How to Write a Sociological Essay: Explained with Examples

This article will discuss “How to Write a Sociological Essay” with insider pro tips and give you a map that is tried and tested. An essay writing is done in three phases: a) preparing for the essay, b) writing the essay, and c) editing the essay. We will take it step-by-step so that nothing is left behind because the devil, as well as good grades and presentation, lies in the details.

Those who belong to the world of academia know that writing is something that they cannot escape. No writing is the same when it comes to different disciplines of academia. Similarly, the discipline of sociology demands a particular style of formal academic writing. If you’re a new student of sociology, it can be an overwhelming subject, and writing assignments don’t make the course easier. Having some tips handy can surely help you write and articulate your thoughts better. 

[Let us take a running example throughout the article so that every point becomes crystal clear. Let us assume that the topic we have with us is to “Explore Culinary Discourse among the Indian Diasporic Communities” .]

Phase I: Preparing for the Essay  

Step 1: make an outline.

So you have to write a sociological essay, which means that you already either received or have a topic in mind. The first thing for you to do is PLAN how you will attempt to write this essay. To plan, the best way is to make an outline. The topic you have, certainly string some thread in your mind. They can be instances you heard or read, some assumptions you hold, something you studied in the past, or based on your own experience, etc. Make a rough outline where you note down all the themes you would like to talk about in your essay. The easiest way to make an outline is to make bullet points. List all the thoughts and examples that you have in find and create a flow for your essay. Remember that this is only a rough outline so you can always make changes and reshuffle your points. 

[Explanation through example, assumed topic: “Explore Culinary Discourse among the Indian Diasporic Communities” . Your outline will look something like this:

Step 2: Start Reading 

Once you have prepared an outline for your essay, the next step is to start your RESEARCH . You cannot write a sociological essay out of thin air. The essay needs to be thoroughly researched and based on facts. Sociology is the subject of social science that is based on facts and evidence. Therefore, start reading as soon as you have your outline determined. The more you read, the more factual data you will collect. But the question which now emerges is “what to read” . You cannot do a basic Google search to write an academic essay. Your research has to be narrow and concept-based. For writing a sociological essay, make sure that the sources from where you read are academically acclaimed and accepted.  

For best search, search for your articles by typing “Food+Diaspora”, “Food+Nostalgia”, adding a plus sign (+) improves the search result.]

Step 3: Make Notes 

This is a step that a lot of people miss when they are preparing to write their essays. It is important to read, but how you read is also a very vital part. When you are reading from multiple sources then all that you read becomes a big jumble of information in your mind. It is not possible to remember who said what at all times. Therefore, what you need to do while reading is to maintain an ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY . Whenever you’re reading for writing an academic essay then have a notebook handy, or if you prefer electronic notes then prepare a Word Document, Google Docs, Notes, or any tool of your choice to make notes. 

As you begin reading, note down the title of the article, its author, and the year of publication. As you read, keep writing down all the significant points that you find. You can either copy whole sentences or make shorthand notes, whatever suits you best. Once you’ve read the article and made your notes, write a summary of what you just read in 8 to 10 lines. Also, write keywords, these are the words that are most used in the article and reflect its essence. Having keywords and a summary makes it easier for you to revisit the article. A sociological essay needs a good amount of research, which means that you have to read plenty, thus maintaining an annotated bibliography helps you in the greater picture.  

[Explanation through example, assumed topic: “Explore Culinary Discourse among the Indian Diasporic Communities” . 

Annotate and divide your notes based on the outline you made. Having organized notes will help you directly apply the concepts where they are needed rather than you going and searching for them again.] 

Phase II: Write a Sociological Essay

Step 4: writing a title, subtitle, abstract, and keywords .

The title of any document is the first thing that a reader comes across. Therefore, the title should be provocative, specific, and the most well-thought part of any essay. Your title should reflect what your essay will discuss further. There has to be a sync between the title and the rest of your content. The title should be the biggest font size you use in your essay. 

Pro Tip by Sociology Group: A title preferably should not exceed 5 to 7 words.  

The abstract is a 6 to 10 line description of what you will talk about in your essay. An abstract is a very substantial component of a sociological essay. Most of the essays written in academia exceed the word limit of 2000 words. Therefore, a writer, i.e., you, provides the reader with a short abstract at the beginning of your essay so that they can know what you are going to discuss. From the point of view of the reader, a good abstract can save time and help determine if the piece is worth reading or not. Thus, make sure to make your abstract as reflective to your essay as possible using the least amount of words.  

Your abstract should highlight all the points that you will further discuss. Therefore your abstract should mention how diasporic communities are formed and how they are not homogeneous communities. There are differences within this large population. In your essay, you will talk in detail about all the various aspects that affect food and diasporic relationships. ]

Keywords are an extension of your abstract. Whereas in your abstract you will use a paragraph to tell the reader what to expect ahead, by stating keywords, you point out the essence of your essay by using only individual words. These words are mostly concepts of social sciences. At first, glance, looking at your keywords, the reader should get informed about all the concepts and themes you will explain in detail later. 

Your keywords could be: Food, Diaspora, Migration, and so on. Build on these as you continue to write your essay.]   

Step 5: Writing the Introduction, Main Body, and Conclusion 

Your introduction should talk about the subject on which you are writing at the broadest level. In an introduction, you make your readers aware of what you are going to argue later in the essay. An introduction can discuss a little about the history of the topic, how it was understood till now, and a framework of what you are going to talk about ahead. You can think of your introduction as an extended form of the abstract. Since it is the first portion of your essay, it should paint a picture where the readers know exactly what’s ahead of them. 

Pro Tip by Sociology Group: An apt introduction can be covered in 2 to 3 paragraphs (Look at the introduction on this article if you need proof). 

