Sociology

GCSE Options -Subjects - Sociology

2008

SOCIOLOGY

Course Structure
Entry Requirements
Coursework
Future Prospects
Views from Year 10
Views from Year 11
Downloadable Presentation (PowerPoint)

Teachers
Sociology Teachers
Mrs Yarker (Left) and
Mrs Gajic (right)

What is Sociology?

You will spend at least 15,000 hours of your life in a classroom. Why? What are schools for?

Thousands of students attend failing schools every day. Why aren’t schools better?

Two out of every five marriages end in divorce. Why? How might this affect society and their children?

Men commit more crime than women. Why? Is it because of the way we encourage boys to behave?

The police are 6 times more likely to stop and search a black man than a white man. Why? Are they racist or realistic?

Studying sociology will provide you with the answers to these questions and many more about the society you live in today.

Everyone is part of society. Society has helped shape who you are and how you experience life – but how much do you understand about it?

High crime rates in our inner cities, ‘binge drinking ladettes’, boys’ underachievement in school, the effects of divorce on children, racism and the police, the effects of the media on violent behaviour… these are among the great debates of today. They are the subject of countless view and opinions, many of which are ill-informed or prejudiced, most expressed simply from personal and often very limited experience.

Text Box:

This is where Sociology comes in – because these are all SOCIAL issues. The Sociologist sets off to try and understand our human world a little better. This task is often challenging and controversial but to many it is also fascinating and rewarding.

Sociology, then, is the study of people in society.

By learning how society operates you will be learning how the world works, you will be putting your current life in context and preparing yourself for what society may have in store for you, you will gain the knowledge, analytical

and debating skills to add your voice to the great popular discussions of our time in areas such as the family, education, the police/judiciary, the media, religion and politics.

GCSE Options -Subjects - Sociology

2008

Course Structure:

Year 10 topics ● What is sociology? View a PowerPoint presentation here ● Families and households ● Education in modern Britain ● Research methods and coursework
Year 11 topics ● Crime and deviance ● Poverty and the Welfare state ● Patterns of inequalities in modern Britain

Entry requirements

To be a successful sociology student you must:
● Be willing to express your views in class discussions, debates and presentations.
● Keep up to date with current issues by reading a newspaper or watching TV news.
● Be able to summarise research evidence in your essays to reach a clear conclusion.

Your commitment and enthusiasm will be rewarded with a good GCSE grade.

GCSE results
2007 - 71% A*-C
2006- 84% A*-C
2005 - 66% A*-C

GCSE Options -Subjects - Sociology

2008

Coursework:

You will complete one piece of coursework which is worth 20% of your final GCSE result. This is an individual piece of research. You will carry out interviews, questionnaires or observations in order to examine an issue that is of particular interest to you. Topics that students are currently working on include:

Do men make the most important decisions in marriages today?
Do teachers treat boys and girls differently?
Do people learn racism from their parents?
Are children negatively affected by their parents’ divorce?
Are women more religious than men?
Are married men doing more housework than their fathers’ generation?
Are boys distracted from learning by their ‘macho’ peer group?
Why do girls and boys study different subjects?
Are working class students more likely to be placed in lower sets?
Are women still completing more childcare than their partners?

Future prospects:

Many students who study GCSE Sociology go on to study A level Sociology in the sixth form. It will also help with your study of Psychology, Media Studies or Politics.

In addition, Sociology is an extremely valued subject for higher education entry and future careers. Sociology students are particularly in demand for ‘people centred occupations’ and professions that demand an analytical approach based upon weighing up evidence and arguments to reach considered conclusions.

Hence sociology students have gone on to careers as wide ranging as media research, law, police, journalism, teaching, social and welfare work, personnel work, business analysts, civil service and local government policy making, advertising, nursing, medicine and market research.

GCSE Options -Subjects - Sociology

2008

What do year 10 students at Polesworth say about Sociology?

“I like the discussions and the work we look at is interesting. Mrs Yarker includes everyone in discussions and has a good sense of humour” Laura.

“Choose sociology because you will have a sensational experience which you certainly won’t regret.” Faye.

“I like the way we can say what we think” Tequilla

“I’m really glad I chose sociology. We learn a lot in every lesson and I like the way we can express what we feel” Keeley

“I like sociology because it is interesting and fun and not at all boring. We have lots of debates and discussions which are enjoyable”. Cassie

“Sociology is really good, it’s my best lesson. I love Mrs Yarker to bits. I chose it because I want to be a social worker” Chloe.

What do year 11 students at Polesworth say about Sociology?

‘I like sociology as it is interesting and explains many of the things people have to deal with in society, it is not like any other subject’ Kim

‘I think sociology is great. Mrs Y makes the lessons really fun and exciting. I enjoy it because you get to learn about the community and roles within the family’. Maria

‘ I enjoy sociology. It’s good because it helps me to understand society and why people act the way they do’. Katie

‘Sociology has given me a different insight into society and had changed my views on many things’ Alice

I’m enjoying sociology. It has helped me to understand the outside world. It is fun and Miss is a great teacher’ Jodie

‘I really enjoy sociology…we do not do lots of written work, we do a lot of discussion and I find this easier to learn’ Lauren

‘Sociology gives you a wider view of the world and the people who live in it’ Luke

‘I enjoy sociology because it had taught me about the different roles in families’. Amie

‘Sociology is key to understanding the future of society’ OJC

‘it is enjoyable when having small group discussions because you can see what other people’s lives are like- you think yours is normal when maybe it’s not!’ Kayleigh

‘If you like expressing your views you will like sociology’ Harry