EXAM WORDS
Synoptic? assesment and command words need to be understod and linked to the mark schemes used by examiners.
ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES
Statements of what exams must test, and so what needs to be done.
AO1 is knowledge and understanding. You must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of theories, methods, evidence and concepts and the links between them. You must be able to organize and present your arguments and supporting evidence clearly and logically.
AO2 involves the skills of identification, analysis, interpretation and avaluation. There's more emphasis on AO2 in the A2 exams.
SYNOPTIC ASSESSMENT
Ensures that you have an understanding of the subject as a whole rather than just knowing isolated fragments of sociology.
In AQA, it's in unit 6, stratification and differentiation, and crime and devience. In OCR it's unit 8, social inequality and idfference. In any case, you need to show you understnad the links between the topic being examined and:
Sociological theories
Sociological research methods
Other topics
Make sure than answers to ALL the questions on the stnoptic exam demonstrate one or more of these links. You can do this by:
Using different theories if asked to explian something like inequality or different rates of crime.
Discussing methodological issues such as the difficulties of measuring social class ort trhe problems with the reliability and validy of crime statistics.
Demonstrating the links between different topics such as the similarities between the social conscruction of deviance and the social sonstruction of ill health.
COMMAND WORDS
Command words direct you towatds an answer which will gain marks. They are linked to the assessment objectives. Some of these instructions are aimed mostly at knowledge; others mostly at the AO2 skills of identificatin, analysis, interpretation and evaluation.
Look at past papers and try to note the command words.
ACCORDING TO ITEM A means interpret evidence from an item of data in a data response question.
ASSESS means, come to a judgement by weighing up evidence, examining different arguments and sonsidering st rengths and weaknesse. Come to a conclusion bason on judgement.
CRITICALLY DISCUSS, means present all sides of an argument or issue and come to a conclusion.
DEFINE or WHAT IS MEANT BY, used in short answer questions and require a description of the major features of a concept or term.
DESCRIBE, usually onoy in AS questions and often used with other commands such as EXPLIAN. It means, show your knowledge or understanding.
DISCUSS, is the same as CRITICALLY DISCUSS.
EVALUATE, same as assess. A judgement of evidence and/or arguments is required.
EXAMINE, means study in detail.
EXAMINE SOCIOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO means look at the different sociological approaches to an issue and assess their usefulness.
EXAMINE THE VIEW usually means evaluate as well.
EXPLIAN or WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY, means you must explain rather than just describe knowledge of a concept or issue.
HOW USEFUL IS... usually a command to access the usefulness of a theory in explaining events and issues.
HOW FAR used with DO YOU AGREE or DO SOCIOLOGISTS AGREE. Assessment or arguments needed.
HOW SUCCESSFUL asks if a concept is useful or a theory help sto explain events.
IDENTIFY, needs a word, phrase or brief statement. Show the recognition of a concept or theory.
IDENTIFY AND EXPLAIN, provide the example and a (brief, depending on marks) explanation.
OUTLINE briefly explain the main points of a theory or argument.
SUGGEST TWO REASONS WHY make sure they are distinct and explained.
TO WHAT EXTENT evaluate by measuring the degree that something is reliable, valid or useful.
USING INFORMATION FROM ITEN A or WITH REFERENCE TO interpret and apply information from an item.
USING YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE interpret and apply information that is not in the items.
WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY explain your knowledge of a term or cencept used in an item.
ASSESS AND EVALUATE means show evaluation skills.
...SOCIOLOGISTS... talk about different sociological views. eg. how far do sociologists agree that ...