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AS‐Level Sociology
Tudor Grange Academy
Revision Booklet 2
This booklet will aid you in your revision for your AS Sociology exam for
paper 2.
Revision is the key to getting a strong grade for A‐level sociology. It is
really important that you take this seriously now. You’re no longer a
GCSE student, you are doing an A‐level. You will not get a good grade
unless you put the work in!
You’ve now completed the study for paper 2. You might feel like you have been hit
with information overload over the past three months. That is natural (because you
have been hit with information overload over the past three months). You have been
studying new keywords and new concepts, almost every lesson. It is over the revision
period that you will gain true mastery over what has been studied in class. This is
where you make it count.
You will be using this booklet for both
your mock exam and May paper.
If you have any questions about ANYTHING email me at:
How do you revise for A-Level sociology?
- In the textbook, the information for Paper 2 takes up around 150 pages
- HOW THE HELL AM I EXPECTED
TO REMEMBER 150 PAGES WORTH OF WORK???
(That’s what you were thinking, right? Quite predictable)
Well, you’re not expected to know all of it. There’s a trick to it. All you have to remember is:
- 5 theories (Marxism, Feminism, Functionalism, Postmodernism, Interactionism) – With the key criticisms, of course
- Around 14 studies (your teacher will tell you exactly what these are)
- Research methods (PET/disadvantages/advantages)
- EXAM TECHNIQUE – Know how to answer each question
- ALL THE SOCIOLOGICAL LANGUAGE YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT – THIS IS THE KEY THAT WILL UNLOCK THE DOOR TO AN A GRADE. THE MORE SOCIOLOGICAL LANGUAGE YOU USE, THE HIGHER YOUR GRADE!
Revision Techniques: Let’s start off with some revision techniques. Reading through a textbook is not revision. It’s… reading through a textbook. Revision is where you learn something, where you master it, and importantly, where you know deep down in your soul, how to answer an exam question on the topic you have revised. Use a revision technique that works for you. (Completing the tasks in revision booklet 1 and this booklet are of course, important revision methods) For sociology, There are many other ways you can revise: Here’s one: o CREATE A SERIES OF FLASHCARDS TO LEARN SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES – WRITE DOWN ALL OF THE INFORMATION ON ONE STUDY ON A FLASH CARD. THEN SUMMARISE THIS INFORMATION INTO ONE/TWO SENTENCES ONTO ANOTHER FLASHCARD. YOU THEN SUMMARISE THIS ONE SENTENCE INTO 1-3 WORDS ON ANOTHER FLASHCARD. In total you should have THREE flash cards. One with the full study, one that summarises this study in one sentence. One that summarises this study into one word. Go through all three a few times. Happy? NOW DO THIS STEP USING YOUR MEMORY ONLY: Using a plain sheet of A4 paper. Write down the name of the study and the ONE WORD you have associated with it. Underneath that, write down the sentence. Try and do this without looking. If you have completed this, now write the full study underneath the sentence. If you need to look, you have to start again from the ONE WORD. Once you have written down the study, EXPLAIN WHAT THE THEORIST MEANS IN MORE DETAIL USING YOUR OPINION, Just for fun. o Make your flashcards colourful! (so… yeah, for this method you will need flashcards/record cards – if you’re from the ghetto, or just really lazy then you can use A4 plain/lined paper and cut them into quarters. If things are really bad then just write on your hand or go through other people’s bins for scraps of paper to write your notes on. (Hopefully, things aren’t that bad)
ENSURE YOU HAVE COMPLETED REVISION BOOKLET 1 BEFORE YOU START HERE. (re‐read through the section on how to read the textbook. This is important!) Task 1 ‐ (DAY 1) Revising TWO MARKERS – Definition questions (use a revision technique to study these definitions)
Define the term ‘norms’: Socially accepted forms of behaviour.
Define the term ‘values’: Beliefs or principles in society that underpin norms.
