Lecture on A-Level Sociology Revision Tips

Introduction and Milestone

• Lecturer talking for the first time since earlier milestones (e.g., first Q&A at 1K subscribers).
• Celebrating 10K subscribers, will have a Q&A next week and a giveaway video the week after.
• Today's topic: Revision tips and advice for A-Level Sociology based on personal experience.

Why Choose Sociology?

• Passion for societal issues, thought it would be common sense but found it theory-heavy.
• Theories like Marx, Durkheim, Foucault surprised lecturer initially.

Personal Experience

• Studied at a college with helpful teachers like Jill and Harriet.
• Aimed for high grades and achieved with hard work and organized study methods.
• Organized own study groups and wrote exam technique tips for classmates.

Key Tips for Revision

Memorizing Content

• Breakdown Approach: Focus on key sociological theories for each topic (functionalism, Marxism, feminism, etc.).
• Use a plain piece of paper to summarize key arguments for each theory per topic.
• Don't focus on memorizing specifics like names; focus on understanding concepts.
• Three Argument Rule: Remember three key arguments per theory, per topic.
• Current and Contemporary Knowledge: Use current events and practical examples.

Writing Sociologically

• Essay Structure: Focus on point, explain, example, analyze, and link back.
• Color Coding: Helps organize different theoretical perspectives in essays.
• Avoid a 'shopping list' of theories by linking paragraphs effectively.
• Example: Transition smoothly from Durkheim's ideas to other theories.

Conclusion Writing

• Follow the rule of five: To conclude, complement, cuss, alternative views, and link back.
• Be unique and add personal, contemporary opinions.

Methods and Acronyms

• Acronyms: Helpful for remembering methods and perspectives.
• ESQRIO: Experiments, Surveys, Questionnaires, Interviews, Observation.
• S.H.O.P.: Statistics, Historical documents, Official documents, Personal documents.
• Pervert: Practical, Ethical, Reliability, Validity, Enough (representative).

Exam Techniques for Methods and Context

• Define in Introduction: Define method, data type, and theoretical perspective.
• Paragraph Structure: Utilize pervert acronym for structured paragraphs.
• Evaluate reliability vs. validity, and enough vs. representativeness.
• Importance of methodological pluralism and triangulation.

Current Affairs Integration

• Incorporate current events and social issues (e.g., Black Lives Matter) into essays to make them contemporary.
• Social media and recent headlines can be helpful context.

Final Advice

• Utilize past papers, examiner reports, and textbooks (Rob Webb, Haralambos, Collins).
• Regular revision of news and current affairs can provide fresh perspectives.
• Understand that trying your hardest given your circumstances is what's important.
• Sociology is fun and time-consuming; enjoy the process and work hard.

Closing Remarks

• Encouragement and thanks for the support from subscribers.
• Wishing everyone good luck on their exams and acknowledging the journey and hard work undertaken.