Standard Grade Modern Studies

Standard Grade:- Credit Level Papers

REVISION- POINTERS AND

ADVICE

This booklet contains the CREDIT level examinations from 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. It also includes the relevant marking schemes.

The following should give you an idea of what to expect in each section of the exam. This is not meant as an exhaustive list- there is potential for other

questions in line with your course notes!!

Living in a Democracy

In this part of the syllabus you should know:

How candidates are chosen for election Ways in which people can take part in politics in the UK How elections work in Scotland and the UK How representatives work for their constituents at Westminster, the Scottish

Parliament, and on Local Councils Pressure Groups in the UK Trade Unions in the UK

Before your Standard Grade exam, you should revise each of these topics.

Knowledge and Understanding questions for this Syllabus Area will be based on three different concepts:

Participation Representation Rights and Responsibilities

Remember: Questions about Politics in Scotland could be based on the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, the Westminster Parliament in London, or local councils in Scotland.

Potential Question Themes

Why women or ethnic minorities are underrepresented in the House of Commons

Trade union methods

Role of TU members during disputes with their employers

The work of an MSP or MP in terms of representing his/her constituents

Advantages and Disadvantages of electoral systems

Why people should use their vote

Methods used by Pressure Groups to influence MPs

Ways of participating in politics

Role of media during an election

Changing Society

In this part of the syllabus you should know:

Health needs of the elderly Housing needs of the elderly The needs of the unemployed: jobs, money Inequality between different elderly people because of wealth, health and

housing Inequality between families New technology and its impact on jobs The role of individuals, families, government and voluntary organisations in

meeting the needs of people such as the elderly, unemployed and those on low incomes

Before the Exam

Before your Standard Grade exam, you should revise each of these topics.

Knowledge and Understanding questions for this Syllabus Area will be based on three different concepts:

Equality Ideology Need

Questions could be based on the elderly, employment and unemployment or families in the UK.

Potential Question Themes

Policies introduced by Labour to help the unemployed

Needs of the elderly- health, mental, physical

The pension issue

Accommodation for the elderly

Living standards of different types of family

Problems faced by lone parents/older people in finding work

Causes of unemployment/ decline in heavy industry

Way the Government help elderly people/unemployed/lone parents- usually financially

China

In this part of the syllabus you should know:

The ideology of China (Communism, Central Party control) Equality and Inequality in China (wealth, rights, SEZ etc.) Participation in China Ways of protesting in China (legalities of protest) Human rights issues (Lagoai, Falun Gong, Punishments, Lack of rights)

Before your Standard Grade exam you should revise each of these topics.

Knowledge and Understanding questions for this Syllabus Area will be based on four concepts:

Equality Ideology Participation Rights and responsibilities

Potential Question Themes

Social Inequality in China

Development in the economy of China- foreign business, SEZs

Argument behind the call for increased political rights

Reasons for the wide gap between rich and poor

Barriers to development- Human Rights issues, nature of political system and treatment of non-CPC citizens

Recent developments in reducing inequalities- more participation at local level in politics, Hukou abolished and One Child Policy changed

Ways in which Human rights have improved/ ways in which they remain behind the rest of the world

International Relations

In this part of the syllabus you should know:

Reasons why countries benefit from membership of the European Union Reasons why countries benefit from membership of the United Nations Reasons why countries benefit from membership of NATO Aid to African countries from rich countries and organisations such as the

United Nations

Before your Standard Grade exam you should revise each of these topics.

Knowledge and Understanding questions for this Syllabus Area will be based on two different concepts:

Need Power

Questions could be based on Alliances or on the Politics of Aid to Africa

Potential Question Themes

Factors taken into consideration prior to giving of aid

Not all aid is good aid- meeting the needs of developing nations

The work of the UN agencies in Africa

Advantages/ Disadvantages of the Euro

Advantages/ Disadvantages of NATO membership

Recent conflicts- involvement of NATO/UN/EU

Issues surrounding growth in membership of the EU

Negative media images of Africa

Types of Enquiry Skills

There are two main types of Enquiry Skills to master for the Standard Grade paper:

Evaluating questions can be based on any of the topics included in the Standard Grade Modern Studies course, but you don't have to include any knowledge and understanding in your answers. You'll always be given sources and these will include all the information you require to answer the question.

