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is sociology a respected a level?

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No way, sociology is pretty easy, i memorised the book back to front and practiced applying AO1 and AO2 in essays and managed to get an A, you don't have to understand it or memorise dates (with AQA) you just need to know which sociologists fit with each topic.
I was getting D's E's and U's in my homework mocks and assessments and came out with an A

For someone starting As level sociology in September, what do you think I should look at before starting the subject?

Reply 21

NutellaLuv

Original post by 08Mercyf

For someone starting As level sociology in September, what do you think I should look at before starting the subject?

Your essay writing structure needs to be on point, its basically debating, knowing how to debate on paper is crucial, and if you can do that you'll be 100% fine
and you'll be given a text book when you start, you dont need to study ahead

Reply 22

Paraphilos

I don't have much clue why anyone would discredit sociology. It affects us all and is not only deeply interesting but can be decidedly tricky at times too.

Reply 23

Blackstarr

Original post by NutellaLuv

Okay.

Reply 24

maria_andron

Ive been told its neutral, not bad but not good either

Reply 25

lizmoo0721

Take Sociology if you think you will enjoy it. Don't take A-levels out of respect. Your going to be the one sitting in the lessons and exams, so make sure you enjoy it.

Reply 26

Blackstarr

Original post by AlphaDog0127

Not especially if you know how to answer the questions. Though I know a lot of people who did English and really struggled with sociology because you have to go about it a different way.

Original post by lizmoo0721

Take Sociology if you think you will enjoy it. Don't take A-levels out of respect. Your going to be the one sitting in the lessons and exams, so make sure you enjoy it.

For someone starting sociology As in September, what do you advice I have a quick look at.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 27

lizmoo0721

Original post by 08Mercyf

For someone starting sociology As in September, what do you advice I have a quick look at.

I didn't actually take Sociology, I've just finished A2's though. I'd look at the specification and see if you enjoy it. I took Chemistry as GCSE so took it at AS but the specification was completely different and I hated it so much. So look at the spec :smile:

Reply 28

AlphaDog0127

Original post by 08Mercyf

For someone starting sociology As in September, what do you advice I have a quick look at.

Which exam board?

Reply 29

2ne1Aaron

Original post by Kattah96

Clearly you didn't do sociology and you clearly have no knowledge of what the subject consists of. How dare you say 'non academic' people do it, some of the most intelligent and reputable people in the world studied sociology such as Ronald Reagan and Michelle Obama. You attitude towards this is disgusting to be brutally honest.

Having studied it myself, I suggest you explore sociology. It is great as you can relate it to some of the inequality and injustice that we see everyday. Sociology can widen your thoughts and get rid of narrow-minded ideas and construct intellectual arguments.

Your right on,I hate it when they underestimate us sociology students,to be honest the revision is hard,I felt like I couldn't take it anymore,all these names and theorists complicates your brain,and research methods never the less,it just depends on the interests you have which might make it easier or not,for example geography,government and politics,psychology and health and social care students,might find it easier,because it deals with society(eg demography,social policy,childhood and research methods),so it all depends on your interest,hence it varies.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 30

vices

Sociology is the most interesting a level, it completely changes the way you look at the world and makes you think about things in every day life through different perspectives

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Reply 31

2ne1Aaron

Original post by vices

This is so true,I guess when I was young,you see everything so perfect and metacratic ,but then when you take sociology,it makes you see the world in a different light and not everything is peaches and roses as we thought it was.

Reply 32

Blackstarr

Original post by AlphaDog0127

Which exam board?

AQA

Reply 33

Blackstarr

Original post by lizmoo0721

Okay.

Reply 34

AlphaDog0127

Original post by 08Mercyf

AQA

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Succeed-AS-Sociology-Complete-Specification/dp/0954007972/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=052NB0HSJM1YMT1DM51X

Get that book.

We were never told about it but it ended up being worshipped by our class. Takes the main text book and turns it into nice easy to read chunks and gets rid of the BS.

Reply 35

2ne1Aaron

Original post by AlphaDog0127

I got an A in unit 2 because of this book,thank god I got this at the last minute,before I kept on getting C's and D's.Its been a life saviour.

Reply 36

AlphaDog0127

Original post by 2ne1Aaron

I got an A in unit 2 because of this book,thank god I got this at the last minute,before I kept on getting C's and D's.Its been a life saviour.

I didn't find out about it til near the end, it was a life saver :biggrin:

Saved so many of us.

Reply 37

Helfus

I'm looking forward to continuing to study sociology having done it at GCSE.

Thanks for the book link

Reply 38

Pure class

Original post by Kattah96

Clearly you didn't do sociology and you clearly have no knowledge of what the subject consists of. How dare you say 'non academic' people do it, some of the most intelligent and reputable people in the world studied sociology such as Ronald Reagan and Michelle Obama. You attitude towards this is disgusting to be brutally honest.

Ronald Regan was not very intelligent . Stating two people who have done sociologly does not change the fact sociologly is a 'soft' subject .

Sociologly is easier then the other stem subjects.

Reply 39

Joinedup

Original post by SaarahN

Yes, or at least it should be.

However, I read a Telegraph article yesterday, which completely discourages my view. Further, I read an answer on yahoo.com which went as far as advising to never pick a course like Psychology or Sociology.

Just to put it out there: I picked both! Both subjects are usually considered un respectable because they fail to meet the strict criteria of a 'traditional' subject.
Further, Anthony Seldon at Telegraph descibes Sociology as a 'soft subject', which doesn't comprehensively represent a student's academic ability, as in it's not challenging enough. Here's the title of the article: 'Facilitating subjects are at the heart of student learning'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationopinion/11803301/Facilitating-subjects-are-at-the-heart-of-student-learning.html

He seems to be worried about people selecting weak combinations like sociology, law and general studies, also he seems to think it's good to select a non facilitating 4th subject in order to produce 'well rounded individuals' - of course well rounded individuals sound fantastic but no one's incentivised in that direction and there's not a lot of space in an A level system based on narrow specialisms.