Sociology 9699 Notes Instant

For students taking the Cambridge International AS & A Level Sociology (9699), mastering the syllabus requires a blend of structural understanding, theoretical depth, and evaluative skill. This write-up breaks down the essential components of the course to help you organize your study notes effectively. 1. The Core AS Level (Paper 1 & 2)

  • Value Consensus: Shared norms and values bind society together.
  • Social Solidarity: Sense of belonging; prevents anomie (normlessness).
  • Organic Analogy: Society’s institutions work like organs to keep the "body" healthy.

3.3 Demography & Social Change

  • Decline of marriage: Rise in cohabitation, divorce (Divorce Reform Act 1969).
  • Reasons for divorce: Changing women’s position (economic independence), secularization, declining stigma.
  • Consequences of family change: Lone-parent families (often linked to poverty), step-families (complex kinship networks), ageing population (dependency ratio pressures).

Part 6: Exam Technique (9699)

Paper 1 (AS): 1 hour 30 minutes

  • Section A: 4 short-answer questions on methods (e.g., "Define validity" – 2 marks).
  • Section B: One essay from choice (20 marks).
    • Girls now outperform boys at GCSE/A-Level.
    • Reasons for girls’ success: Feminism impact, equal opportunities policies (GIST, WISE), role models (female teachers), GCSE coursework suits girls’ organisation (Mitsos & Browne, 1998).
    • Boys’ underachievement: ‘Laddish’ subcultures (Epstein, 1998), feminisation of schooling, decline of traditional male jobs.

    The Family: Functions of the family and changing patterns of marriage/divorce. sociology 9699 notes

    Point 1: Social Solidarity (Durkheim)

  • Documents: Public (media) vs. Private (diaries).
  1. Social Stratification