Define the term primary socialisation (2 marks) How individuals are taught norms and values from birth to aged 5.
Define the term secondary socialisation (2 marks) How individuals are taught norms and values after the age of five.
Using one example, briefly explain the term resocialisation (2 marks) How individuals must re-learn norms and values to adapt to a new social setting. For example, a prisoner will have to wear the clothes of a prisoner and live according to prison life. These norms and values are different to the ones in mainstream society.
What are the SIX agents of socialisation? Family, Education, Media, Peer groups, Religion, Workplace,
Popular culture = Refers to the cultural products and tastes that are fashionable/trending and known to the majority of society.
Mass culture = Refers to the cultural products and tastes that are fashionable/trending and known to the majority of society (the masses).
Marxists use the term mass culture to highlight the idea that pop culture is used to control the proletariat. Marxist thinkers such as Adorno and Marcuse believe this.
Subculture = A subculture is a culture enjoyed by a small group in society. In this sense it is a minority part of majority culture. Subcultures have distinct norms and values which make them a sub-section of society.
Folk Culture The traditional way of life of local communities that are rooted in local customs, beliefs and practices.
High culture refers to the cultural products and tastes of the upper classes in society: Usually those with an ASCRIBED STATUS.
For 2 mark questions you must give a full definition of a sociological concept/ keyword that is worth two marks.
Task 2 – Day 2
How to answer a 4 marker
PEE
o P OINT – YOU MAKE A POINT THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION. o EXAMPLE (which is my Explanation) YOU EXPLAIN THIS ANSWER IN MORE DETAIL USING EXAMPLES. o You THEN MISS A LINE and REPEAT THIS PROCESS AGAIN.
Past exam questions:
o Outline two ethical issues researchers should consider before carrying out a sociological study. (4 marks) o Outline two practical factors that may influence a sociologist’s choice of research topic (4 marks) o Outline two problems of using unstructured interviews in sociological research (4 marks) o Outline two problems of using structured interviews in sociological research (4 marks) o Outline two problems of using questionnaires in sociological research (4 marks) o Outline two problems of using content analysis in sociological research (4 marks)
Revision Tasks: TASK 1: Use the revision techniques to revise answers for the above questions.
TIMING – How quickly should I be able to complete a 4 marker after perfect revision?
You should be able to complete a 4 marker in no more than FIVE MINUTES in your exam TASK 2: Using a stop watch, time yourself to see how quickly you can complete the question below IN EXAM CONDITIONS (after having revised it first of course):
Outline two problems of using unstructured interviews in sociological research (4 marks)
Stop the clock. What was your time? _____________________________ (anything less than 5mins is good. As long as you have an answer that is 4 marks.)
Beat the clock. Try this again in your notes if you didn’t get under 5 mins. Can you beat your time?
Do this exercise for the other questions too.
4 markers are ALWAYS about research methods or the research process.
The important thing here is that you know the 4 STEPS to answering a 16 marker. Briefly explain the four steps you need to write a 16 marker:
Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Step 4:
Here are the research methods they are likely to ask about (they will only ask about ONE in the exam): Non‐participant observation Unstructured Interview Structured Interview Questionnaires Longitudinal Studies/Content Analysis/Experiments (I doubt they will ask about these though)
You need to revise each of these research methods for PET/ Disadvantages/Advantages
TASK: Complete a table that looks like this in your notes:
Disadvantages of non‐participant
observation
Advantages of non‐participant
observation
Using the key words below, fill in your table. Complete your table. BUT if you don’t think a keyword fits, then DON’T use it! If there is a question such as ‘(why?)’ after a keyword, YOU MUST ANSWER IT IN RELATION TO THE RESEARCH METHOD IN THE TABLE!