Evaluating questions will ask you to:

Detect bias, exaggeration and selective use of facts Make comparisons within and between sources Express support for your own opinion, or someone else's opinion

For the Investigating questions you will need to include your own knowledge and understanding in your answers. You won't get any information from sources.

Each of these types of question will come up in the General and Credit papers. Investigating questions come in several stages and will ask you to:

State a hypothesis Give relevant aims or headings Choose a method of finding out information Describe how you would find information using that method Explain its advantages and disadvantages

Detect bias, exaggeration and selective use of facts

At General Level, the examples of exaggeration won‘t be so obvious and the sources will be relatively complicated. You‘ll have to give reasons for your answer.

At Credit Level, questions will usually use the phrase ‘selective use of facts‘. The sources will be quite long and complex and the examples of selective use of facts will not be obvious. You‘ll have to explain your answer in some detail.

Sometimes it‘s helpful to think of the words ‘bias‘, ‘exaggeration‘ and ‘selective use of facts‘ as meaning ‘wrong‘. Basically, when a person makes this sort of statement they‘re saying something that cannot be backed up from the evidence in front of you.

Make comparisons within and between sources

At General Level, the sources will be fairly complicated. If you‘re asked for differences, then it‘s a good idea to try and explain what the differences are.

At Credit Level, questions will usually have complex sources. The question may well ask you ‘what conclusions can be drawn from . . .‘. The most common mistake in this type of question is when pupils just repeat what the source says without drawing any conclusions.

Questions which ask you to reach a conclusion might involve you looking for :

Similarities Differences How things have changed over a period of time Things that are bigger or smaller.

Good words and phrases to use in answers to this type of question include:

In comparison with . . . Compared to . . . More than / less then . . . Bigger / smaller . . .

Express support for your own or someone else's opinion

At Foundation level, you‘ll be asked to use a simple source. Usually you‘ll be asked if you agree or disagree with what someone has said, and to give one reason for your answer.

At General Level, the sources will be more complicated and your explanation will need to be more detailed.

At Credit Level, there may be several complex sources and several possible opinions. You need to study the information very carefully before you answer

this type of question.

Investigating Skills

This type of question is different from all the other Enquiry Skills questions because you don't get any information from sources. To do well in Investigating, you need to have a certain amount of knowledge and understanding to answer.

The question is posed in several stages:

First of all you're told about a broad topic and asked to carry out an investigation into some aspect of it. The topic will be described in a box and identified by a large question mark, like this.

The topic will appear alongside a large question mark.

You're asked to:

State a hypothesis. Take note here, it's a statement you're asked for and, during the investigation, you'll prove whether it's true or false. Don't ever be tempted to write a hypothesis in the form of a question.

Give relevant aims or headings which will help you prove your hypothesis. This is where the question approach is useful. You would do well to start this part of the investigation by saying " To find out...

The third stage is to choose a method of finding out information for the investigation.

Your method should be relevant or suitable, because you'll be asked to apply it to the aims or headings you picked earlier. You're asked to describe, in detail, how you would find information using that method.

Not just that, you're asked to explain why it's a good method of finding out information for your investigation and what its shortcomings might be. In other words, you should explain its advantages and disadvantages.

Sometimes, instead if being asked to choose a method of enquiry, you'll be told which method to use. Even then, you'll be asked to explain its advantages and disadvantages.

Methods   Advantages   Disadvantages

Internet - Access a range of information from all over world

- Cost

  - Faster than writing a letter - Time consuming to read through all the websites

  - Available in most schools and homes. - Some websites may have biased information

  - Email questions: Instant contact - The information might not have been updated

Writing a letter - Send it to someone who is well informed about your topic

- The person to whom you wrote may not answer your questions.

  - You decide what questions to ask - The person you are writing to may not reply in time or they may not reply at all.

Interview - You can prepare questions in advance

- You may not be able to find a suitable person to interview

  - You can add extra questions during the interview

- The person being interviewed might try to take over the interview.

  - You can gauge the reactions of the person being interviewed.

- The person being interviewed might not give honest answers.

