Transition Pack for

A level Sociology

Get ready for A Level!

A guide to help you get ready for A Level Sociology including

everything from topic guides and recommended reading, to

places to research and visit in the future.

Sociology is the study of people in social groups.

What is sociology about?

Sociology studies our culture - the things we have in common and the way we ‘fit into’ the

expected social order of our culture. Rules are based on values and they give us codes of

practice but these rules and values often vary for different social groups.

Sociology is complex because society and its social groups are very different. However we all

share a lot in common with each (common culture). Some people and groups however feel

isolated and form sub-cultures, these deviant groups also interest sociologists.

Sociology wants to understand the social causes for behaviour. Behaviour can be all sorts of

actions, for example – roles in family life, behaviour at school, parenting, religious

participation, television viewing habits or crime.

Choices we make about our behaviour often reflect underpinning social causes. For example

making a choice to get married is often influenced by religion. Other choices may reflect

influences beyond our control such as going to school is a law not a choice.

It is argued by some sociologists that children have too much choice today and should have

more decisions made for them or more options should be taken away. What you think

matters and various sociological theories operate to explain social behaviour and no doubt

your views will fall into one or more than one theory. There is no one right answer, all

opinions matter.

Some key words – culture, socialisation, power, social order, social control, consensus,

ethics, theory, globalisation, conflict, identity, society, gender, social class, ethnicity.

A-Level Sociology Assessment

Yr.12 Mock exams Paper 1 part A and Paper 2 (April/May)

Yr. 13 Three exam papers Paper 1 Paper 2 and Paper 3 (June)

Paper 1 – (2 hours) - Education with theory and methods in context - Qu.5 Methods in

Education Context & Qu.6 methods (yr.12)

Paper 2 – (2 hours) Topics in Sociology:

Part A Families and Households (yr.12)

Part B - Beliefs in society (yr.13)

Paper 3 – (2 Hours) – Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods (yr.13)

Read the spec in full, the example exam papers and the mark schemes at:

www.aqa.org.uk/sociology

Assessment objectives

A01 – Demonstrate and communicate knowledge and understanding of sociological theories, concepts, evidence and sociological research methods. A02 – Apply sociological theories, concepts, evidence and research methods to a range of issues. A03 – Analyse and evaluate sociological theories, concepts, evidence and research methods in order to present arguments, judgements and conclusions.

Core themes

Running throughout the content are two core themes:

1. Socialisation, culture and identity

2. Social differentiation, power and stratification. The two core themes incorporate various concepts – social order, social control, social change, conflict, consensus, methods of sociological inquiry: research techniques, practical, theoretical and ethical issues in collecting data. Sociological enquiry must focus on UK society in a global contemporary context (last 40 years) At A-Level students must show a range and depth of knowledge and understanding highly developed skills in: analysis, interpretation and evaluation.

Book Recommendations

Essential!

These Napier Press books are the official textbooks we

use in lesson and are the ones the course is based

around. They cover each of the core modules and

include detailed content, example questions and topic

summaries. Available from all good book retails, direct

from the Napier Press website, Amazon and Ebay.

Useful!

These revision guides are compressed, summarised

versions of the textbooks above. These are intended as

a revision tool only and should not be seen as

replacements for notes made in lesson or the full

textbooks. They are great for highlighting key content.

A book about

relationships - family

relationships, personal

relationships,

colleagues and friends,

also a relationship with

a dog (Doggo). This

links with families and

households - changing

nature of relationships.

There are 3 books in the series detailing the life of

Katniss Everdeen set in a dystopian future, the

totalitarian nation of ‘Panem’ is divided into 12

districts and the Capitol. Explores power and

control, rebellion and over throwing the ruling class.

A story about

community,

collective action,

crime, deviance

and control, also

power and

capitalism.

Film Recommendations

Television Series Recommendations Wife swap – links to Families & Households (Channel 4)

Educating (Yorkshire/Essex/Cardiff/the East End) – links to Education (Channel 4)

The Leftovers – links to Beliefs (Sky Atlantic)

Crime Watch – links to Crime & Deviance (BBC)

Benefits Street – links to Crime & Deviance (Channel 4)

Korean School Swap – links to Education (BBC)

Ackley Bridge – links to Families & Households and Education (Channel 4)

Documentaries available on TV Apps 7 Up Series – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBS3_G7NhHg

Follows the lives of UK children every 7 years from 1964 to now, shows class differences,

history of education system

Louis Theroux – Netflix

Has produced many documentaries on hard hitting crime and religion (e.g. My Scientology

Movie)

The Keepers – Netflix

Trevor McDonald inside death row – ITV Hub

Love Island – ITV Hub

Analysis of gender stereotypes

Radio o The Archers (Radio 4) - is long running story-line covering domestic abuse and

psychological control. Links with families and households - abuse, power and control

also policy and crime and deviance

o Moral Maze (Radio 4) – discussions on controversial issues such as the NHS, social

class and crime

Websites https://napierpress.com/ - home of the MAIN sociology textbook and revision guides we use in

school. Ability to make direct purchases or access extra resources.

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk – research the different careers in Sociology

https://www.ons.gov.uk/ - provides official government statistics on pretty much all areas of

Sociology

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/sociology/as-and-a-level/sociology-7191-7192 - official AQA

website, offering access to past papers, mark schemes, examiner reports and the official course

specification

www.thestudentroom.co.uk – Access to forums, discussion boards and downloadable materials for

the course

Research Activities

You can also keep up to date with current issues by reading the BBC News on a daily basis.

Research, reading and note making are essential skills for studying Sociology. For the following task you are going to produce ‘Cornell Notes’ to summarise your reading.

Divide your page into

3 sections like this: Write the name, date

and topic at the top

of the page

Use the large box to

make notes. Leave a

space between

separate ideas.

Abbreviate where

possible.

Review and identify

the key points in the

left hand box

Write a summary of

the main ideas in the

bottom space

Activity 1

Choose 3 articles from the BBC news website. For EACH article you will produce one page

of Cornell style notes. Bring these notes to your first lesson in September.

Activity 2: Plan a Visit

Use the internet to research 3 of the following places that you can visit in the future using

the template below:

(see template on next page)

Castle Museum, York

http://www.yorkcastlemuseum.o

rg.uk/

Leeds Museums

http://www.leeds.gov.uk/

museumsandgalleries/Pag

es/Women-Work-

War.aspx

http://www.leeds.gov.uk/

museumsandgalleries/Pag

es/abbeyhouse/Decades-

of-Youth.aspx

http://www.leeds.gov.uk/

museumsandgalleries/Pag

es/Crime-and-

Punishment.aspx

The People’s History Museum,

Manchester

http://www.phm.org.uk/

The museum of Childhood-

Bethnal Green, London

http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/

Place to visit 1-

2- 3-

What I would like to explore / find out / see

Telephone No

Location

Travel Plans (e.g. what train/bus)