Contents

Introduction

Sociology

Course Aims

The Syllabus, Examinations and Assessment

Your Textbook and Resources

The Structure of the Course

How Your Work is Assessed on the Course

The Transition from (I)GCSE to AS and A Level - Some Tips

Happy to Help

Download your Programme of Study

Introduction

Welcome to your Wolsey Hall Cambridge AS Sociology course. Please take the time to read carefully through this page as it explains how the course is structured, how to get the most out from your studies and how your work will be assessed. At the end of this page, you will find details of the reading you will need to do from your textbook and also how each module links to the CAIE syllabus and the final examinations.

This course will lead you step-by-step through the syllabus by way of video links, ‘stretch notes’, resources, assignments and, of course, the textbook, so that by the end, you will be confident and fully prepared for your final examinations.

Sociology

Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science that aims to discover the process and fabric of our societies, how we live and how we interact with others. It examines the power structures that shape society and can have an impact upon our life chances and opportunities. This course explores the influence of class, gender, ethnicity, age and disability on our lives. It also considers how we are socialised into society and how we create our own sense of self and identity. You will study highly influential theories such as Marxism, feminism, the New Right, neo-liberalism and postmodernism, which have all significantly influenced the world in which we live in today.

The Cambridge AS and A Level in Sociology will help you develop a strong critical overview. You will learn how to analyse and consider theoretical arguments and assess these in the light of actual research data. You will utilise information from a variety of different sources in order to build a detailed overview of social phenomena and will develop a critical, analytical writing style. You will also be introduced to the ways in which social research is conducted and will acquire the skills to be able to analyse the world around you and become more aware of how your society works.

At AS, you will be introduced to the key sociological theories which underpin the whole course. You will also cover the key themes of sociological inquiry and learn about how sociologists conduct research and the debates which exist around using specific methods. Finally, you will study your first social institution by examining the family, its role in society and the impact it has on its members.

Course Aims

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of sociological concepts, theories, methods and research findings, as well as sociological principles and perspectives;
Apply these ideas to real-life situations;
Compare and contrast different theoretical positions;
Understand the relationship between sociological findings and everyday life;
Appreciate individual, social and cultural diversity, as well as continuity and change in social life;
Recognise difference in society and understand the patterns in, and effects of, inequality;
Describe the range and limitations of sociological theory and research;
Demonstrate strong skills in essay-writing, communication, interpretation, analysis and evaluation;
Understand sociological research methods, including issues concerned with the planning, implementation and evaluation of research enquiry and the collection, analysis and interpretation of data – all skills that will aid you if you wish to pursue research in future.

The Syllabus, Examinations and Assessment

This Wolsey Hall course is designed to prepare you for the Cambridge AS Sociology examinations which you will sit at a Cambridge exam centre. It is vitally important that you become familiar with the syllabus which can be found below:

READ - Syllabus 2021-23 (CAIE)

The examination code for AS and A Level Sociology is: 9699

For the AS Level in Sociology you will sit two papers:

Paper 1: Socialisation, Identity and Methods of Research – This paper is worth 50% of your AS grade and 25% of your overall A Level grade. Length: 1 hour and 30 minutes.

The paper carries 60 marks in total and consists of four questions:

Section A: three compulsory questions. Questions 2 and 3 have two parts each (a and b).

Section B: one essay (26 marks) from a choice of two.

Paper 2: The Family – This paper is worth 50% of your AS grade and 25% of your overall A Level grade. Length: 1 hour and 30 minutes.

The paper carries 60 marks in total and consists of four questions:

Section A: three compulsory questions. Questions 2 and 3 have two parts each (a and b).

Section B: one essay (26 marks) from a choice of two.

All components are externally assessed.

The syllabus is examined in the June and November examination series. This syllabus is also available for examination in March for students in India only.

Assessment Objectives

The assessment objectives (AOs) for AS and A Level Sociology are as follows:

AO1: Knowledge and understanding

Demonstrating knowledge and understanding of:

Sociological concepts, theories, evidence, views, research methods, arguments and debates;
The theoretical and practical considerations that influence the design and execution of sociological research;
Relevant sociological research finding.

AO2: Interpretation and application

Interpreting sociological material, including concepts, theories and evidence, and applying this to a range of issues. This includes:

Using relevant sociological material to support points or develop arguments;
Explaining how sociological material is applicable to a particular issue or question;
Demonstrating awareness of the links between the concepts, theories and evidence used to support points or develop arguments.

AO3: Analysis and evaluation

Analysing and evaluating sociological theories, evidence, views, research methods and arguments. This includes:

Explaining the strengths and limitations of sociological theories, views and research methods;
Developing arguments against sociological theories and views;
Investigating sociological theories and arguments to reveal underlying assumptions, value judgements, misconceptions, logical flaws and ideological influences;
Discussing counter viewpoints or evidence to demonstrate the complexity of sociological issues and debates;
Recognising the limitations of, or bias in, sociological and non-sociological evidence;
Reaching conclusions based on a reasoned consideration of available evidence and arguments.

Your Textbook and Resources

Wolsey Hall offers a unique model of offline and online resources to our homeschooling students – a model which we have developed based on our many years’ experience of providing homeschooling courses to students.

Textbook

Each subject specialist team carefully selects the best textbook for you to use as you study. The textbook for your AS Sociology course is:

Cambridge International AS & A Level Sociology Student’s Book, by Michael Haralambos, Martin Holborn, Steven Chapman, Tim Davies, Pauline Wilson and Laura Pountney (Collins, 2019); ISBN: 9780008287627

Throughout the course, we recommend that you complete all of the questions and exercises in the textbook – the table below will highlight which pages you should read for each module.