Since your focus is on “food” and “diaspora”, your introductory paragraph can dwell into a little history of the relationship between the two and the importance of food in community building.] 

This is the most extensive part of any essay. It is also the one that takes up the most number of words. All the research and note-making which you did was for this part. The main body of your essay is where you put all the knowledge you gathered into words. When you are writing the body, your aim should be to make it flow, which means that all paragraphs should have a connection between them. When read in its entirety, the paragraphs should sing together rather than float all around. 

The main body is mostly around 4 to 6 paragraphs long. A sociological essay is filled with debates, theories, theorists, and examples. When writing the main body it is best to target making one or two paragraphs about the same revolving theme. When you shift to the other theme, it is best to connect it with the theme you discussed in the paragraph right above it to form a connection between the two. If you are dividing your essay into various sub-themes then the best way to correlate them is starting each new subtheme by reflecting on the last main arguments presented in the theme before it. To make a sociological essay even more enriching, include examples that exemplify the theoretical concepts better. 

The main body can here be divided into the categories which you formed during the first step of making the rough outline. Therefore, your essay could have 3 to 4 sub-sections discussing different themes such as: Food and Media, Caste and Class influence food practices, Politics of Food, Gendered Lens, etc.] 

Pro Tip by Sociology Group: As the introduction, the conclusion is smaller compared to the main body. Keep your conclusion within the range of 1 to 2 paragraphs. 

Step 6: Citation and Referencing 

This is the most academic part of your sociological essay. Any academic essay should be free of plagiarism. But how can one avoid plagiarism when their essay is based on research which was originally done by others. The solution for this is to give credit to the original author for their work. In the world of academia, this is done through the processes of Citation and Referencing (sometimes also called Bibliography). Citation is done within/in-between the text, where you directly or indirectly quote the original text. Whereas, Referencing or Bibliography is done at the end of an essay where you give resources of the books or articles which you have quoted in your essay at various points. Both these processes are done so that the reader can search beyond your essay to get a better grasp of the topic. 

How to add citations in Word Document: References → Insert Citations 

But for those who want to cite manually, this is the basic format to follow:

Pro Tip by Sociology Group: Always make sure that your Bibliography/References are alphabetically ordered based on the first alphabet of the surname of the author and NOT numbered or bulleted. 

Phase III: Editing 

Step 7: edit/review your essay.

Hello! Eiti is a budding sociologist whose passion lies in reading, researching, and writing. She thrives on coffee, to-do lists, deadlines, and organization. Eiti’s primary interest areas encompass food, gender, and academia.

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AQA A-Level Sociology Papers

Welcome to our AQA A-Level Sociology Papers page. Here, you'll find everything you need to prepare for your AQA A-Level Sociology exams, including past papers, mark schemes, textbooks, and revision guides. Our expert guidance and resources will help you develop the critical thinking, research, and analysis skills needed to ace your exams. Start exploring our page today and take the first step towards success in your A-Level Sociology journey.

June 2022 AQA A-Level Sociology (7192) Past Papers

  • 2022 | A-Level Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods (7192/1) Question Paper Mark Scheme
  • 2022 | A-Level Paper 2: Topics in Sociology (7192/2) Question Paper Mark Scheme
  • 2022 | A-Level Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods (7192/3) Question Paper Mark Scheme

November 2021 AQA A-Level Sociology (7192) Past Papers (Labelled as June 2021)

  • 2021 | A-Level Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods (7192/1) Question Paper Mark Scheme
  • 2021 | A-Level Paper 2: Topics in Sociology (7192/2) Question Paper Mark Scheme
  • 2021 | A-Level Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods (7192/3) Question Paper Mark Scheme

November 2020 AQA A-Level Sociology (7192) Past Papers (Labelled as June 2020)

  • 2020 | A-Level Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods (7192/1) Question Paper Mark Scheme
  • 2020 | A-Level Paper 2: Topics in Sociology (7192/2) Question Paper Mark Scheme
  • 2020 | A-Level Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods (7192/3) Question Paper Mark Scheme

a level sociology essay

November 2020 AQA AS-Level Sociology (7191) Past Papers (Labelled as June 2020)

  • 2020 | AS Paper 1: Education with Methods in Context (7191/1) Question Paper Mark Scheme
  • 2020 | AS Paper 2: Research Methods and Topics in Sociology (7191/2) Question Paper Mark Scheme

June 2019 AQA A-Level Sociology (7192) Past Papers

  • 2019 | A-Level Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods (7192/1) Question Paper Mark Scheme
  • 2019 | A-Level Paper 2: Topics in Sociology (7192/2) Question Paper Mark Scheme
  • 2018 | A-Level Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods (7192/3) Question Paper Mark Scheme

June 2019 AQA AS-Level Sociology (7191) Past Papers

  • 2019 | AS Paper 1: Education with Methods in Context (7191/1) Question Paper Mark Scheme
  • 2019 | AS Paper 2: Research Methods and Topics in Sociology (7191/2) Question Paper Mark Scheme

June 2018 AQA A-Level Sociology (7192) Past Papers

  • 2018 | A-Level Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods (7192/1) Question Paper Mark Scheme
  • 2018 | A-Level Paper 2: Topics in Sociology (7192/2) Question Paper Mark Scheme

June 2018 AQA AS-Level Sociology (7191) Past Papers

  • 2018 | AS Paper 1: Education with Methods in Context (7191/1) Question Paper Mark Scheme
  • 2018 | AS Paper 2: Research Methods and Topics in Sociology (7191/2) Question Paper Mark Scheme

a level sociology essay

June 2017 AQA A-Level Sociology (7192) Past Papers

  • 2017 | A-Level Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods (7192/1) Question Paper Mark Scheme
  • 2017 | A-Level Paper 2: Topics in Sociology (7192/2) Question Paper Mark Scheme
  • 2017 | A-Level Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods (7192/3) Question Paper Mark Scheme

June 2017 AQA AS-Level Sociology (7191) Past Papers

  • 2017 | AS Paper 1: Education with Methods in Context (7191/1) Question Paper Mark Scheme
  • 2017 | AS Paper 2: Research Methods and Topics in Sociology (7191/2) Question Paper Mark Scheme

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→ what is aqa a-level sociology.

