GLASGOW ACADEMY
Welcome to
STANDARD GRADE
MODERN STUDIES
STANDARD GRADE MODERN STUDIES
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Area 3: Ideologies – China
• Communist Ideology,
Chinese political system and
recent changes.
• Social and Economic
inequalities between rural
and urban areas.
• Political rights and
participation, human rights
violations and punishments.
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MODERN STUDIES CONCEPTS
There are 7 concepts in Standard Grade Modern Studies. It is important that you
know and understand the meaning of all of them.
SENTENCE SYLLABUS
CONCEPT MEANING USING CONCEPT AREA
NEED
EQUALITY
RIGHTS +
RESPONSIBILITIES
PARTICIPATION
REPRESENTATION
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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING (KU) QUESTIONS
What you have learned throughout the two-year course will be tested by
these questions. KU questions are answered using only the information stored in
your head. You must show the marker what you know and understand about the
question asked. To do this you need to ensure that you write in as detailed a
manner as you can throughout your two years as well as in the exam.
It is very important that you do not write too much for an answer as this means that
you will not have time to finish the paper. How do you make sure you get the
balance right? The answer is basic arithmetic:
So for a 6 mark question you will need three points and three explanations plus
examples. Your explanation should always link back to the question and make
your point directly answer the question. If you do this fully, the examiner should
never be left thinking “so what?”. Only if you are really uncertain about one of
your points and expansion should you add in an extra one ‘just in case’.
Worked Example: Credit question from the 2005 exam which asks you to
“Choose either Local Councillors or MSPs or MPs. Describe, in detail, the ways
in which the type of representatives you have chosen works on behalf of the
people they represent.” (KU 6 marks).
Notice in the question some words appear in bold – this is done to make sure you
notice them. It is really important to follow the instructions you are given. The
word or tells you that you must choose one of the three representatives and write
three points about them, not one point for each of the representatives.
While the point made is correct, the candidate would be lucky to receive one mark
at this stage in a Credit level paper because it lacks detail. To improve on the
quality of this answer and guarantee a full mark, the answer would continue …
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“such as the recent debates on the issue of banning smoking in
public places.
(1 mark)
The candidate then needs to make this point answer the question. Currently the
answer implies that an MSP would do this just for fun!
During the debate MSPs, like our MSP Bristow Muldoon, would
contribute their points of view so that people from our
constituency (Livingston) would be represented in the Scottish
Parliament.” (1 mark)
So far our candidate has achieved two marks. They must make two similarly
detailed, relevant points in order to secure full marks.
This answer is still not finished and a third method now needs to be added.
Examples such as holding a surgery, attending a local function in the constituency,
replying to letters and e-mails sent in by constituents, being a member of a
committee such as Transport or Education, or any other point that shows how an
MSP can represent constituents.
Also, insure that you are writing about the work specifically asked in the question.
Some papers ask for constituency work only or parliamentary work only. You
achieve no marks if you do not write about the correct one.
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You must select information from the source without simply copying the information
straight from the source as this will not gain you any marks. You also need to
provide an explanation for the evidence you select.
Again, the two mark rule applies so check the number of marks available and write
in paragraphs just as in the KU questions. Be sure to use all the sources you are
given and name them by including phrases like “according to Source 2”. It is also
good practice to provide a concluding sentence. Useful phrases are:
There are three types of Evaluating ES questions and you should not include any
KU material for any of them.
These questions can be quite tricky to master. They will provide you with
information and ask you to interpret it and draw your own conclusions, ie put the
figures into words. A response to the question to the left below might read:
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obvious and worth no marks at credit. Instead state rate of increase - rapidly,
slowly, etc.
At Credit level these questions will provide you with three sources of information:
• One will support the issue discussed (usually)
• One will oppose the issue discussed (usually)
• One will be figures and graphs relating to the issue discussed.
Underneath there will be a viewpoint of a third party. You will be asked to assess
to what extent you think the person is being selective in their use of facts.
These questions are too long to give an example of here (they take up two sides of
A4 paper!), but in answering them you should always do the following:
At General level these questions will provide you with two sources and someone’s
opinion on the issue. You will be asked to give two reasons why the person could
be accused of exaggeration. For example:
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Using Sources 1 and 2 above, give two reasons why Gina Curtis could be accused
of exaggeration.
Your answer must be based entirely upon the sources above
Gina Curtis is exaggerating when she says “All pressure groups are
the same.” The sources clearly show that in terms of income
Greenpeace and Shelter are very different. (1 mark) Source 1
shows that Greenpeace has an income of about £6 million per
year, whereas, according to source 2 Shelter has an annual income
of about £2 million per year. (1 mark) this is a massive £4 million
difference.
These questions will ask you to make an informed, supported decision as to which
option of two is best for a group of people, community, etc. They will almost always
give you background information, some information about both options and
figures/statistics.
The sources given are very detailed and so, therefore, must your answer be. Don’t
be fooled by the example below, it is anything but typical – not least because it
does not take up two pages of A4!
