Why Modern Studies?

Modern Studies allows our students to develop knowledge and understanding of contemporary political and social issues in local, Scottish, United Kingdom and international contexts.

The courses offer challenging, coherent and enjoyable journeys for learners who progress through levels. Learners also engage with discussions about the changing nature of political systems through studying democracy in Scotland and the United Kingdom.

Broad General Education

S1

In S1 Pupils will have one teacher for Social Subjects. For the last section they will study Modern Studies. Firstly, pupils will look at the issue of Human Rights. Within this, the idea of abuses of human rights across the world will be explored, as well as concepts such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In addition, S1 pupils will look at the issue of the use of child soldiers in developing countries. Classes will also explore the global concern of terrorism and its impact on the world we live in, including Islamophobia. The last aspect of Modern Studies covered in S1 is Poverty; including absolute poverty on a global scale and relative poverty closer to home.

S2

In S2, pupils take a detailed look at comparisons between the Scottish and American political and social systems. A key part of the Curriculum for Excellence’s experiences and outcomes is to examine Scotland’s place in the world, meaning that pupils aim to achieve this by looking at Scotland in comparison to a major world power.

S3

Pupils in S3 get the chance to study Crime and Law, examining topics such as causes of crime, the Justice System and the roles of the police. As well as offering pupils the chance to study a key social issue in the UK today, studying this course also counts towards National awards which can be undertaken in S4. If a pupil does decide to take Modern Studies in S4 they will already have completed one-third of the course.

Senior Phase

National 4 and 5

Course outline

• Politics topic – Democracy in Scotland
• Social topic – Crime and Law
• International topic – China

Assessment

National 5

• The final exam consists of one paper which covers the three topics studied and is made up of knowledge-based questions and source-based evaluation questions.
• There is also an Added Value Unit which is worth 20% of the final grade. Pupils choose a topic they wish to study and write a report on this under exam conditions.

National 4

• Pupils are expected to pass internal unit tests and completed an Added Value Unit. Successful completion of these will be rewarded with a National 4 award. There is no final exam.

Higher

Course outline

• Politics topic – Democracy in Scotland and the UK
• Social topic – Wealth and Health Inequalities in the UK
• International topic – The United States of America

Entry to the course

You would normally be expected to have gained at least an A-C pass in National 5 Modern Studies or an A-B pass at National 5 in another Social Subject. If you have not sat any Social Subjects previously, we would expect at least a B in National 5 English.

Assessment

• Final exam consists of all three sections covered, with a range of essays and source-based evaluation questions
• An assignment must be carried out, whereby pupils choose a topic they wish to study and write an essay on this topic under exam conditions. This is worth 33% of the final grade.

Advanced Higher Modern Studies

This course should really be entitled Criminology because Advanced Higher Modern Studies allows pupils to develop their research and investigative skills within the context of Law and Order.

Two key topics will be studied that allow pupils to explore their understanding of why crimes are committed and how society deals with those who have broken the law.

Context B – Understanding Criminal Behaviour

Through study of key theories of crime including Marxism, Labelling, Feminism, Anomie, Subculturalism and Left Realism pupils will gain an understanding of what causes some people to commit crimes and others not. Pupils also research Biological theories of crime that suggest criminals are born that way along with pyschological theories including Freud and Bowlby. There is no one answer and pupils are encouraged to explore their own beliefs as to whether crime is nature versus nurture; heavily linked to social class; or whether society actually creates its own criminals.

Context C – Responses by Society to Crime

Pupils will investigate the current British prison system to discover how it is organised and what the key challenges are for prisons. Prisons have four key aims – Incarceration, Protection, Rehabilitation and Deterrance – and pupils will reach a conclusion as to how far prisons can meet these aims.  Pupils will also compare with international prisons to judge whether different approaches may ease Britain’s prison crisis.

Pupils will also be expected to investigate the current alternatives to prison that exist in the UK and Scotland and whether these offer a solution. There is no one answer to this and pupils are encouraged to explore their own ideas over whether punishment is more important than rehabilitation; whether prisons do deter people from committing crime; and in what ways community alternatives may have a role to play.  In a nutshell, pupils will be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to offer a re-design of the UK’s prison service.

Entry to the course

Pupils are expected to have achieved an A or B pass in Higher Modern Studies.

Assessment

Dissertation – Pupils have the opportunity to independently research and prepare a 5000 word dissertation on a criminology topic of their choice. This is worth 50 marks.

Exam – The final exam is worth 90 marks and comprises an essay on each of the topics above and a critique of Research Methods used by sociologists in terms of their validity, reliability and ethics.