AQA A-Level Sociology is a qualification offered by AQA, one of the largest exam boards in the UK. It is a two-year course that covers a wide range of sociological theories and concepts, and helps students to develop critical thinking, research, and analysis skills.

→ What are the AQA A-Level Sociology papers?

The AQA A-Level Sociology papers consist of three exams: Paper 1, Paper 2, and Paper 3. Paper 1 covers education, families, and research methods. Paper 2 covers crime and deviance, theory and methods. Paper 3 covers beliefs in society, globalisation and the media.

→ What is the format of the AQA A-Level Sociology papers?

Each paper is two hours long and consists of a mixture of short answer questions, extended writing, and essays. The papers are all worth 80 marks each and are worth 33.3% of the final A-Level grade.

→ How can I prepare for the AQA A-Level Sociology papers?

There are several ways to prepare for the AQA A-Level Sociology papers, including:

- Practice past papers and mark schemes to get used to the format and structure of the exams - Make sure you understand all the key concepts and theories covered in the course - Develop your critical thinking and analysis skills by reading widely and engaging with current events - Attend revision classes or seek support from a tutor if needed.

→ What resources are available to help me prepare for the AQA A-Level Sociology papers?

There are many resources available to help you prepare for the AQA A-Level Sociology papers, including textbooks, revision guides, and online resources. AQA also provides specimen papers and mark schemes on their website, which can be a useful tool for revision.

→ How are the AQA A-Level Sociology papers marked?

The AQA A-Level Sociology papers are marked using a combination of computer and human marking. The computer marks the objective questions, while the human markers mark the subjective questions, such as essays and extended writing. The marking is done using a detailed mark scheme to ensure consistency and fairness.

→ When are the AQA A-Level Sociology papers usually taken?

The AQA A-Level Sociology papers are usually taken in May or June, although there is also a resit option in November for students who wish to improve their grade.

→ What is the grading system for the AQA A-Level Sociology papers?

The AQA A-Level Sociology papers are graded on a scale from A* to E, with A* being the highest grade and E being the lowest passing grade. The final A-Level grade is based on the student's performance across all three papers.

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Sociology 9699 AS and A Level Past Papers

Sociology 9699 past papers, sociology  a level past papers  and important details, 12/01/2023 : sociology 9699 october november 2022 past papers  of a levels are updated. moreover   sociology 9699 past papers  of  feb march 2022  and  may june 2022  are also available. caie was previously known as cie. within this  past papers   section you will also get  topical past papers now as well as  solved past papers, topical solved past papers, past papers with answers and solutions.   most of the files are in pdf format and all of them are available for free. examination resource or any other document which is not in pdf like doc, excel, ppt slides, mp4 / video files etc are also available here at papacambridge..

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Cambridge international as and a level sociology 9699 past papers, cambridge international as and  a level sociology question papers, cambridge international as and  a level sociology marking schemes, cambridge international as and  a level sociology syllabus, cambridge international as and  a level sociology grade thresholds, caie cambridge international  as and a level sociology, cambridge international as and  a level sociology resource material, common search terms:, past papers , past papers 2002 nov sociology - 9699 2002 nov as and a level 2002 nov sociology - 9699 2002 nov may june 2024, past papers 2002 nov sociology - 9699 2002 nov as and a level 2002 nov sociology - 9699 2002 nov march 2024, question papers 2002 nov sociology - 9699 2002 nov as and a level 2002 nov sociology - 9699 2002 nov 2024, mark scheme 2002 nov sociology - 9699 2002 nov as and a level 2002 nov sociology - 9699 2002 nov 2024, grade thresholds 2002 nov sociology - 9699 2002 nov as and a level 2002 nov sociology - 9699 2002 nov 2024, confidential instructions 2002 nov sociology - 9699 2002 nov as and a level 2002 nov sociology - 9699 2002 nov 2024, examiner reports latest 2002 nov sociology - 9699 2002 nov as and a level 2002 nov sociology - 9699 2002 nov 2024, can students take the as examination at the end of their first year and then retake it at the end of the second year, along with the a level components.

Yes a candidate’s best AS Level result can count towards their A Level.

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Candidates are not allowed to take any dictionaries into the examination.

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All the above are available on the  School Support Hub .

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Yes, the International A Level is equivalent to an UK A Level. Similarly International AS and UK AS are of equivalent standard. In general, there is direct equivalence between UK AS and A Level Sociology and our AS and A Level Sociology.

How many hours contact time do you recommend for AS and A Level?

Over a two-year A Level course, approximately five hours per week of teaching time would be sufficient. Students will be expected to do individual work outside of this time.

Can you suggest any websites that could be used as teaching aids?

Yes, you could try  Sociology Online  or  Sociology Central  as starting points.

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Please be aware that we do not sell textbooks directly and you will either need to purchase them directly from the publisher or a third party seller.

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a level sociology essay

Three top tips for writing sociology essays

a level sociology essay

The Craft of Writing in Sociology

  • By Andrew Balmer and Anne Murcott
  • September 19 th 2017

As the academic semester gets underway, we talked to three senior colleagues in Sociology at the University of Manchester to come up with their ‘pet peeves’ when marking student’s essays. Here are some of their comments, and some of our top tips to help you to improve your work.

