STANDARD GRADE

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STANDARD GRADE

• MODERN STUDIES

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AIMS OF STANDARD GRADE

• The main aim of Standard Grade Modern Studies is
  to provide pupils with
• Information, Knowledge and Understanding about
  different parts of the course,
• Training in Enquiry Skills, that is in Evaluating
  and Investigating.

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AIMS OF STANDARD GRADE

• In addition we try to encourage pupils to
  develop
• An interest in active participation in society
  and the political system.
• Open-minded attitudes, accepting different views,
  opposing prejudice.

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STANDARD GRADE MODERN STUDIES EXAMS

• Each pupil will sit exams at two levels.
• The decision on which levels you sit will not be
  made till the middle of Fourth Year.
• Each exam paper has questions on the 4 Syllabus
  Areas (described on the following slides.)
• Knowledge and Understanding and the Enquiry
  Skills will be tested.

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THE EXAMS

• Credit a 2 hour paper
• General a 1.5 hour paper
• Foundation a 1 hour paper

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Knowledge Understanding

• This continues the work you have done in S1 S2.
• KU accounts for 40 of the marks in the Standard
  Grade Exam.
• It will involve learning about different aspects
  about Britain and the world.
• We study the information through concepts or
  organising ideas.

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Knowledge Understanding

• Exam questions will be related to these concepts.
• An award for KU will require pupils to explain
  their answers to show an understanding of the
  information and concept.
• A good answer will often make use of examples to
  illustrate the point being made.

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Enquiry Skills

• This includes Evaluating and Investigating.
• It accounts for 60 of the marks in the Standard
  Grade Exam.

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Enquiry Skills - Evaluating

• This follows on from the work done in S1 and S2.
• It involves being aware of the difference between
  fact and opinion.
• You will also have to show that you can compare
  different pieces of evidence or sources.
• You will also have to explain different points of
  view.

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Enquiry Skills - Investigating

• By the end of the course you will be able to set
  out the aims you would use to investigate a
  particular topic.
• You will also explain the methods you would use
  to find out about these aims.
• This might involve making up questions for an
  attitude survey.
• It might also involve thinking of key words to
  find out information from the CD-Rom.

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SYLLABUS AREAS -There are 4 Syllabus Areas
SA1 Living in a Democracy
SA2 Changing Society
SA3 Ideologies - USA
SA4 International Relations
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SA1 Living in a Democracy

• The key concepts here are

• Participation

• Representation

• Rights and Responsibilities

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SA1 Living in a Democracy

• The specific contexts through which we study
  these concepts involve aspects of central and
  local government and also the workplace. This
  includes
• Election of representatives
• Representation and decision making
• Ways of influencing decision makers
• Rights and responsibilities of individuals and
  groups.

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SA2 Changing Society

• The key concepts here are

• Equality

• Ideology

• Need

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SA2 Changing Society

• The specific contexts through which we study
  these concepts include the elderly, people of
  working age and families with children. This
  includes
• Needs of the elderly and the unemployed
• Differences in standard of living
• Changes resulting from new technology
• Meeting the needs of people of working age.

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SA3 Ideologies - USA

• The key concepts here are

• Equality

• Ideology

• Participation

• Rights and Responsibilities

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SA3 Ideologies - USA

• The specific contexts through which we study
  these concepts involve looking at equality,human
  rights and participation in USA. This includes
• The ideology of USA
• Ways in which ideology affects equality
• Forms of participation and how these are limited.

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SA4 International Issues

• The key concepts here are

• Need

• Power

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SA4 International Issues

• The specific contexts through which we study
  these concepts include competition and rivalry,
  cooperation through international organisations
  and aid to the developing world. This includes
• Cooperation through the EU, NATO, UN
• How European states cooperate for defence
• Why different states help developing countries in
  Africa.

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Other Issues / Aspects Covered in the Course

• In addition to the main Syllabus Areas there are
  a number of issues / aspects which are covered
  throughout the Course. These are

• The Media

• Multicultural Education

• Technological Education

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Methods used in Standard Grade

• Class discussion
• Written work from class booklets
• Practice in exam questions
• Video / TV programmes
• Finding out information from newspapers on CD-Rom
• Presenting information using computers.

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Homework

• Homework is essential to complete the course.
• All homework issued must be logged in your
  Homework Diary.
• All pupils are expected to hand in homework on
  the date requested.
• In the exceptional case where there is a problem
  you must inform your teacher early enough so that
  help can be given to allow you to complete the
  task on time.

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The End