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• Use all sources by linking your choices to the background information given
• Say why you have rejected the other option. You will lose 2 marks
otherwise. Sometimes the question will be out of 8 and 2 and explicitly
state that you have to do this, other times it will be out of 10 which implies
you have to do this. Make sure you do throughout and give a different
reason at the end to safeguard the points.
• Start a new paragraph for each point. Try to have as many points in favour
of your candidate than you do against the other one.
An example:
Using only the information in sources 1, 2 and 3 above, explain which person
would be better choice as Shop Steward for the workers at Glenmarsh Textiles.
Give two reasons for your choice.
You must link the information on Source 1 to the person you have chosen.
Another reason I chose Davie is that source 2 states that, “he also
has experience of retraining schemes and spoke to the TUC about
ways to introduce these to companies.” This proves that he would
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be good because workers feel that they could talk to someone with
experience of retraining. (1 mark) this is important because in
Source 1 it states that the management want to introduce
retraining schemes for workers to combat lost orders. (1 mark)
According to source 1, Sheila has a health and Safety course and
whilst this is useful in a factory it is not what the workers need
most right now. (1 mark)
Support and Oppose
As the name suggests these questions will provide you with a source of information
– usually a table or graph. A viewpoint will be given underneath the information
and you will be expected to support and oppose that viewpoint. For example:
Trade Unions have become more gender equal since 1995. Unions are now
strongest in manual work and the manufacturing sector despite recent changes in
British industry. View of Frances Naismith
A good answer to this question will quote the statement that is right and then quote
the evidence to support. It will then do the same for the incorrect one.
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from 32% to 29% in the same period. (1 mark) Clearly the numbers
are closer than they have ever been.
However, Frances Naismith is wrong to say that, “unions are now
stronger in manual work and the manufacturing sector” as the
evidence does not support this. (1 mark) In 2005 the proportion of
workers in a trade union in the manufacturing service was 28%
compared to 31% for services. (1mark) Clearly this is not
“strongest”.
Differences (General Level)
This is the General level version support and oppose. Instead of being asked to
find a for and against statement you will be provided with two sources and asked to
write about the differences between them. For example:
Sources 1 and 2 give different views about Scottish views on PR voting systems.
Write down two of the differences between these views.
You must use only information from the sources above.
To answer this question fully you must state the difference of opinion and then
provide the evidence to support your assertion. Please ensure that you are writing
about related differences and not just randomly writing down opinions!
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2 says Scots like consensus politics and laws that are passed to
“suit everyone, not just the party in power.” (1 mark)
In all types of ES questions you must include parts of the source in a complete
answer to gain full marks. Try and quote directly from the information and/or
statistics you are given in the source(s). Take care to write any figures as they are
given, ie percentages (%) or US dollars ($) or UK pounds(£) and be wary of table
headings that tell you the figures are written in thousands or millions.
The other type of ES question deals with investigating. There will be one in each
exam paper. They will be obvious because they are marked with the symbol below.
You are always given a topic to write on, for example, The
European Union (EU) in the 21st century was a topic given in the
2005 Credit paper. Your responses must relate to the topic you are
given. You will be asked to plan an investigation using a
Hypothesis, Aims and/or Headings and Methods of Enquiry.
WHAT IS AN HYPOTHESIS?
If you were carrying out an investigation into the problems faced by single parents
in finding a suitable job:
Clearly you need to include some KU in this part of the exam in order to formulate
a good hypothesis.
Hypothesis only appears in the Credit level paper and so Credit level thinking is
required. That means your hypothesis:
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needs to be provable through research
needs to include one of the Modern Studies concepts
needs to be exemplified and demonstrate your maturity in thought.
If you were carrying out an investigation into the problems faced by single parents
in finding a suitable job:
AIMS
1. “To find out what child care facilities are available in my local area.”
“To find out the cost of child care facilities.” are two relevant aims.
HEADINGS
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You will also need to know the good and bad points of using your chosen method of enquiry.
DVD
INTERNET
INTERVIEW
LETTER
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LIBRARY
OBSERVATION
DURING VISIT
OR INTERVIEW
QUESTIONNAIRE
SURVEY
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Worked Example - Women and politics
b) Give two relevant aims or headings to help prove or disprove your hypothesis.
c) You decide to conduct an interview with an MSP to help you research your aims.
Describe how you would organise such an interview.
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how to get to their office. (1 mark) I would call the day before the
interview in order to check that it was still convenient. I would then
ensure that that I arrived in plenty of time for my appointment. (1
mark)
More marks have been awarded than are available for this question. However, it is
good practice to always write in this level of detail for these questions to ensure
marks.
d) You also decide to write a letter to your MP in order to find out why they think
there are fewer female MP’s, than female MSPs.
Describe, in detail, the advantages, and disadvantages, of using this method for
your investigation.
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• There will be a 10-mark ES question (split 8 + 2) at the end of the exam so
make sure you leave enough time for this last question.
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