First, lecturers said they were frustrated with the way that students write their opening paragraphs:

“A main peeve of mine in student writing is poor introductions. Three common errors regularly stand out: throat clearing sentences (e.g. ‘globalisation is an important topic’, ‘Marx was an important writer’); dictionary definitions for core sociological concepts; and introductions that merely restate the question. What I really want to see from an introduction is a brief account of how the student is approaching the question at hand, what key questions the essay will address, and what answer the student will come to at the end of the essay.” – Senior Lecturer in Sociology

This was a point on which our three colleagues agreed: students often waste the introduction. Here is top tip number one to help you improve your essays:

1. Give the reader a guide to your argument. Much as you would give someone directions in how to get to where they’re going, tell your reader what steps you will take, what the key turning points will be, why it is important to take this route and, ultimately, where you will end up. In other words, tell your reader exactly what you will conclude and why, right at the beginning.

Another point on which our colleagues agreed was that sociological essays can be imprecise, and are sometimes written in a style which is meant to sound intellectual, but which is more confusing than it is enlightening. As one senior lecturer put it:

“A pet peeve of mine is imprecise language, for example peppering an essay with terms like ‘however’, ‘therefore’, and ‘consequently’, but without attending to the logical relationship between sentences that those words are supposed to signal. If the logical connector is wrong then the argument fails. This kind of error is often motivated, I think, by students wanting their essays to ‘sound academic’, when often they would have been more convincing by using simpler language more precisely.” – Senior Lecturer in Sociology

It is worth planning the time needed to rework your essays because a good argument can be let down by poor presentation. Here is top tip number two:

2. Your written work should prioritise clarity and concision over entertainment and erudition when making an argument. Students often write in a style which they think makes their points sound important, but get lost in the meaning of what they are saying by doing so. It might be that you have quite a command of English and want to show off your knowledge of polysyllabic or unusual words, or it might be that you wish to imitate the sociological writers whom you admire. Whatever additional reasons you have for writing, there is none more important in a sociological essay than making your argument clear. Words such as ‘however’ and ‘moreover’ should be used to indicate how your ideas are linked together, not to start a sentence with a good word. Be sure that when you edit your work, you edit for the argument, prioritising the word choices which best help to make your point. Such decisions will reflect maturity and consideration in your written work, and it is these which will truly impress a reader.

A final element which our three colleagues all listed in their top pet peeves was poor structure:

“I am often frustrated by the poor structuring of an essay. In other words, with the order in which ideas are presented, either at the level of the whole essay or at paragraph level. Essays that ping-pong from one idea to another, and then back to the original idea, indicate that the student has not really thought their argument through. A trickier thing to get right is the structuring of paragraphs, and some students seem keen to cram in as many (often unconnected) points into one paragraph as possible.” – Senior Lecturer in Sociology

The key point to learn when it comes to structuring your work is to make your writing serve your argument. You should present the main turns of your argument clearly, so as to reach a natural conclusion. Here is top tip number three for improving your essays:

3. Redraft your work for your argument, before you edit and proof-read it. Students often write to tight deadlines and do not plan enough time for a good second draft of their work. Instead, they write a first draft and then edit it as they proof-read it. When writing the first draft of an essay you will still be working out what the argument is. This is because writing helps you to think, so as you write your full first draft you will be meandering around a little, finding the best route as you go. Instead of merely editing this and checking the grammar, you should seriously re-draft the essay in light of the argument you now know you wish to make. This will help you to write a good introduction, since you can now say clearly from the outset what you will go on to argue, and a good conclusion, for you will now be able to say exactly what you have argued and why. Re-drafting for the argument means taking out material, adding in material and ensuring that each paragraph has a main point to contribute. It is an essential step in producing a good essay, which must be undertaken prior to editing for sense and proof-reading for typographical mistakes.

These tips point you towards the most important part of learning to write good sociological essays: bringing everything you do into the service of producing an argument which responds to the question and provides a satisfying answer.

Featured image credit: meeting by Eric Bailey. CC0 Public Domain via Pexels .

Andrew Balmer is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Manchester and member of the Morgan Centre for Research into Everyday Lives. He is co-author of a new book, The Craft of Writing in Sociology: Developing the Argument in Undergraduate Essays and Dissertations , published by Manchester University Press. Andrew can be found on Twitter @AndyBalmer .

Anne Murcott is Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham and Honorary Professorial Research Associate at SOAS, University of London. She is author of numerous books and edited collections, including The Craft of Writing in Sociology .

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Welcome to Seneca Revision Notes

Short and effective seneca revision notes for a-level & gcse.

