern Studies
What will I Learn?
We will learn about a wide range of topics including;
Crime and Law in the UK
South Africa
Media
Democracy in Scotland
What skills will I develop?
Skills in literacy through using and analysing information.
Your research skills as you investigate themes and events.
The ability to use information from a range of sources to produce detailed and reasoned lines of argument.
What do I need to do this?
An interest about the wider world and issues linked to different countries along with a passion for finding out about issues from around the world and how these people and issues have shaped that have shaped the world we live in today.
A willingness to develop your written skills and to try your best even when you find things tricky!
Is there is any assessments?
There is no formal assessments in S3 but we will review knowledge and skills regularly so you will be able to have a clear understanding about how you are progressing.
What comes next?
In S4, you can either take National 4 or National 5 Modern Studies depending on your progress in S1 - S3.
The N4 course is assessed in school with no final exam.
The N5 course has a final SQA exam and a written assignment which is sent to SQA to be marked.
Where can this take me?
Studying Modern Studies supports you in developing a wide range of skills which are in demand in the workplace such as being able to interpret and analyse information.
What will I Learn?
You will build on the knowledge and skills developed in S3.
You will focus on these three key areas
Democracy in Scotland and the UK - You will develop a straightforward knowledge and understanding of democracy in Scotland and the United Kingdom.
Social Issues in the UK - You will develop a straightforward knowledge and understanding of social inequality or crime and the law in the UK.
International Issues - You will develop a straightforward knowledge and understanding of the socio-economic and political organisation of the USA and Terrorism.
What skills with I develop?
Researching and using information collected from a limited range of sources about contemporary issues which are familiar.
Using a limited range of sources of information to detect and explain bias and exaggeration in familiar political contexts.
Giving straightforward justifications for decisions made in familiar social contexts using a limited range of sources of information.
Giving straightforward support for valid conclusions drawn from a limited range of sources of information about familiar international issues.
What could be helpful?
Demonstrating a good knowledge and understanding of core topics in BGE Social Studies
Achieving Level 3 and beginning to work towards Level 4 in BGE Social Subjects.
If you are confident in English this will also help you succeed with this course.
Is there is an Exam?
During this course you will have a number of progress checks throughout the year and assessed tasks.
A National 4 in Modern Studies is assessed through the end of Unit assessments, and the production of an Added Value research based task. All of these assessments are completed in class.
What comes next?
This can lead to the National 5 Modern Studies or other N5 Social Studies courses dependent on progress during this course.
Where can this take me?
These courses open a lot of opportunities for various courses at College, University or life after school.
What will I Learn?
You will build on the knowledge and skills developed in S3/ National 4.
You will focus on these three key areas
Democracy in Scotland and the UK - You will develop a knowledge and understanding of democracy in Scotland and the United Kingdom.
Social Issues in the UK - You will develop a knowledge and understanding of social inequality and crime and the law in the UK.
International Issues - You will develop a knowledge and understanding of the socio-economic and political organisation of the USA and Terrorism.
What skills with I develop?
Researching and using information collected from a range of sources about contemporary issues.
Using a range of sources of information to detect and explain bias and exaggeration in political contexts.
Giving detailed justifications for decisions made in social contexts using a range of sources of information.
Forming detailed conclusions drawn from a range of sources of information about international issues.
What could be helpful?
You should have achieved Level 4 in BGE Social Studies, or National 4 Modern Studies, History course or Geography.
If you are confident in English this will also help you succeed with this course.
Is there is an Exam?
During this course you will have a number of progress checks and assessed tasks throughout the year.
There is a final end of year SQA exam which accounts for 80% of the final mark and a research based assignment which accounts for 20% of the final mark.
What comes next?
This can lead to the Higher 5 Modern Studies or other Higher Social Studies courses dependent on progress during this course.
Where can this take me?
These courses open a lot of opportunities for various courses at College, University or life after school.
What will I Learn?
You will build on the knowledge and skills developed in N5.
You will focus on these three key areas
Democracy in Scotland and the UK - You will develop a detailed knowledge and understanding of democracy in Scotland and the United Kingdom.
Social Issues in the UK - You will develop a detailed knowledge and understanding of crime and the law in the UK.
International Issues - You will develop a detailed knowledge and understanding of the socio-economic and political organisation of China.
What skills with I develop?
Analysing, evaluating and synthesising a wide range of evidence which may be written, numerical and graphical to:
detect and explain the degree of objectivity in contexts which may be familiar or unfamiliar
draw and support conclusions in contexts which may be familiar or unfamiliar
Analysing and evaluating a wide range of evidence which may be written, numerical and graphical to explain the degree of reliability in contexts which may be familiar or unfamiliar
Researching, analysing, evaluating and synthesising a wide range of evidence which may be written, numerical and graphical to make and justify decisions in contexts which may be familiar or unfamiliar
What could be helpful?
Candidates should have achieved and A-C grade in National 5 Modern Studies or equivalent qualifications in other Social Subjects.
A very good standard of English is advantageous and candidates should have achieved National 5 English.
Is there is an Exam?
During the course you will have a number of progress checks throughout the year focussing on developing your ability to produce high quality 20 mark essay question answers; and source based data handling and analysis questions.
The Higher course has a final SQA exam which consists of two papers. The exam accounts for 73% of your overall mark.
You will also be required to produce an assignment which is completed under exam conditions in class. The assignment accounts for 27% of your overall mark.
What comes next?
You can continue with Advanced Higher Modern Studies which will allow you to further develop your skill set.
Higher Politics is an option to build on the knowledge you have developed in the Democracy unit.
Where can this take me?
Further study of Modern Studies or other Social Studies courses at either College or University.
Keys skills developed in this course are also in demand by lots of employers, Universities and Colleges.
What will I Learn?
An understanding of
Criminal behaviour in the UK - This section will examine perceptions of crime; the contemporary relevance of theories of criminal behaviour; and social and economic impacts of crime.
Responses by society to crime - This section will focus on theories of punishment; preventative responses to crime; and criminal justice responses to crime.
Social science research methods.
What skills with I develop?
Justifying and analysing complex political or social issues.
Analysing, evaluating, and synthesising a wide range of evidence and arguments.
Analysing and evaluating sources of information and social science research methods.
Planning, researching, collecting and recording information.
Explaining approaches to organising, presenting and referencing findings.
Synthesising information to develop a sustained and coherent line of argument, leading to a conclusion, supported by evidence.
What could be helpful?
You should have an A - C grade in Higher Modern Studies.
An A - C grade in Highr English is also desirable.
An interest in learning about key Social Studies issues at undergraduate level.
Is there is an Exam?
There will be a number of progress checks throughout the year, Essay and source based questions. You will also be required to undertake substantial research into a topic of your choosing in preparation for the dissertation.
The Exam question paper has a total mark allocation of 90 marks. This is 64% of the overall marks for the course assessment.
The project–dissertation has a total mark allocation of 50 marks. This is 36% of the overall marks for the course assessment.
What comes next?
Advanced Higher Modern Studies can lead to a range of further opportunities to study at college or university.
Modern Studies has many transferable skills which are beneficial in the world of work.
Where can this take me?
This course will prepare you for what to expect as a 1st year undergraduate studying Social Subjects.
The organisation, time-management and discipline required for self study will prepare you for College, University or life after school.