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Aqa Sociology Unit 1 families and household

Hi please could someone help me to structure an answer for a 24 marker. I am self taught I have the knowledge but no idea how to complete an exam paper.

Examples from you would be great!

Thank you

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Original post by dmet
Hi please could someone help me to structure an answer for a 24 marker. I am self taught I have the knowledge but no idea how to complete an exam paper.

Examples from you would be great!

Thank you

Posted from TSR Mobile


Hi, I've moved this over to the Sociology Study Help forum so that you'll get some better help to your thread!
Reply 2
Hi, the structure is different for each question. Some questions ask you to 'assess', others tell you to examine. Do you have an example question you want help with structuring?
Here's an example question: "Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere, assess the contribution of functionalist sociologists to our understanding of the family." (24 marks)
-Intro - describe functionalist views of the family, in about 2 sentences. Then, introduce both sides of the debate as the question is asking you to 'assess'. So you could say that functionalists believe....., whereas other sociologists such as Marxists and postmodernists argue that the family.......
You could also mention the Item in the introduction as my teacher last year said that you should try to mention the Item at least 3 times throughout your essay. Also, if you don't mention the Item you can't get any higher than a C, or a really low B.
Para 1 - functionalist view. Write about one of the views that functionalists have, e.g. here you could talk about the 4 functions of the family (Murdock)
Para 2 - Marxist view, say how this differs from the functionalist view
Para 3 - another functionalist view - e.g. Parson's 2 functions - primary socialisation of children, stabilisation of adult personalities
Para 4 - functionalist view
Depending on how detailed your paragraphs are, and how fast you write, you could write one or two more paragraphs. In your conclusion, sum up the debate and write your opinion of how much functionalists have contributed to our understanding of the family. Make sure your conclusion is good and strong :smile:

I did my Family exam a year ago so sorry if I haven't helped much haha. I got nearly full marks though so I do know that this is the right way to structure it out. If you need help with anything else for Family or Education (if that's what you're studying), don't hesitate to ask x
Reply 3
Original post by jadeeexo
Hi, the structure is different for each question. Some questions ask you to 'assess', others tell you to examine. Do you have an example question you want help with structuring?
Here's an example question: "Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere, assess the contribution of functionalist sociologists to our understanding of the family." (24 marks)
-Intro - describe functionalist views of the family, in about 2 sentences. Then, introduce both sides of the debate as the question is asking you to 'assess'. So you could say that functionalists believe....., whereas other sociologists such as Marxists and postmodernists argue that the family.......
You could also mention the Item in the introduction as my teacher last year said that you should try to mention the Item at least 3 times throughout your essay. Also, if you don't mention the Item you can't get any higher than a C, or a really low B.
Para 1 - functionalist view. Write about one of the views that functionalists have, e.g. here you could talk about the 4 functions of the family (Murdock)
Para 2 - Marxist view, say how this differs from the functionalist view
Para 3 - another functionalist view - e.g. Parson's 2 functions - primary socialisation of children, stabilisation of adult personalities
Para 4 - functionalist view
Depending on how detailed your paragraphs are, and how fast you write, you could write one or two more paragraphs. In your conclusion, sum up the debate and write your opinion of how much functionalists have contributed to our understanding of the family. Make sure your conclusion is good and strong :smile:

I did my Family exam a year ago so sorry if I haven't helped much haha. I got nearly full marks though so I do know that this is the right way to structure it out. If you need help with anything else for Family or Education (if that's what you're studying), don't hesitate to ask x


Hiiiii, quick question - How many arguments did you used to write for the 24 markers? I was told to write 5 plus the intro and conclusion which will lead upto around 12 paragraps - but the more I am reading about essay structure on here the more I am realising perhaps I don't need 5 arguments to get an A? Can I get away with writing 3 e.g 'Assess the feminist view of the role of the family' I would do an intro (which I am not good at doing) then
1. Dephy and leonard (unpaid housework) with zaretsky arguing against them.
2. Kate Millett (patriarchy) with Murdock arguing against her
3. Gittins (family acts as an ideology) with new right john redwood arguing against her
conclusion (struggle to write conclusions too)

So that'll be 5 paragraphs, 6 sociologists. Is this okay :/ or do I need to add another point. Would really appreciate your help! :smile:

p.s - I know everyone has their own version on how to structure arguments but I prefer the method I've done above as Its much more easy... so A01 is what a thinker believes and A02 is my criticism towards that thinker...