1 Theory & Methods

1.1 Sociological Theories

1.1.1 Marxism

1.1.2 Feminism

1.1.3 Social Action Theories

1.2 Sociological Methods

1.2.1 Types of Data

1.2.2 Positivism & Interpretivism

1.2.3 Research Design

1.2.4 Research Considerations

1.2.5 Values in Research

1.2.6 Modernity & Post-Modernity

1.2.7 Sociology as a Science

1.2.8 Sociology & Social Policy

1.2.9 End of Topic Test - Sociology Methods & Theories

1.3 Sources of Data

1.3.1 Introduction

1.3.2 Experiments

1.3.3 Surveys

1.3.4 Longitudinal Studies

1.3.5 Questionnaires

1.3.6 Types of Questionnaires

1.3.7 Interviews

1.3.8 Observation

1.3.9 Case Studies

1.3.10 Documents

1.3.11 Official Statistics

1.3.12 End of Topic Test - Sources of Data

2 Education with Methods in Context

2.1 Role & Function of the Education System

2.1.1 Introduction

2.1.2 Functionalist Theories

2.1.3 Marxist & Feminist Theories

2.1.4 The New Right

2.2 Educational Achievement

2.2.1 Social Class: Internal Factors

2.2.2 Social Class: External Factors

2.2.3 Social Class: Attitudes to Education

2.2.4 Social Class: Difference in Achievement

2.2.5 Gender

2.2.6 Ethnicity

2.3 Relationships & Processes Within Schools

2.3.1 Processes

2.3.2 Labelling

2.3.3 Categorisations

2.3.4 Student Experience

2.3.5 End of Topic Test -Education with Methods

2.4 Educational Policies

2.4.1 Equality

2.4.2 Privatisation

2.4.3 Marketisation

2.4.4 Government Policies by Party

2.4.5 Globalisation

2.4.6 End of Topic Test- Educational Policies

2.4.7 Practice Exam Question - Social Policies

3 Option 1: Culture & Identity

3.1 Conceptions of Culture

3.1.1 Culture

3.1.2 Mass Culture

3.1.3 Popular Culture

3.1.4 Global Culture

3.1.5 End of Topic Test - Culture and Identity

3.2 Identity & Socialisation

3.2.1 Identities

3.2.2 Socialisation

3.2.3 Secondary Socialisation

3.2.4 Theories of Socialisation

3.2.5 End of Topic Test - Identity

3.2.6 Practice Exam Question - Socialisation & Equality

3.3 Social Identity

3.3.1 Social Class

3.3.2 Upper & Middle Class

3.3.3 Working & Underclass

3.3.4 Social Class Evaluation

3.3.5 Gender

3.3.6 Changing Gender Identities

3.3.7 Ethnicity

3.3.9 Disability

3.3.10 Nationality

3.3.11 End of Topic Test - Social Identity

3.4 Production, Consumption & Globalisation

3.4.1 Production & Consumption

3.4.2 Globalisation

3.4.3 Evaluation

3.4.4 End of Topic Test - Production

4 Option 1: Families & Households

4.1 Families & Households

4.1.1 Definitions

4.1.2 Functionalist & New Right Perspectives

4.1.3 Marxist & Feminist Perspectives

4.1.4 Postmodernist Perspective

4.1.5 End of Topic Test - Families & Households

4.1.6 Practice Exam Question - Function of Family

4.2 Changing Patterns

4.2.1 Marriage

4.2.2 Divorce

4.2.3 LAT Relationships

4.2.4 Child-Bearing

4.2.5 Lone Parenthood

4.2.6 Diversity

4.2.7 The Sociology of Personal Life

4.2.8 Government Policies Post-WW2

4.2.9 End of Topic Test - Changing Patterns

4.3 The Symmetrical Family

4.3.1 The Symmetrical Family

4.3.2 Evaluation

4.4 Children & Childhood

4.4.1 Childhood

4.4.2 Childhood in the UK

4.4.3 Childhood as a Social Construct

4.4.4 The Disappearance of Childhood

4.4.5 Child Abuse

4.4.6 Domestic Violence

4.4.7 End of Topic Test - Family & Childhood

4.5 Demographic Trends UK

4.5.1 Introduction

4.5.2 Birth Rates

4.5.3 Death Rates

4.5.4 The Ageing Population

4.5.5 Studies on the Ageing Population

4.5.6 Migration

4.5.7 Globalisation

4.5.8 End of Topic Test - Demographics UK

5 Option 1: Health

5.1 Social Constructions

5.1.1 The Body

5.1.2 Health, Illness & Disease

5.1.3 Disability

5.1.4 Models of Health & Illness

5.1.5 End of Topic Test - Social Constructions

5.2 Social Distribution of Healthcare

5.2.1 Social Class

5.2.2 Gender

5.2.3 Ethnicity

5.2.4 Regional

5.3 Provision & Access to Healthcare

5.3.1 The NHS

5.3.2 Inequalities in Provision

5.3.3 Sociological Explanations

5.3.4 Inequalities in Access

5.3.5 Inequalities in Access 2

5.3.6 End of Topic Test - Distribution Health

5.4 Mental Health

5.4.1 The Biomedical Approach

5.4.2 Social Patterns

5.4.3 Social Constructionist Approach

5.5 The Globalised Health Industry

5.5.1 The Functionalist Approach

5.5.2 The Postmodernist Approach

5.5.3 The Globalised Health Industry

5.5.4 End of Topic Test - Mental Health & Globalisation

6 Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare

6.1 Poverty & Wealth

6.1.1 Types of Poverty

6.1.2 Types of Poverty 2

6.1.3 Distribution of Wealth UK

6.1.4 Sociological Theories

6.1.5 Sociological Theories 2

6.1.6 Distribution of Poverty UK

6.1.7 End of Topic Test - Poverty & Wealth

6.2 Welfare

6.2.1 The Welfare State

6.2.2 Theoretical Approaches to Welfare

6.3 Labour Process

6.3.1 Nature of Work

6.3.2 Technology & Control

6.3.3 Work & Life

6.3.4 The Effects of Globalisation

6.3.5 Globalisation & Worklessness

6.3.6 End of Topic Test - Welfare & Labour

7 Option 2: Beliefs in Society

7.1 Ideology, Science & Religion

7.1.1 Types of Religion

7.1.2 Ideology & Belief Systems

7.1.3 Social Stability & Religion

7.1.4 Social Change & Religion

7.1.5 End of Topic Test - Ideology, Science & Religion

7.2 Religious Movements

7.2.1 Religious Organisations

7.2.2 New Religious Movements

7.2.3 New Age Movements

7.2.4 Practice Exam Question - Growth of NRMs

7.3 Society & Religion

7.3.1 Social Groups & Religion

7.3.2 Gender & Religion

7.3.3 End of Topic Test- Religious Movements & Society

7.4 Contemporary Religion

7.4.1 Secularisation UK

7.4.2 Against Secularisation

7.4.3 Secularisation US

7.4.4 Fundamentalism

7.4.5 Economic Development & Religion