You should constantly be referring to these keywords. If you get stuck: You can use the textbook section for the relevant research method. REVISION:Complete a table like the one above for EACH research method that may come up in your exam! (TIMING = You should be able to complete a 16 marker in 20mins after you’ve revised thoroughly. YOUR PET PARAGRAPH SHOULD BE SHORTER THAN YOUR OTHER TWO PARAGRAPHS. Try and include 5 criticisms in paragraph 2 and at least 4 advantages in paragraph 3 – well explained of course)
Time consuming Time efficient Access: Difficult (Example) Access: Easy (Example) Funding – Cheap (Why?) Funding – Expensive (why?) Ethical issues (what are they?) Interpretivist method Positivist method Not fully interpretivist or positivist Qualitative Quantitative
Validity (high, why?) Validity (low, why?) Reliability (high, why?) Reliability (low, why?) Representativeness (high/low – why?) Generalisability (high/low – why?) Rapport Hawthorne Interview Bias Verstehen Verstehen can’t exist Flexible Preferred by governments
Clarify unclear questions Can find patterns in society by making comparisons In—depth Numerical Biased Can be manipulated Value‐free Value‐freedom can’t exist Objective Subjective Cannot produce verstehen Cannot explore thoughts, feelings opinions
Revising Sociological Studies: (Day 5) Before we look at 6, 10 and 20 markers we must revise studies we can use in these questions. Here is a list of the key studies you should take in with you (in your brain of course) for your exam: (You don’t need to remember the year of each study)
Gender and Identity Oakley (1972) Willis (1977) Jackson (2006)
Ethnicity and Identity Jacobson (1998) Sewell (1996) Fanon (1952) Hall
Media and Globalisation Mulvey (1975) Adorno (1944) & Marcuse (1964) McLuhan Bauman Hall
If you have finished revision booklet 1 then you will already have revised these theories. Spend some time going through your completed version of booklet 1 in order to re-familiarise yourself with these studies. (If you haven’t completed booklet 1, go back and do so NOW)
(Revision Task: Day 5 – Spend some time revising all of the studies above)
(Day 6) There are also some key studies that we looked at this half-term. We will look at these over the next few pages.
Social Class Identity Bourdieu
Read through the textbook page 206 on Bourdieu AND your classwork notes, explain Bourdieu’s key ideas below (try and focus your ideas on HOW SOCIAL CLASS IDENTITY IS FORMED THROUGH THE AGENCIES OF SOCIALISATION and how this links to types of CAPITAL):
AS Level Sociology
How to write a 6 marker
“Outline three ways…”
Previous 6 markers: Outline three characteristics of the globalisation of culture. (6 marks) Outline three characteristics of the postmodernist view of culture and/or identity (6 marks) Outline three ways in which individuals may be socialised into a class identity. (6 marks) Outline three ways in which disability may shape an individual’s experience in society (6 marks) Outline three ways in which ethnicity might influence people’ identity (6 marks)
Writing a 6 marker is easy. There are three steps
you need to remember:
P OINT
E vidence OR E xplanation
E XAMPLE
YOU COMPLETE THESE THREE STEPS, THREE TIMES!
Point – Make a point that answers the question.
Evidence OR explanation – You can give sociological evidence to back up your point (an actual sociological study). If you cannot remember a STUDY, just give a strong sociological argument to back up your point that explains your point using strong sociological language.
Example – Give an actual example from society that further backs up your original point.
YOU THEN MISS A LINE. Complete the process above a further TWO times. All in all, you should have around 9 sentences that answers a 6 marker.
Model answer: Outline three characteristics of the globalisation of culture (6 marks)
One characteristic of the globalisation of culture is the increased levels of migrations around the world. Hall calls this idea hybridisation. An example of this would be new migration patterns such as Syrian refugees coming to Britain as a result of terrorism from ISIS (a multinational group).
