Which is more difficult: RS or Politics?
Due to COVID - I only have one lesson each week for each subject. I am taking Sociology, English Literature & Religious Studies.
I missed my first RS lesson due to quarantine (I had to self isolate for 14 days I was unwell. No I don't have corona). First English Lit & Sociology lesson were pretty straightforward. I got a 9 in both my English GCSES so I feel confident I won't be too overwhelmed. Plus I love English. Sociology was enjoyable and fun.
However, I had my first RS lesson and given that I missed my first lesson wasn't too great for me. Other students had missed the lesson too but seemed pretty on board. Me on the other hand I was completely lost. I'm doing the OCR board - I got an 8 in RS. Naively assumed it would be similar as it is not Philosophy. Literally thought I was just going to be learning about religions like GCSE. I genuinely want to smack myself in the face. I tried to catch up at home all day, I've watched over 10 Youtube videos trying to understanding key concepts like Plato's Theory Of Forms, The cave Allegory. Nothing is going through my head. I'm a pretty quick learner and open minded yet I just don't understand RS A level at all. I asked some family members who got an A/A* and they explained the concepts. I still don't understand it. I'm thinking of switching to Politics as that was an option I was going to take for A level but was told it would be 'better' to take RS as I've done a GCSE in it.
I think if I am struggling this early on - it will be harder for me.
I know every A level has its hardships and there is no such thing as an 'easy' A level. I feel super down and frustrated and don't want to leave this decision to the last minute if I DO change to politics.
Anyone had any experience with this? Which did you find more difficult?
I missed my first RS lesson due to quarantine (I had to self isolate for 14 days I was unwell. No I don't have corona). First English Lit & Sociology lesson were pretty straightforward. I got a 9 in both my English GCSES so I feel confident I won't be too overwhelmed. Plus I love English. Sociology was enjoyable and fun.
However, I had my first RS lesson and given that I missed my first lesson wasn't too great for me. Other students had missed the lesson too but seemed pretty on board. Me on the other hand I was completely lost. I'm doing the OCR board - I got an 8 in RS. Naively assumed it would be similar as it is not Philosophy. Literally thought I was just going to be learning about religions like GCSE. I genuinely want to smack myself in the face. I tried to catch up at home all day, I've watched over 10 Youtube videos trying to understanding key concepts like Plato's Theory Of Forms, The cave Allegory. Nothing is going through my head. I'm a pretty quick learner and open minded yet I just don't understand RS A level at all. I asked some family members who got an A/A* and they explained the concepts. I still don't understand it. I'm thinking of switching to Politics as that was an option I was going to take for A level but was told it would be 'better' to take RS as I've done a GCSE in it.
I think if I am struggling this early on - it will be harder for me.
I know every A level has its hardships and there is no such thing as an 'easy' A level. I feel super down and frustrated and don't want to leave this decision to the last minute if I DO change to politics.
Anyone had any experience with this? Which did you find more difficult?
It's fine you don't get it, maybe you aren't the philosophical type - and A-Levels can be a bit scary when they widen the knowledge too fast. I remember this happening to me in Econ. To answer your question, Politics is pretty easy if you're good at essays and know a lot about the UK system already (makes learning and application sooo much easier). Even if you don't then you will learn how everything runs, and who's doing what as you follow the news. Here's what I did (AQA I think...?)
You start off Year 1 with democracy. What is it, where did it come from, what forms are there, which one do we use.
Then participation. Who participates in the UK politics, how, whats a pressure groups, whats scrutiny, what's XR and all that
The voting behaviour. Who voted for who in 2017 / 2019. What demographics vote what party and why. Media biases and such.
Then you move to voting systems. Which ones are there, what do we use, what others are used in the UK, what for etc.
The political parties. Which ones are there, what are their policies, where are they, what types of party exist. 1979 1997
Then you look at Parliament. What is Parliament, what do both houses do, how do they communicate. Legislative process and such
Finally the relations of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial. How they interact, what they do etc.
MEANWHILE: you study Liberalism, Conservatism and Socialism separately.
Year 2 is what I've just started and is comparative between US and UK politics. Can't tell you much about it yet. However you will study another ideology while doing this, but this is up to your teacher to decide.