7.4.6 End of Topic - Contemporary Religion

8 Option 2: Global Development

8.1 Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality

8.1.1 Development

8.1.2 Underdevelopment & Global Inequality

8.2 Globalisation & Global Organisations

8.2.1 Globalisation

8.2.2 Transnational Corporations & International Agency

8.2.3 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

8.3 Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation

8.3.1 Development: Aid & Trade

8.3.2 Development: Industrialisation & Urbanisation

8.3.3 Development: Environment & War

9 Option 2: The Media

9.1 Contemporary Media

9.1.1 New Media

9.1.2 Control of the Media

9.1.3 Sociological Approaches: New Media

9.1.4 Globalisation

9.1.5 News Selection

9.1.6 Moral Panics

9.1.7 End of Topic Test - Contemporary Media

9.2 Media Representations

9.2.2 Social Class & Ethnicity

9.2.3 Gender

9.2.4 Sexuality & Disability

9.2.5 Practice Exam Questions - Presentation of Women

9.3 Audiences

9.3.1 Media Theories

9.3.2 Media Theories 2

9.3.3 Media Representations & Audiences

10 Crime & Deviance

10.1 Crime & Society

10.1.1 Functionalism

10.1.2 Subcultural Theory

10.1.3 Marxism

10.1.4 Realism

10.1.5 Other Approaches

10.1.6 End of Topic Test - Crime & Society

10.1.7 Practice Exam Questions - Social Construction

10.2 Social Distribution of Crime

10.2.1 Ethnicity

10.2.2 Gender

10.2.3 Globalisation & Crime

10.2.4 Media & Crime

10.2.5 Types of Crimes

10.2.6 End of Topic Test - Social Distribution of Crime

10.3 Prevention & Punishment

10.3.1 Surveillance

10.3.2 Prevention

10.3.3 Punishment

10.3.4 Victimology

10.3.5 End of Topic Test - Prevention & Punishment

Sociology A-Level Past Papers

This section includes recent A-Level Sociology past papers from AQA, CIE, OCR and WJEC. If you are not sure which exam board you are studying ask your teacher. Past papers are a fantastic way to prepare for an exam as you can practise the questions in your own time. You can download each of the exam board's papers by clicking the links below.

  • AQA A-Level Sociology Past Papers
  • CIE A-Level Sociology Past Papers
  • Eduqas A-Level Sociology Past Papers
  • OCR A-Level Sociology Past Papers
  • WJEC A-Level Sociology Past Papers

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A Level Sociology Exam 2017 (AQA): Example Answers

Last updated 10 Feb 2018

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In this collection, you will find our example answer to the 2017 A Level Sociology exam (AQA).

​Example Answer for Question 1 Paper 1: A Level Sociology, June 2017 (AQA)

Exam Support

Example Answer for Question 2 Paper 1: A Level Sociology, June 2017 (AQA)

Example answer for question 3 paper 1: a level sociology, june 2017 (aqa), example answer for question 4 paper 1: a level sociology, june 2017 (aqa), example answer for question 5 paper 1: a level sociology, june 2017 (aqa), example answer for question 6 paper 1: a level sociology, june 2017 (aqa), ​example answer for question 1 paper 3: a level sociology, june 2017 (aqa), ​example answer for question 2 paper 3: a level sociology, june 2017 (aqa), example answer for question 3 paper 3: a level sociology, june 2017 (aqa), our subjects.

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Programmes & Qualifications

Cambridge international as & a level sociology (9699).

  • Syllabus overview

In a rapidly changing world, Cambridge International AS and A Level Sociology offers learners the opportunity not only to explore the processes that are shaping current trends, but also to develop an understanding of the complexity and diversity of human societies and their continuities with the past. 

The study of sociology stimulates awareness of contemporary social, cultural and political issues, and focuses on the importance of examining these issues in a rigorous, reasoned and analytical way.

The syllabus year refers to the year in which the examination will be taken.

  • -->2021 - 2023 Syllabus update (PDF, 214KB)
  • -->2024 - 2026 Syllabus update (PDF, 184KB)

Syllabus updates

We have updated this syllabus for examination in 2021, 2022 and 2023 in line with a wider review of Cambridge International AS & A Level to make sure it meets the needs of learners, schools and and higher education institutions around the world.

How has the syllabus changed?

  • Following feedback from teachers, the syllabus content has been updated and reorganised.
  • A new component has been added (Paper 4), and the topics from current Paper 3 have been divided between Paper 3 and Paper 4.
  • Unit 4 Global development has been removed and replaced by a new topic: Globalisation.

How has the assessment changed?

  • We have changed the order of Papers 1 and 2.
  • The question structure for Papers 1 and 2 and the number of marks has changed slightly.
  • A new component has been added: Paper 4 Globalisation, Media and Religion. This paper has essay questions only.
  • Paper 3 now assesses only one topic: Education.

When do these changes take place?

This updated syllabus will be assessed in June and November 2021, 2022 and 2023. It is also available in March 2021, 2022 and 2023 (India only). Please see the 2021-2023 syllabus above for full details.

Coming soon

We are developing a wide range of support to help you plan and teach the 2021-2023 syllabus.

Look out for a range of support including a Scheme of work, Example candidate responses, Teacher and Learner guides. These materials will be available before first teaching from April 2019 onwards through our School Support Hub .