Another characteristic of globalisation is the increase in same consumer goods anywhere in the world. This is due to increase in trade an cultural exchange. For example Coca-Cola can be bought anywhere from Chile, to India to America. (This answer did not use a study but simply used coca‐cola as an example)
Another characteristic of globalisation is that time and space ‘shrink’. This is due to new technologies making people interconnected. An example would be mobile phones that allow people from around the world to connect in seconds. (Even though this is McLuhan’s study, I didn’t mention McLuhan and still got full marks).
That’s the point – EVEN IF YOU CAN’T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE THEORIST, JUST WRITE DOWN THE KEY IDEAS YOU CAN REMEMBER. YOU’LL STILL GET THE MARKS WITHOUT THE NAME IF YOUR EXPLANATION IS STRONG ENOUGH.
Day 7 (READ THROUGH ALL OF THIS PAGE FIRST) Spend some time revising the key ideas that may be explored in a 6 marker: Social class identity Age identity Disability Identity Ethnic Identity Globalisation
TIMING – YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE A 6 MARKER IN AROUND TEN MINUTES! (Day 8) Answer the following question AFTER REVISION:
Outline three characteristics of the postmodernist view of culture and/or identity (6 marks) HINT: Globalisation really kicked off in the 1980s, this is when postmodernism started. THEREFORE: You can use Bauman, Hall and McLuhan in discussions of postmodernism. BUT try and see if you can answer this question WITHOUT using all of these three, but just based on your knowledge of postmodernism.
Time taken to write: ________________________________. How can I speed up? PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT
o IMPORTANT: DEFINE MASTER STATUS (2 marks) (See PAGE 191)
o DEFINE STIGMATISED IDENTITY (2 marks) (See PAGE 195)
(To answer a 10 marker, you just need 2 paragraphs that answer the question. Whatever is inside that paragraph is up to you. If it was me, I would pack it full of studies and constantly link back to the question. But I really want you to be free here. Just write like a sociologist. There is a sociologist inside you. Let it out!)
Day 9/10 Task: Revise the following concepts using an array of revision techniques. Use the relevant textbook sections:
o Social Class: Revision questions:
- Which studies do I know that link to social class?
- What do different theories say about social class?
- How does master status and stigmatised identity link to social class?
- Write down ONE THING that links to social class for EACH agent of socialisation (Example: Family = Social capital, Education = State schools vs. private schools, Media = Jeremy Kyle, Peer Groups= ‘The Lads’,Workplace= benefits vs working class Religion = Ethnic minorities more likely to be poor, and also different religion e.g. Working Class Irish Catholics looked down on by Middle-Class British Protestants?) o Ethnicity: Revision questions
- Which studies do I know that link to ethnicity?
- What do different theories say about ethnicity? (think about the link to social class)
- How does master status and stigmatised identity link to ethnicity? o Disability
- Which studies do I know that link to disability?
- What do different theories say about disability? (Think about interactionism/ Do postmodernists EXCLUDE the disabled. They’re going on about how anyone can be who they want through consumerism. But can the disabled?)
- How does master status and stigmatised identity link to disability? o Age
- Which studies do I know that link to age?
- How might age link to subcultures? (Think of youth subcultures link ‘goths’ and ‘punks’)
- What do different theories say about age? (Postmodernism is a big one here)
- How does master status and stigmatised identity link to age? o Sexuality
- Which studies do I know that link to sexuality?
- What do different theories say about sexuality? (Postmodernism is a big one here too – see below)
- How has femininity changed? (more aggressive – Jackson) – Agrees with postmodernism that traditional identities no longer exist
- How has masculinity changed? (non-traditional masculinities) – This also agrees with postmodernism that traditional identities no longer exist
- How does master status and stigmatised identity link to sexuality?
TIMING: You are supposed to complete a 10 marker in 15 ‐ 19 minutes –The important thing is to have fun!
AS Sociology – How to write a 20 marker (Day 11) The first thing you get in a 20 marker is a small box of information labelled ‘Item A’. You then get asked a question.