Any help I would appreciate as I am really struggling atm :frown:
Original post by sk942015
Hiiiii, quick question - How many arguments did you used to write for the 24 markers? I was told to write 5 plus the intro and conclusion which will lead upto around 12 paragraps - but the more I am reading about essay structure on here the more I am realising perhaps I don't need 5 arguments to get an A? Can I get away with writing 3 e.g 'Assess the feminist view of the role of the family' I would do an intro (which I am not good at doing) then
1. Dephy and leonard (unpaid housework) with zaretsky arguing against them.
2. Kate Millett (patriarchy) with Murdock arguing against her
3. Gittins (family acts as an ideology) with new right john redwood arguing against her
conclusion (struggle to write conclusions too)

So that'll be 5 paragraphs, 6 sociologists. Is this okay :/ or do I need to add another point. Would really appreciate your help! :smile:

p.s - I know everyone has their own version on how to structure arguments but I prefer the method I've done above as Its much more easy... so A01 is what a thinker believes and A02 is my criticism towards that thinker...

Any help I would appreciate as I am really struggling atm :frown:


If you wrote that in the exam, that'd be perfect. My teacher always tells us to try to get in 3 Sociologists, you've done double of that- that should get you a really good grade. :smile:

I like the way you've structured it too! Btw for your introduction you could just put down briefly the feminist perspective of the family (2 sentences) then a little bit on how others would disagree e.g. Functionalists would argue the roles in the family benefit society etc.

Then for your conclusion you say how useful the feminist perspective is in explaining the family. So you could argue how the radical feminist approach is too extreme. Ultimately, just say how useful it is in explaining the family.
Reply 5
Original post by michael.1
If you wrote that in the exam, that'd be perfect. My teacher always tells us to try to get in 3 Sociologists, you've done double of that- that should get you a really good grade. :smile:

I like the way you've structured it too! Btw for your introduction you could just put down briefly the feminist perspective of the family (2 sentences) then a little bit on how others would disagree e.g. Functionalists would argue the roles in the family benefit society etc.

Then for your conclusion you say how useful the feminist perspective is in explaining the family. So you could argue how the radical feminist approach is too extreme. Ultimately, just say how useful it is in explaining the family.


Hiiiii thanks for replying! Are you being serious - I can honestly write in that structure and still get top marks!? *slow sigh of relief* Yes I never repeat a sociologist as I find theres so many that say things its so easy to not repeat a same sociologist and better to use different ones keeps the essay flowing.

Ahh thanks regarding structure of essay lol! If you want I can inbox you some examples of how I write my arguments?

Also, thanks for telling me how to write into and conclusion - great help!!
Original post by sk942015
Hiiiii thanks for replying! Are you being serious - I can honestly write in that structure and still get top marks!? *slow sigh of relief* Yes I never repeat a sociologist as I find theres so many that say things its so easy to not repeat a same sociologist and better to use different ones keeps the essay flowing.

Ahh thanks regarding structure of essay lol! If you want I can inbox you some examples of how I write my arguments?

Also, thanks for telling me how to write into and conclusion - great help!!


Haha! Yes, as long as you refer to the item a couple of times in the second question and you use other perspectives to argue against the ones you're already using then (e.g.Feminism vs. Functionalism) and you use the theorists then yeah it should get top marks!

No problem, yeah that'd be great I struggle with the structuring in this unit! :frown:

No problem- that's how my teacher taught me to do them :smile:

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