Endorsed resources

A Level Sociology (Collins)

Read more on the Collins website

ASAL Computer Science

Read more on the Cambridge University Press website

Important notices

For some subjects, we publish grade descriptions to help understand the level of performance candidates’ grades represent.

We paused the publication of grade descriptions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the temporary changes to the awarding standard in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

As the awarding standard has now returned to the pre-pandemic standard, we are working to produce up-to-date grade descriptions for most of our general qualifications. These will be based on the awarding standards in place from June 2023 onwards.

School Support Hub

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  • Past papers, examiner reports and specimen papers
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Essay Questions

Support links .

You will find a 20 mark question on all three papers of the A-Level exam, however, Methods in context question will be dealt with separately.

20 mark questions are essay style questions and should be answered in continuous prose and paragraphs. You should take around 25 – 30 minutes to answer these questions and contain between 3 and 4 paragraphs as well as an introduction and conclusion.

30 Mark Questions only appear on paper 1 and 3 for both Education and Crime and Deviance. 30 Mark questions are to be approached in the same way as the 20 markers, however, you ware expected to show a deeper level of knowledge and understanding (4-5 points), analysis and evaluation.

Command Words 

All essay questions use the same command words: 

Applying material from = Use the item explicitly in your answer. The examiner needs to see "the item" to show you have taken material from the item. 

Evaluate = Look at multiple arguments and come to a reasoned and definitive conclusion

Evaluation Stems

There are two types of essay that you can be asked, Argument or relative importance. You will need to identify which type it is by looking at the question and identifying the evaluation stem. There are four stems for argument essays and two for relative importance: 

ARGUMENT ESSAY STEMS

  • The view 
  • The contribution of 
  • The usefulness of 

RELATIVE IMPORTANCE ESSAY STEMS

  • Sociological explanations of 
  • The reasons / causes / factors of

Planning your answers is an important step in practicing essay questions. There is no point writing out a full essay answer if you have no idea or are unsure on what it is you are being asked to do or what to include. 

The for and against sides of the content section are essentially two different essays. They do not have to correspond. You then choose which you one you are going to turn into your essay [answer].

Introduction

The introduction should give an overview to the examiner of what it is you are going to write about in the essay. It is also there to show the examiner that you understand the question and what it is asking you to do.

The introduction should contain three elements:

Context: 

This is the background information on the question and can come in three forms:

  • Definition of key sociological terms.
  • Trends in statistical subjects.
  • Background of the theory or topic.

Content: 

In this part of the introduction you show the examiner that you have interpreted the question correctly by explaining the key points that you are going to cover in the essay.

For an   argument   essay this will be both the arguments for and against the view in the question. Whereas for a   relative importance   question this will be the reasons, factors or explanations you are going to discuss.

This a a single sentence which either states that you are going to argue for or against the view in the question, or which reason, factor or explanation is the most important.

The main body of the essay should be around 3 or 4 paragraphs for a 20 marker and 4 or 5 paragraphs in length for a 30 marker, meaning that there should be 4 or 5 points that come from both the item that you have been given as well as your own knowledge.

A nswer the Question

The first sentence of your paragraph should directly answer the question. Use the terms of the question to help make sure you are answering the question set. 

Argument Essay - Why have you come to your overall answer. Give a reason not a concept. 

Relative Importance - Identify the explanation, reason, cause or factor. 

R easons / Explanation 

Use your sociological knowledge to explain how and why this answers the question. This should be around 3-4 sentences where you teach the reader and convince them that your answer is the correct one. 

E valuation 

The evaluation section of the paragraph is where you show your understanding of the opposing argument to your answer. The evaluation should directly link to the point that you are making at the start of your paragraph. It must be shorter than your explanation. 

A pplication  

The application elements of your paragraph are floating and go where they fit. Application comes in a range of formats:

  • Integrated use of the item [Paraphrase don't quote]
  • Appropriately named sociologists
  • Appropriately used sociological studies
  • Contemporary real life examples
  • Illustrative Examples 

L ink  

This is where you reiterate your answer. 

Argument Essay - What is your overall argument again. Not necessary for Assessment objectives but good literacy. 

Relative Importance - Why is this factor the most important / not the most important. This is ESSENTIAL to show you are answering the question and not just describing the topic. 

The conclusion should be about 2 or 3 sentences long and needs to answer the question directly, and explain why you have come to that answer. 

Do not evaluate or add anything you have not mentioned already. 

AQA A Level Sociology: Past Papers (7192)

Past Papers and Mark Schemes for the A Level AQA Sociology course. Specification code 7192.

Visit all of our AQA A Level Past Papers here .

How Are A-Level Sociology Essays Marked?

Last Updated on April 12, 2017 by Karl Thompson

Below is a pared-down general mark-scheme for 20 and 30 mark sociology essays, adapted from the AQA’s more specific mark-schemes from the 2016-17 specimen A level papers.

Sound, conceptually detailed knowledge of a range of relevant material, good sophisticated understanding of the question and of the presented material. Appropriate material applied accurately and with sensitivity to the issues raised by the question.

Analysis and evaluation will be explicit and relevant. Evaluation may be developed for example through a debate between different perspectives, e.g. by comparing or contrasting different perspectives. Analysis will show clear explanation. Appropriate conclusions will be drawn.

Accurate, broad and/or deep but incomplete knowledge. Understands a number of significant aspects of the question; good understanding of the presented material.

Application of material is largely explicitly relevant to the question, though some material may be inadequately focused.

Some limited explicit evaluation e.g. the debate about the symmetrical family and/or some appropriate analysis, e.g. clear explanations of some of the presented material.