This question is entirely based on your ability to EVALUATE (criticise) THEORY. Here is how you answer a 20 marker:
Step 1 READ ITEM A! THEN READ THE QUESTION! There are usually HUGE CLUES in item A about what the examiner wants you to focus your writing on. If you don’t use ideas from Item A, you won’t get the point of the question.
Step 2 ‐ Paragraph 1 – Explaining your theory from Item A Based on Item A, write down AS MUCH DETAIL AS POSSIBLE about the key theory in ITEM A, ENSURING THAT YOU ARE LINKING YOUR THEORY BACK TO QUESTION. Example, if the question is on how ‘social identity is shaped’, you keep mentioning ‘social identity’ and how it is ‘shaped’.
Step 3 – Paragraph 2 – GENERAL CRITICISMS Give THREE general criticisms of the theory IN AS MUCH DETAIL AS POSSIBLE without using theory. (leave some space, if you have time at the end you can add more criticisms)
Step 4 – Paragraph 3 – First OTHER theory Using one OTHER THEORY, CRITICISE the position outlined in PARAGRAPH ONE using this other theory IN DETAIL. Try and have at least two criticisms from this theory. This paragraph needs to ensure that it is linking back to the question, so, if the question is on ‘how social identity is shaped’ you need to keep mentioning this. At the end of the paragraph. Give your theory a chance to answer ONE of these criticisms.
Step 5 – Paragraph 4 – Second OTHER theory Using a second NEW THEORY, CRITICISE the position outlined in PARAGRAPH ONE using this new theory IN DETAIL. Try and have at least TWO criticisms. This paragraph needs to ensure that it is linking back to the question, so, if the question is on ‘how social identity is shaped’ you need to keep mentioning this. At the end of the paragraph. Give your theory a chance to answer ONE of these criticisms.
Step 6 – Paragraph 5 – Conclusion You BRIEFLY outline the theory/ theorists from paragraph one and explain –apart from the wider critique (which is paragraph 2)‐ which theorists you used to criticise their ideas. What happens if you don’t finish paragraph 5? It’s really no big deal.
Day 11 ‐ Revision Task: I want you to spend a whole day just learning HOW TO WRITE A 20 MARKER. That’s it. Just learn the STRUCTURE. Nothing else. Day 12/13/14 – Revise theory. When you revise theory don’t just use the notes in this book. The best place to revise theory from is the classroom notes. Then use this booklet (final pages) and your textbook too (pages 12 ‐19). Day 15 onwards – Past exam questions – UNTIL THEY BECOME SECOND NATURE. PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT! Check back over your revision notes constantly.
You should be able to complete a 20 marker in 30 mins.
You need to be able to explain Marxism and criticise it!
Marxism
- Structuralist theory (interconnected/pyramid/ society moulds individual)
- Conflict theory (between the bourgeoisies and proletariat)
- The relationship between the bourgeoisies and proletariat is one of conflict and exploitation (the bourgeoisies exploit and control the proletariat)
- Criticises capitalism – An economic system where you can own the forces of production (businesses etc.) and private property
- Believe in the proletariat revolution
- Class consciousness/ false consciousness
- Marcuse and Adorno – Media is controlled by the bourgeoisies to promote a bourgeois ideology (way of thinking)
- Bourgeoisies also control culture
- Bourdieu – Different types of capital
Criticising Marxism
- Marxists say there are only two classes in society ‐ But what about the middle classes? There is a criticism of Marxism that states that class is highly stratified (organised into many different groups) and that Marx oversimplifies the relationships between classes.
- Marxists say that you cannot move out of your class / Social mobility – the ability to move up/down classes.
- Marxists ignore other types of inequality such as gender and racial inequalities.
- Marxism often sounds like a conspiracy theory and doesn’t offer proof when it says statements like ‘the media is controlled by the ruling class to protect ruling class interests’.
- The bourgeoisies and the proletariat are Marxist social constructions (only exist in the mind of a Marxist)
- Who says that the opera is more high class than going to a pub? It is a social construction. Marxism has an outdated view of culture.
