A2 coursework

1. A2 coursework What do I have to do?

2. What is required? • You have to carry out a piece of research that is related to the specification • You may use primary or secondary data collection. • Overall word limit is 3500 words • You can carry out your AS proposal or do something else. • AO1 marks 24 out of the 60 A02 36 out of the 60

3. What are the sections? • Rationale (hypothesis/ aim) • Context • Methodology • Evidence • Evaluation • Also need to include a contents page, a bibliography and a photocopied page from your research diary.

4. What should I do first? • Read the ethical guidelines • Read the mark scheme • Check the areas covered by the specification • Check your AS cswk and the marks it received

5. Ethical guidelines • The most important cover: • The wellbeing of those taking part in research • Rights to privacy • Anonymity and confidentiality • Not bringing sociology into disrepute

6. Research Diary • Make a brief record of any key decisions, changes and problems that occur and date them. • In the case of problems record what solutions you select. • Treat the diary as a way of showing the examiner how you developed you skills and awareness as a sociologist. • It can be very useful in doing your evaluation because it helps you look back at the key stages of the project , what went well and what didn’t.

7. Theory • It is important to make links with theory at certain points. • Usually this is connecting your method and a perspective in sociology. • You can also link it with objectivity. This is difficult to achieve using some methods and when dealing with controversial topics. • You will not get marks for generalised points – they have to be relevant to your study.

8. Mark scheme • You will be given a copy of this • Aim to cover the requirements for the top band in each section

9. Specification • Check what you want to do is covered in the specification. • If you discover something criminal you must report it as you, me and the moderator would be committing as crime if we didn’t. • Therefore avoid asking about underage drinking, drug taking etc

10. Research tips • Keep a diary and note in it any ideas. Jot down when things go wrong- this will help your evaluation • Ensure it has a clear sociological focus (pick from the spec) • Keep the hyp simple/ limited. It is then easier to carry out and keep to the word limit. • Make your aim specific. • Keep referring back to your aim- all sections should link to it. • Spend time choosing appropriate contexts. Show why they link to your research. Keep linking them in to the rest of the piece, refer to them when designing your research and show how they were proved or refuted by your research in your evidence and evaluation. • Choose only one method that is appropriate to your aim. Use al the info you collect otherwise what was the point?

11. More tips • Choose sample carefully, explaining how it will be representative. Where are you going to find these people? • Do a pilot study and explain how it altered your method • Give clear reasons for all your choices and decisions. Include practical, theoretical and ethical aspects of your choices and decisions. • Allow sufficient time to do your research. Meet deadlines. • When writing up evidence, refer your findings to the context. If you can’t why did you pick it to begin with? • Don’t be afraid to change- you can put new things into your context after your research if its helpful to what you want to say. • The moderator hasn’t heard you talk to me – make it clear you understand what you have included. • Stick to the word limit.

12. Rationale • This provides a framework for the whole project and needs to be referred to again later in your work. • It is basically the personal and sociological reasons for selecting your topic. • It also includes an identification of the sociological debates and issues likely to be involved, a clear aim/ hypothesis with specific objectives and some initial thoughts on your expectations

13. REASONS: • Personal interest is not enough. • You could have studied it. • You could have seen it reported in the media. • Political/ social policy from government. • ID SOC DEBATES: • How is the issue chosen relevant to sociology? • This could be a brief are as that needs re-writing later.

14. DEVELOPING A HYP: • Hyp is a statement to be proven, but you could have an overall aim instead. • Once you have this you can give a series of objectives – a list of tasks that need to be done before final conclusions are drawn. • When reviewing your rationale later it might be that you couldn’t do some of your objectives – discuss this in your evaluation. Also say whether your initial expectations were accurate.

15. Context • You must point how it is relevant to your aims and explain this concisely. • Can start by explaining the issues your background reading has covered. • The number of sources you use will depend on the topic and availability of secondary data. • Highlight relevant sections and / or make your own notes on them.

16. Presenting the context • Can use heading which relate to your objectives. • You can quote the sources. • You can integrate the name of the source into your writing. • Demonstrate evaluation throughout your cswk. • You can evaluate the pieces of secondary data. • Links to the hyp/ aim should be made explicit. • In the conclusion paragraph highlight your skills of interpretation and application by summing up what you have learnt from the background material. Do you need to review your aims?

17. Methodology • Show that you have chosen the most appropriate method for your aim and implemented it with skill and sensitivity. • This section is therefore a justification of the method and an explanation of how you carried it out. So it should contain: • An explanation of the advantages & disadvantages of applying different methods to your project. • A description of your justification of your choice of methodology (theoretical perspective?) • A detailed account to planning you method, inc sampling, ethics, and operationalising concepts and piloting • Drafts of questionnaires etc. • Evaluation of what you have discussed.

18. Evidence • This is your findings. It should contain: • Clear presentation of your results • References to the Rationale • References to how your findings relate t the information you have used. • Evaluation of the points as they arise.

19. Evidence advice • Check back over the methodology to see if everything was completed as planned. If there have been changes discuss them now. • Summarise what you findings reveal. Reduce it to a manageable size, not being afraid of rejecting some. Try different methods of arranging the material. • No tabular info should be included without an explanation of how it fits in with the rationale. • If some data contradicted your rationale then face up to it and discuss it!

20. Evaluation • This pulls everything together. You will have evaluated throughout but you must end coherently tying everything together. • It usually contains: • An evaluation of each stage of the project (could include theoretical perspectives) • Evaluation of key issues and themes • References throughout to the rationale • A clear account of your final conclusions.

21. CSWK checklist • RATIONALE: HAVE I…. • Kept the focus clear? • Checked that the focus remains narrow and manageable? • Used some key sociological concepts to demonstrate sociological awareness? • CONTEXT: HAVE I…. • Used a variety of different sources? • Made sure that each source id related to the rationale? • Evaluated the sources?

22. METHODOLOGY. HAVE I… • Defined the method clearly? • Explained why I am using it? • Included key details of the method? • Linked the discussions to my own coursework? • EVIDENCE. HAVE I… • Presented the findings clearly? • Analysed and interpreted the evidence? • Related results to the rationale and any appropriate background reading? • EVALUATION. HAVE I… • Kept the rationale central to my discussion? • Reflected on what it was like to conduct real research? • Suggested further avenues for research?

23. HAVE I included… • A bibliography? • Any appendices needed? • A page from your research diary? • The word count? Is it to the limit?