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Modern Studies Higher
CONTENT
Unit 1 : Political Issues in the UK
Decision Making in Central Government (20 Hours) : pressure groups,
the media and public opinion and their influence on the decision-making
process; parliament as an arena for party conflict and decisions;
the executive and its powers (Prime Minister and Cabinet).
The Electoral System, Voting and Political Attitudes (20 hours) :
the present electoral system and other voting systems; voting trends
and voting behaviour.
Unit 2 : Health and Wealth
The causes of poverty and ill health and goverment measures designed to solve the probelm.
A Society in Change – South Africa (20 hours) : South Africa
under the apartheid regime; the new South Africa since 1994. USA (20 hours) : Social, political and economic progress in recent
years, structure of goverment, political parties, representation and participation in politics.
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
There are a total of seven internal assessments. These are spread
throughout the session and take 20 minutes each.
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
This takes the form of an examination consisting of one paper lasting
3 hours 10 minutes.
HOMEWORK
Homework is very regular and consists of reinforcing facts for class
tests and practising essay questions similar to those in past examination
papers.
VALUE OF COURSE
Valuable for its own sake, especially to those interested in politics;
valuable for potential university and college entry; valuable for
those looking at the possibility of a career in politics, law, social
work , media, administration or any of the other professions.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Students need a reasonable ability in English and preferably a Grade
1 or 2 in the knowledge and understanding element of Standard Grade
Modern Studies or in another social subject at Standard Grade.
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Modern Studies Advanced Higher
CONTENT
The study theme is the European Union :
Context A: Political Relations (40 hours)
•
attitudes of main UK parties towards EU;
•
decision making in EU institutions;
•
relationship between the UK and EU.
Context B: Representation & Particapation in the European Parliament (40 hours)
•
elections to the parliament;
•
structure and function of the parliament;
•
influences on decision making in the parliament.
Social Research Methods (included in above 80 hours)
•
study of a range of social research methods such as interviewing, questionnaires,
surveys, media analysis, official statistics;
•
study of ethical issues concerning research, the principles involved in sampling,
statistical techniques and research terminology.
Practical Research (40 hours)
•
research for a dissertation (maximum 5000 words) on a European Union issue
or a topic from the Higher course.
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
There is an internal assessment during each of
the four sections above. In the case of the first two sections,
this consists of
an extended essay worth
30 marks. In the section on research methods, the assessment consists of
several short answer questions worth a total of 30 marks. For
the practical research
section, it consists of an informal interview with the teacher.
EXTERNAL
ASSESSMENT
•
3-hour exam paper testing knowledge of the European Union and research methods
content, worth 90 marks;
•
piece of practical research (dissertation) of between 4000-5000 words
on a European Union issue or a topic from the Higher
course (worth 45 marks).
HOMEWORK
Reading, learning information for assessments and exams,
practising essays and researching information for the dissertation.
VALUE
OF COURSE
Students are expected to take a high degree of responsibility
for their own work and consequently require a high level of
self-motivation. The course
is equivalent to a first year politics course at university.
It
will be of value
to those looking for a career in politics, law, social work,
the media
and other professions.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Students should have at least a grade C in Higher
Modern Studies.
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