- Feminists – The key relationship in society is the exploitation of women by men through patriarchy, not class conflict.
- Functionalists – There is a value consensus in society.
- Interactionists – Society does NOT mould the individual.
- Postmodernism – Consumerism allows individuals to create their own identity /Metanarrative is dead.
You need to be able to explain feminism and criticise it!
(Read through your notes on feminism/p.18‐ 19 for more detail) (Your worksheets on feminism are also important: also ask for lesson powerpoints if needed)
Feminism
- Structuralist theory (interconnected/ society moulds individual)
- Conflict theory (between males and female)
- The relationship between the males and females is one of conflict and exploitation (PATRIARCHY )
- Society is built upon a patriarchal system and worldview. All of the agents of socialisation present a patriarchal worldview.
- Liberal Feminists ‐ Believe in working within the law to bring about change in legislation
- Marxists Feminists ‐ Believe in the revolution of the proletariat as liberating for women.
- Radical Feminists‐ Believe the patriarchal worldview needs to deconstructed (heavily criticised and dismantled) and society requires a radical shift to give women equality that may need radical action outside the law.
- Mulvey – Women are presented in the media through the ‘male gaze’
Criticising Feminism
- Feminists assume that women are like automatons (robots) whose behaviour is controlled by men. What about personal choice? Each individual woman makes an individual choice to behave the way she does. Women are not controlled by social structures, but are in charge of the presentation of their own selves. (interactionist)
- Feminists ignore the fact that around the world there are millions of men who are powerless and living in desperate conditions. There are many men who are unemployed and in poverty. There are also men/boys who are abused by women. How does patriarchy explain this?
- Functionalists criticise feminism by saying that women are biologically determined to be maternal and caring, therefore it is their role to be primary carers of children in society. This is not a social construction, but a biological certainty. This forms a consensus in society.
- Marxists – Say radical feminists and liberal feminists ignore class conflict.
- Postmodernists – Women are free to create their own identities through consumerism. E.g. Plastic surgery.
- A postmodernist would say the Bruce Jenner sex‐change story shows that you can be who you want to be and today, nobody is controlled by patriarchal norms/values.
Interactionism (you must be able to explain it and criticise it)
- Non structuralist (individuals mould society/
society not interconnected)
- Small‐scale interactions make up who we are and how society works
- It is the interpretation of these interactions from each individual that makes up
their norms and values.
- We choose to follow norms and values.
- Goffman: Dramaturgy – The world is a stage
- Goffman: Symbolic interactionism – Our identity is based on the use of symbols to
present an image of who we are.
- Goffman: Master Status
- Goffman: Stigmatised Identities
Criticising Interactionism (use your notes to explore these ideas in more detail)
- We do not have control over the family we are born into, wealth we grow up with,
religion we’re born into. These STRUCTURAL (large‐scale) factors make us who we
are , away from any individual interpretation, particularly during primary socialisation,
and this often stays with us.
- Criticising Goffman: You cannot play just ANY role in society. A poor person cannot
play the role of a wealthy landowner as they do not have access to the symbols and
signs of the wealthy.
- If you focus on small scale interactions you are ignorant of the political and historical
context that affects them. For example a Nazi soldier killing a Jew in a concentration
camp: This has to be explained with reference to Nazi society as a whole in the 1940s,
not the individual interaction between the soldier and the Jewish victim.
- Social institutions such as the government, or the law courts have a responsibility
to protect everyone. This is an example of a social structure overcoming dangerous
identities (such as criminals).
- Functionalist : A social structure and VALUE CONSENSUS that controls us must exist.
This is why we have laws that control us and the police and courts that enforce this
structure and consensus. Criminal identities are locked up as they have gone against
the value consensus.
- Marxism/Feminism : If the individual creates society: Why would individuals in
society create a world that exploits them?
Mr. Arif thinks this might come up in the May exam.
