Sociology of modern Britain
Demonstrate the following knowledge and understanding:
A detailed knowledge of the social, political, cultural and economic history of post-WW2 Britain up to contemporary times.
2 Demonstrate the following skills and abilities:
Design, implement and derive sound conclusions from an investigation into a chosen
topic/event of sociological interest via set writing exercise and examination etc.
QUESTIONS/TITLES OF ARTICLES (choose one of the below):
Would it be possible to create an NHS in 2021?
Was 1940’s ‘Austerity’ any different to our current austere times?
What is gained or lost in seeing the 1950’s as some kind of ‘golden era’?
Did the 1960’s really deliver lasting social and cultural change?
The early 1970’s echo: how domestic troubles changed everything
NOTE: Further details (to help students) will be posted up on BREO and discussed in–class in the approach to the assignment delivery, including examples of writing style, referencing needs (i.e. how to use footnotes to evidence sources in order to allow for ‘journalistic’ feel to writing) and discussions on materials and approaches will take place in all classes Weeks 3–6.
In order to pass Assessment 1 you will need to:
Show an understanding of the sociological, political and ideological, economic and cultural aspects of the unit (in its chronological, socio–historical context).
Present information and argument in a logical form, using concepts accurately and following standard rules of grammar, punctuation, spelling and referencing.
Articulate accumulated knowledge from the Unit lectures and associative reading, drawing on debates and analysis, to produce clear and reasoned written assessed work.
Illustrate innovative ways of exploring and presenting information in ‘project’ style (i.e. using text, graphics, photographs etc.) while retaining academic/scholarly focus.
This Assignment is designed to give you an opportunity to explore issues raised in the first 5 weeks of lectures and incorporate the themes into a ‘journalistic’ article.
Based on an article style that is found in The Guardian or its ‘sister’ paper The Observer newspapers (available in hard copy from such places as newsagents, supermarkets and train stations every day of the week, except The Observer which appears on Sunday only, and found online at guardian.co.uk), the article that you are expected to produce should be written with a degree of journalistic informality, approaching the subject and informally asking yourself the question ‘What would be the impact of [subject] if it were to be played out in contemporary Britain?’
You then need to write as if addressing an audience who might be sitting having a coffee and reading the paper in their lounge, coffee shop, train station waiting room or kitchen with a piece of toast and a pot of tea on a Saturday or Sunday morning.
Students will be marked on their grasp of the history, impact and sociological connotations of the subject chosen. It should not be considered acceptable to use rhetoric to ‘fill’ the piece. The bibliography should also be detailed and, where possible, alluded to in the text of the piece.