Largely accurate knowledge but limited range and depth, e.g. a broadly accurate knowledge of relevant concepts and theories. Understands some limited but significant aspects of the question; superficial understanding of the presented material.

Applying listed material from the general topic area but with limited regard for its relevance to the issues raised by the question, or applying a narrow range of more relevant material.

Evaluation limited at most to juxtaposition of competing positions or one to two isolated stated points. Analysis will be limited, with answers tending towards the descriptive.

Limited undeveloped knowledge, e.g. two to three insubstantial knowledge points. Understands only very limited aspects of the question; simplistic understanding of the presented material.

Limited application of suitable material, and/or material often at a tangent to the demands of the question, e.g. drifting into answering a different question.

Very limited, minimal or no evaluation. Attempts at analysis, if any, are thin and disjointed.

Very limited knowledge, e.g. one to two very insubstantial knowledge points. Very little/no understanding of the question and of the presented material.

Significant errors, and/or omissions, and/or significant incoherence in application of material. Minimal or no analysis or evaluation.

Of course the actual mark schemes will refer to the actual question, and have a bunch of ‘indicative knowledge’ at the end of it, but the above is a general guide at least.

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    Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (A-level): Paper 3 Crime and deviance with theory and methods - June 2023 New. Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 312 KB. Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (AS): Paper 1 Education with methods in context - June 2023 New. Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 239 KB.

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    The AQA A-Level Sociology papers are marked using a combination of computer and human marking. The computer marks the objective questions, while the human markers mark the subjective questions, such as essays and extended writing. The marking is done using a detailed mark scheme to ensure consistency and fairness.

  11. Sociology 9699 AS and A Level Past Papers

    SOCIOLOGY 9699 PAST PAPERS . Sociology A Level Past Papers and Important Details. 12/01/2023 : Sociology 9699 October November 2022 Past Papers of A Levels are Updated. Moreover Sociology 9699 Past Papers of Feb March 2022 and May June 2022 are also available. CAIE was previously known as CIE. Within this Past Papers section you will also get Topical Past Papers now as well as Solved Past ...

  12. Three top tips for writing sociology essays

    Here is top tip number three for improving your essays: 3. Redraft your work for your argument, before you edit and proof-read it. Students often write to tight deadlines and do not plan enough time for a good second draft of their work. Instead, they write a first draft and then edit it as they proof-read it. When writing the first draft of an ...

  13. Sociology: AQA A Level

    2 Education with Methods in Context. 3 Option 1: Culture & Identity. 4 Option 1: Families & Households. 5 Option 1: Health. 6 Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare. 7 Option 2: Beliefs in Society. 8 Option 2: Global Development. 9 Option 2: The Media. 10 Crime & Deviance.

  14. How to write a sociology essay

    There should be at least one every paragraph (and probably more). Have you got (at least): 2 x concepts. These are key words (eg 'universal family', 'geographical mobility'). Remember each key word when used the first time will need to be defined (as briefly as possible). 2 x comparisons.

  15. PDF Cambridge International AS & A Level Sociology

    Essay questions As an AS and A Level learner you will already know quite a lot about the principles of good essay writing technique. These principles apply in sociology just as much as in any other subject. However, in addition, there are some points of advice about essay technique which are particularly relevant for the sociology exam.

  16. Essay plans

    An A-level sociology essay written for the AQA's 7192 (1) specification, exam paper 1. This is the long, 'overkill' version of the essay, written using the PEAC system (Point - Explain - Analyse - Criticise) An obvious starting point before reading this essay would be to read my post on the Functionalist Perspective on Education.

  17. Sociology A-Level Past Papers

    This section includes recent A-Level Sociology past papers from AQA, CIE, OCR and WJEC. If you are not sure which exam board you are studying ask your teacher. Past papers are a fantastic way to prepare for an exam as you can practise the questions in your own time.

  18. A Level Sociology Exam 2017 (AQA): Example Answers

    Last updated 10 Feb 2018. Share : In this collection, you will find our example answer to the 2017 A Level Sociology exam (AQA). Example Answer for Question 1 Paper 1: A Level Sociology, June 2017 (AQA) Exam Support.

  19. AS and A-level

    AS and A-level Sociology. 7191, 7192. Specification Planning resources Teaching resources Assessment resources Key dates ... Question papers (13) Component (1) "component" Paper 1 (37) Paper 2 (36) Paper 3 ...

  20. Methods in Context Questions: A Full Mark Answer from the AQA

    A level sociology revision - education, families, research methods, crime and deviance and more! Menu. Sociology Revision Resources for Sale; ... one of the clearest level 5 responses in the whole essay. Examiner commentary. The answer shows a wide range of application. Many of the points are linked explicitly to the issue of the influence of ...

  21. Cambridge International AS & A Level Sociology (9699)

    Cambridge International AS & A Level Sociology (9699)

  22. Essay Questions / A Level Exam Technique / Exam Technique / SOCIOLOGY

    You will find a 20 mark question on all three papers of the A-Level exam, however, Methods in context question will be dealt with separately. 20 mark questions are essay style questions and should be answered in continuous prose and paragraphs.

  23. AQA A Level Sociology Revision

    Past papers. Mark schemes. Revision notes, past papers and practice questions for AQA A Level Sociology, written by our expert team of teachers and examiners.

  24. AQA A Level Sociology Past Papers

    AQA A Level Sociology: Past Papers (7192)

  25. How Are A-Level Sociology Essays Marked?

    Below is a pared-down general mark-scheme for 20 and 30 mark sociology essays, adapted from the AQA's more specific mark-schemes from the 2016-17 specimen A level papers. Sound, conceptually detailed knowledge of a range of relevant material, good sophisticated understanding of the question and of the presented material.