  - It can be recorded and played back. -  

Questionnaires - You can collect information from a large number of people and therefore make generalisations

- It is time consuming to conduct the questionnaire and collate the data.

  - You can set the questions you ask. - People may refuse to answer your questions

      - People may not tell the truth when answering.

CD Roms - Lots of information - Cannot be updated

  - The information is presented in an interesting format.

- Some CD’s may be damaged or missing

  - Easy to search for relevant information.

- Time consuming

Library - It will store back copies of newspapers

- Information in books may be out of date

  - You can gain access to internet - You cannot withdraw reference books

  - Staff are available to help with search - Some books/news may be missing

Video - You gain a visual impression of your research topic.

- Video may be out of date.

  - Everyone has access to the television.

- Video may be damaged.

Observations at visit

- First hand experience - Not always possible or appropriate to visit somewhere related to your research topic.

  - Able to draw own conclusions.

Hypothesis Topics (2000-2007)

Living Standards for different types of family

Equal opportunities in China

Methods used by members of a pressure group during a campaign to improve road safety

Equal Opportunities for men and women in China

UK aid to developing countries in Africa

Equality in China

Voting in the UK

The work of the United Nations in Africa

The work of the Chinese Communist Party

Changing Technology and work

The work of a local councillor

The EU in the 21st Century

Voting systems used in elections in Scotland

People’s attitude towards voting

Health Care in China

Education in China

Scotland and the European Union

REVISION REQUIRED?

How well do you know each of the syllabus areas?

Colour the boxes the following colours depending on how well you feel you understand the topic.

RED – I don’t understand it at all.AMBER – I understand but would not be happy answering an exam question on it.GREEN – I understand it.

LIVING IN A DEMOCRACY

VOTING AND ELECTIONS

Rights and ResponsibilitiesRepresentatives at different levelsWhat a democracy isThe importance of votingPolitical Parties including independent candidatesHow parties choose their candidates for electionCampaign methodsThe media’s role in political campaignsThe voting processThe areas of society not fairly represented in parliament and whyAdvantages and disadvantages of first the postAdvantages and disadvantages of Proportional RepresentationAdvantages and disadvantages of Additional Member systemHow each of the voting systems work

THE WORK OF AN MP/MSP

An MP/MSPs parliamentary workAn MP/MSPs constituency workHow constituents can contact their MP/MSPEffectiveness of various contact methodsHow an MP/MSP can represent their constituents at homeWays MP/MSPs can represent their constituents in parliament Conflict an MP/MSP may face regarding an issue

WESTMINSTER AND THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

Why a separate parliament was neededThe referendum and birth of the parliamentReserved and devolved powersHow the Scottish parliament worksHow Westminster worksThe role of the Scottish Exec and House of LordsProblems in relations between parliaments

PRESSURE GROUPS

What are theyHow they workAdvantages and disadvantages of themCampaign methods usedAre they good or bad for democracy.List some examples and what they campaign forRights and Responsibilities

TRADE UNIONS

What are theyWhat they campaign forHow they are organised – grassroots, shop steward, etcProtest methods usedWhy people choose not to join trade unionsHow grassroots members can participate in their TUWhy women and ethnic minorities are under-represented in TUsRights and Responsibilities

LOCAL GOVERNMENT (COUNCILS)

How local councillors are electedServices they provide/maintainHow services are fundedMandatory, permissive and discretionary servicesCouncil taxThe job of a councillorFull or Part time?Representative or not?

MISCELLANEOUS

Role of the media and its influenceAbility to detect bias in a sourceCapitalismCommunism

CHANGING SOCIETY

INTRODUCTION

Stereotypical view of an elderly personPrejudices faced by elderly peopleStatistics on numbers of elderly in UKForms of elder abuse

THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY

Typical needs of elderly peopleHow housing needs change throughout lifeSheltered housingResidential homesNursing homesOther housing solutions – adaptation, relatives, purpose builtSpecific health needs of the elderlyHow health needs are a drain on the NHSFinancial inequalityHow government and local government meet elderly financial needsPensionsFamily and voluntary organisation assistance

UNEMPLOYMENT

Why people workEffect unemployment could have on a personDefinition of unemploymentHow parties alter the definition and whyCauses of unemploymentInequality and unemployment

MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE UNEMPLOYEDThree main needs of the unemployedLocal council/private sector helpJob Seekers AllowanceSkill SeekersNew DealFootloose industriesDisabled discriminationEthnic minority discriminationGender discriminationHow new technology has affected employmentAdvantages and disadvantages of national minimum wage

FAMILY

Define nuclear familyDefine lone parent familyDefine extended familyExplain the changing roles of each in societyWhy birth rate has declinedVariation according to ethnic minority Variation according to genderChanging divorce patternsEffect of divorce patterns on family life

MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILY

Basic needs of familiesWhy lone parent families need financial assistance and……how this affects the quality of their lifeThe Child Support AgencyCriticisms of the CSAFinancial help available from the governmentFinancial help available from other sourcesWhy lone parents find it difficult to find employment

THE NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE

What it isArguments forArguments against

POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES – CHINA.

THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE

Location and GeographySEZsMigration- push and pull factorsChina's potential

POLITICS, PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION

How China became a Communism nationCentral Government OrganisationCommunist Party Leaders roleThe elections Chinese citizens can/cannot vote inPolitical Rights and Freedoms the citizens haveNeighbourhood UnitsFriendly PartiesRole in Tiananmen Square and oppression of Falun GongWhy people are put off voting/participatingInterest groups

ECONOMIC INEQUALITY

Centrally Planned EconomyThe Responsibility SystemEconomic inequality-be able to give examplesUnemployment, poverty and industrial unrestExploitation of workersThe HukouAdvantages and disadvantages of Industrial GrowthImpact of Beijing OlympicsThe Growth of Private Enterprise and SEZsThe New Chinese EliteA rural/urban divide

SOCIAL INEQUALITY

The One Child PolicyForced Labour and the LaogaiOppression of Religious GroupsCensorshipHIV/Aids ScandalThe EnvironmentEconomic inequality-be able to give examplesA rural/urban divide

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

POLITICS OF AID

Developed worldDeveloping worldBilateral aidMultilateral aidBoomerang/tied aidDFIDGood aid + list examplesBad aid + list examplesWhy countries give aidSocial factors affecting donor countryPolitical factors affecting donor countryEconomic factors affecting donor country

SUDAN

Social problems affecting the SudanPolitical problems affecting the SudanEconomic problems affecting the SudanThe cause of famine in the SudanSocial indicators–population, literacy + mortality rate, war, GNI, etcThe needs of SudanCountries that give aid to SudanCountries that don’t and reasons whyTypes of aid givenTypes of aid requiredProblems with aid distribution

THE UN AID AGENCIES

What the UN is and why it was establishedThe aims of the UN – including human rights charterList the specialised UN aid agenciesGive examples of what at least two agencies do to help

ALLIANCES

The needs of a countryPolitical benefits of joining an allianceEconomic benefits of joining an allianceSocial benefits of joining an alliance

THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU)

What the EU is and why it was established

The aims of the EUThe EU’s 4 main institutions and what they doPurpose of the 17 committees and name a fewHow laws are made in the EUProgress made on the aims of the Maastricht treatyMaastricht and Nice treaties effect on UK and Europe – good or badShould Britain become full member? Support with a few of the issues – fisheries and agricultural policy, single market, expansion, cost, etcJoining criteria for new member statesWhy the EU wants the euroSupport view on whether you think GB should adopt EuroExamples of recent work

NATO AND OTHER MILITARY ALLIANCES

Why we need military alliances – Yugoslavia and MilosevicRole of NATO and UN in Yugoslav conflictWhy NATO was establishedArms Race and the Cold WarNATO’s changing role since end of Cold War in 80sSupport view on whether NATO has a future NATO’s relations with EURapid Reaction ForceEnlargement of NATOThe different UN departments and what they doHow the different UN departments work together and problemsThe 4 ways the UN deals with conflictSupport your opinion on the effectiveness of UN peacekeepingUK’s role in the UN, EU and NATO anti-terrorist plansSupport your view on the war on terrorThe UK, security and the war on terror in AfghanistanThe UK, security and the war on terror in Iraq