Now you just decide if this appeals to you. I left out a lot of specifics - lots more work than this but this is the general topics. Keep in mind you've missed the first few lessons and might need to catch up.
You start off Year 1 with democracy. What is it, where did it come from, what forms are there, which one do we use.
Then participation. Who participates in the UK politics, how, whats a pressure groups, whats scrutiny, what's XR and all that
The voting behaviour. Who voted for who in 2017 / 2019. What demographics vote what party and why. Media biases and such.
Then you move to voting systems. Which ones are there, what do we use, what others are used in the UK, what for etc.
The political parties. Which ones are there, what are their policies, where are they, what types of party exist. 1979 1997
Then you look at Parliament. What is Parliament, what do both houses do, how do they communicate. Legislative process and such
Finally the relations of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial. How they interact, what they do etc.
MEANWHILE: you study Liberalism, Conservatism and Socialism separately.
Year 2 is what I've just started and is comparative between US and UK politics. Can't tell you much about it yet. However you will study another ideology while doing this, but this is up to your teacher to decide.
Now you just decide if this appeals to you. I left out a lot of specifics - lots more work than this but this is the general topics. Keep in mind you've missed the first few lessons and might need to catch up.
Original post by 2_versions
It's fine you don't get it, maybe you aren't the philosophical type - and A-Levels can be a bit scary when they widen the knowledge too fast. I remember this happening to me in Econ. To answer your question, Politics is pretty easy if you're good at essays and know a lot about the UK system already (makes learning and application sooo much easier). Even if you don't then you will learn how everything runs, and who's doing what as you follow the news. Here's what I did (AQA I think...?)
You start off Year 1 with democracy. What is it, where did it come from, what forms are there, which one do we use.
Then participation. Who participates in the UK politics, how, whats a pressure groups, whats scrutiny, what's XR and all that
The voting behaviour. Who voted for who in 2017 / 2019. What demographics vote what party and why. Media biases and such.
Then you move to voting systems. Which ones are there, what do we use, what others are used in the UK, what for etc.
The political parties. Which ones are there, what are their policies, where are they, what types of party exist. 1979 1997
Then you look at Parliament. What is Parliament, what do both houses do, how do they communicate. Legislative process and such
Finally the relations of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial. How they interact, what they do etc.
MEANWHILE: you study Liberalism, Conservatism and Socialism separately.
Year 2 is what I've just started and is comparative between US and UK politics. Can't tell you much about it yet. However you will study another ideology while doing this, but this is up to your teacher to decide.
Now you just decide if this appeals to you. I left out a lot of specifics - lots more work than this but this is the general topics. Keep in mind you've missed the first few lessons and might need to catch up.
You start off Year 1 with democracy. What is it, where did it come from, what forms are there, which one do we use.
Then participation. Who participates in the UK politics, how, whats a pressure groups, whats scrutiny, what's XR and all that
The voting behaviour. Who voted for who in 2017 / 2019. What demographics vote what party and why. Media biases and such.
Then you move to voting systems. Which ones are there, what do we use, what others are used in the UK, what for etc.
The political parties. Which ones are there, what are their policies, where are they, what types of party exist. 1979 1997
Then you look at Parliament. What is Parliament, what do both houses do, how do they communicate. Legislative process and such
Finally the relations of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial. How they interact, what they do etc.
MEANWHILE: you study Liberalism, Conservatism and Socialism separately.
Year 2 is what I've just started and is comparative between US and UK politics. Can't tell you much about it yet. However you will study another ideology while doing this, but this is up to your teacher to decide.
Now you just decide if this appeals to you. I left out a lot of specifics - lots more work than this but this is the general topics. Keep in mind you've missed the first few lessons and might need to catch up.
For sure. My college offers Politics but only the edexcel board.
Original post by DonTalkToMe
For sure. My college offers Politics but only the edexcel board.
Yeah just had a look, it looks pretty similar. You still do US, ideologies and all that, but it's all done throughout I think. If the AQA one sounds like you'd enjoy it then so would that - it's the same content it seems but in a different order. Switching now is easy and missing the first week shouldn't hurt your grades. But it's your decision, if you think you can brave on RS then go ahead, I'm sure everyone is equally confused but not showing it.
(P.S. Allegory of the cave is just: don't try to teach people who don't want to be taught, ignorance is bliss)
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