Resources

In addition to your textbook, we have sourced a range of additional resources to support your learning. The resources are clearly marked out in the module pages and you should make use of these alongside your textbook to ensure that you get the very best out of your course.

You will also find a range of key resources in the General Resources section of the course. These are items which relate to the course as a whole, rather than to specific modules, and as such, you should make regular use of them. For AS Sociology, these are:

List of Key Terms for AS Sociology
CAIE Learner Guide for AS and AL Sociology
Exam Preparation Guide
Useful Websites
Optional Further Reading List

You should also make use of the extensive exam preparation material at the end of the course to help you to prepare for your final examination.

The Structure of the Course

All the files required for your course are uploaded onto our Learning Management System, Canvas. Once you have read through this page and downloaded the Programme of Study (POS) then you are ready to begin the course.

The key course content is covered in ten modules, each of which has an assignment at the end of it. These modules will help you to get the most out of your textbook. Each module is subdivided into topics so that you can study the course in manageable chunks. Each topic is set out as follows:

Read and Make Notes – this section includes the page references for reading and note-making from your textbook.
Tasks – this section identifies key questions you should be able to answer once you have completed the reading.
Links – throughout the course there will be links to a range of resources that will enhance your understanding of key concepts and will give you an opportunity to apply your knowledge.
Stretch Notes – these are included in certain topics where additional information to that provided in the textbook is useful for your studies.
Consolidate – at the end of each module, there is a topic where you will find resources that help to draw together what you have learnt in the module.
Terminology – you will keep track of new terminology by making flashcards for revision as you progress through the course.

Module Eleven, at the end of the course, is focussed on revision and exam practice. It contains tips and tasks for you to work on once you have completed the course.

How Your Work is Assessed on the Course

Your progress will be assessed by completing an assignment at the end of each module. We recommend that you do NOT look at the assignments until you've studied all the topics in the module. This will ensure that you focus on everything you need to know for the exam. If you focus only on what you need to know to do well in the assignment, you will miss important elements in each module that you need to know and understand.

The assignments have been designed to help you prepare for your final examination – many of the questions are based on past exam papers. Answering exam-style questions is crucial in developing your exam technique, understanding exactly what the examiner is looking for in each case and ensuring you are confident when you tackle the real exams. We do not expect you to complete your assignments without referring to your notes or textbook and early on it is important to utilise as you are learning new ideas and concepts, however, we encourage you to rely less on these as you progress through the course. By your final assignment, you should be able to work without needing to refer back to your textbook regularly, as you will not have access to it in the exam.

N.B. If you quote directly from the textbook in any of your assignments, you must make this very clear and cite the quotation properly. If you do not do this, it will be classed as plagiarism which is a very serious offence.

The assignments allow you to think critically about what you have learned and will enable your tutor to see how well you are progressing. Your tutor will mark your assignments and provide you with detailed feedback. Once you have had your marked assignment returned, you will be able to access the mark scheme and/or a specimen answer (an A-grade piece of work). You should always reflect carefully on your tutor’s feedback and apply it in your future assignments.

You should read the assignment questions carefully and answer them to the best of your ability, providing relevant examples where necessary. If you don’t do well in your first assignment, don’t worry; your tutor is there to provide advice.

We ask that you do not submit multiple assignments at the same time. For you to see a steady improvement in your marks, it is very important that you reflect on your tutor’s feedback before beginning each new assignment, so that you can incorporate their tips for improvement into each new piece of work.

To get the best out of your course, before submitting each new assignment, you must:

Complete all the reading, notes and activities in the preceding module;
Read carefully through all of your tutor’s comments on your last assignment;
Use the mark scheme and/or any exemplar or specimen answers provided to help you plan for the next assignment.

We cannot guarantee that tutors will be able to mark multiple assignments within the 3-5 working day window and your work may be returned to you to complete again in light of more recent feedback.

All assignments are submitted via Canvas – you should consult the Canvas Guide for more information.

The Transition from (I)GCSE to AS and A Level - Some Tips

It is not necessary to have studied Sociology at (I)GCSE in order to study Sociology at AS and A Level. The vast majority of Sociology students start the subject at A Level and the course assumes no prior knowledge of the subject. If you have studied Sociology at (I)GCSE however, you will find that the A Level builds upon the ideas covered and adds more depth and detail to your understanding. Remember to keep up with your key terms and concepts whilst considering how what you learn at A Level helps you understand the (I)GCSE topics in more depth.

Happy to Help

When you study a Wolsey Hall course, you are never alone. There are lots of people who are willing to help you. Everyone is on your side!

Tutors: At Wolsey Hall, all our tutors are friendly and knowledgeable. They are subject experts and you should not be shy about asking them questions about your course. You will meet your tutor at the start of your course and you should contact them via Canvas messaging if you have any questions.
Student Progress Managers: You have already been assigned a Student Progress Manager who can help with your Assignment Schedule.
Exams Officers: Wolsey Hall’s Exams Officers are here to help students with any queries regarding exam centres.
Canvas Help Desk: Canvas is a great virtual learning environment, but we understand that sometimes, even the best things can go wrong! If you have any problems with Canvas (e.g. uploading assignments or unable to access resources) you should submit a Canvas Help Ticket.

For information about how to create and submit a Help Ticket, please refer to the Canvas Guide.

We hope you’ll enjoy your course and studying at Wolsey Hall. We wish you the best of luck in your studies and success in your examinations. Please do let us know how you get on when you receive your examination results!

The Wolsey Hall Team