Sociology AS Level

[boosh logic]

Im not sure if this is the right room for this topic, but does anyone do Sociology in Britain at AS level and have an exam a couple of days ago? I did, and Im just interested to hear peoples thoughts on it.

[simsydav]

I did it last year, was allot of fun.

What topics did you cover?

We did Education, Families and Methodology.

[Hegemonicretribution]

I do/have sone, but I didn't do that one, although I do have sociology exams coming up this week. I am sitting (in most cases) As and A2 combined into one year, so I can pass on how everything beyoned unit 3 went. How did you find it BTW?

[boosh logic]

This exam was all about education - the family exam is in June. Yeah it was alright - the 20 mark questions were on gender and ethnicity (I was hoping one would be on class differences), but I think it went ok. The a,b,c,d were questions like what is cultural capital, and about the elaborate/resticted code, etc.
It could of been a lot worse!

Is sociology good in year 13? You study religeon, crime and punishment right?

[Hegemonicretribution]

There is some element of choice in it, although my course did do religion and crime and deviance this time round. I have sat media, family and education papers before, as I have moved colleges and exam boards before. I never actually did it in year 13 (was a true member of the proletariat at that age ;) ) but the paper that year wasn't bad.

To be honest sociology was more of a passing interest when I was a little younger, and I find it hard to be as up to date as I once with, with what is actually sociology. What do you think of it as a discipline?

[boosh logic]

It's very interesting - learning about Marxism is one the things that led me to this site. You get to learn about policies/criticisms, different sociologists, and other theories such as Functionalism (which basically agrees with Marxism on how things are, but claims it to be good) and Interactionism. The education topic has been good, learning about things like the hidden curriculum, etc.

I guess I'll be onto coursework soon, but Im not sure what I'll decide to study yet. How long ago did you study it, Hegemonicretribution?

[James]

Excuse me, hope this doesn't sound like i'm talking down to you, but do you mind if i give you some advise that i wish i had been given when doing me Alevels?

Read the standard text book (s) used by the course/advised by the course/your teachers - and make some standard notes. And do a small amount of extra reading around the different subjects. I only did this for my last few moduals at A2 and man did it pay off big time! Also, base your revision/note making around the course structure. Indeed there should be a list with all the different subjects and sub-sections you need to know.

wish i had done it at AS! I did poor at AS so was restricted to what uni's i could go for. At A2 i got dramatically better grades. Got rejected by edinburgh because of my AS grades. MY over all end grades though were much better than their requirements.
its annoying!

Yeah.... so put in a bit of effort and think long term!

[boosh logic]

Ok thanks - I normally take notes on the text book, but I guess I'll get bonus points or something for outside knowledge?

Did you do sociology at AS level?

PS thanks for the advice! ;)

[James]

No, i did history, politics and geography. With politics i basically learnt one of those revision guide things and my notes: but i would say that this only gives you a B in itself. Luckily we had a really good teacher who would photocopy us loads of information from books, so we had that to go off too.

With history, i found the reivison guides rubbish: so it was my notes, and the "text book": i.e. the book recomended by the teachers/course. In addition to this i think i had another book or two. Its just really good to read around it all a little. I found that the teachers often make it seem harder than it is: they are giving you a certain amount of info as a group, so it isn't really tailored to your specific needs. I find just getting a bit more background knowledge, and a little bit "extra" helps you understand it so much more. Its amazing, you can think that you understand the situation perfectly, just from your notes/class.
But then you do a bit of reading and you get it on such an amazing new level.


So its not so much bonus points i would say.... more a case of it dramatically increases your awareness and understanding of the subject. I guess that it is these two qualities which allow you to answer esssay questions.

But seriously: do put the extra effort in! it pays off big time in your grades, which in turn dramatically effects what uni you can go to (and there is a big difference).
And don't think your AS are a doss! (because you can resit): it is your AS which the uni's go off. Also, having resits to do decreases your revision/effort time you can put into your A2.

Thats the end of my lecture!

[boosh logic]

Thanks for the advice - you've pretty much answered my questions!

[Hegemonicretribution]

Originally posted by boosh [email protected] 13 2006, 04:12 PM
How long ago did you study it, Hegemonicretribution?
Lost this thread ages ago sorry ;) erm I first studied sociology in 2001 I think, I started A-level sociology in 2003, and here I am still doing A2.

I agree with James to some extent about the course books. I initially got way to interested and spent a lot of time reading around the subject. What you have to bare in mind is that it is only A-level, and therefore still a little remedial. This cost me dearly during my As, and I dropped out before A2, despite being the most successful member in the class prior to exams.

If you just want grades for university, then focus on what school requires, if you want to understand the subject, then read widely. If you want both, then you will have to make concessions based on your own background. I am now trying not to let my outside knowledge negatively affect my results this June, so that I can get to Uni finally and get to business.