National 4 & 5 Modern Studies
Geography
Modern Studies
The Modern Studies course is made up of three units which are assessed throughout the year after each unit has been covered in class.
The units studied are:
Crime and the Law
This unit develops pupil’s knowledge and understanding of social issues in the United Kingdom. In the crime and the law, learners will develop knowledge and understanding of the causes of crime, the impact of crime on individuals and society and the role of individuals, the police, the legal system and the state in tackling crime.
World Power – The USA
This unit develops pupil’s knowledge and understanding of international issues. They will learn about contemporary socio-economic issues in the USA and study its political system.
Democracy in Scotland
This unit develops pupil’s knowledge and understanding of Scotland’s political structure including the place of Scotland within the UK and the debates around this arrangement. Learners will develop knowledge and understanding of the main institutions and organisations which make up political life. They will study the ways in which society is informed about the politics, and able to participate in, and influence, the political system.
Assignment/Added Value Unit
In addition to the three units, National 5 pupils will complete an assignment and National 4 pupils will complete an Added Value Unit. In both instances, pupils research further an area of the course covered that is of interest to them. They must use a variety of methods such as; interviews, questionnaires, book reading and internet research to gather information to produce a written project of their findings.
Research activities are an important part of this course and pupils take increasing responsibility for their own learning as they progress through the course. A variety of different learning activities take place throughout the course including; class and group discussions, individual and group research tasks and poster presentations.
