Locality and Crime

Year 13 have been looking and patterns and trends in crime and deviance. According to the British Crime Survey, crime is much more likely to occur in urban areas rather than rural locations. Some sociologists also claim that particular areas within cities are more likely to be prone to crime than others.

What reasons are given for the differences between urban and rural crime? How does Shaw and McKay's work develop these ideas further?

Religion and Ethnicity

Religion and etnicity. Often both are confused with each other, however can the distinction be as clear as the difference in skin colour? We can also often stereotype people on how religious we presume they will be, so are there really any distinct patterns between ethnicity and religious beliefs and how important they are to people in a modern society?

Thank you to Matthew and Sandeep for writing this post. Following feedback on your research and information on the display board you now need to comment on the relationship between ethnicity and religious practice and belief.

Beliefs in Society

Ideology has several different meaning and is used in a variety of ways by different scholars. Karl Mannheim distinguishes between ideological thought and utopian thought, both of which distort reality. Please comment on how each of these distorts reality and how these concepts could be linked with Marxism.

Synoptic links to topics.

Examine some of the ways in which the concept of social control is relevant to the study of one or more of the following: families and households; education; religion.

(12 marks)

Community Payback

How have theories of crime and punishment contributed to the introduction of the new Community Payback scheme?

Crime and Deviance - synoptic links to topics

Examine some of the ways in which sociologists have linked their explanations of crime to families and households.

12 marks

Challenging ideas of religious organisations.

The year 13 sociologists have been looking at different religious organisations and the roles which they play in contemporary society. This week in particular we have examining definitions of churches, denominations, sects and cults. We have been examining text book material, challenging our own ideas and using sociological evidence to try to clarify definitions.

Using the link below and the information gathered from watching the video on Barker's study called 'The Making of a Moonie', students need to consider the extent to which definitions of sects and cults could be challenged.

http://www.inform.ac/infmain.html

How can sociology be applied to events of national interest such as Royal weddings and funerals?

Civil Religion - a set of secular beliefs and rituals contributing to the way of life of a nation, which are seen as sacred or special. Children are socialised into them and the way of life of a nation is often organised around them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X56XLpnS4wA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86MQSbZo28Y

Using the idea of civil religion (and other concepts/theories) watch these two clips and consider whether Royal weddings and funerals can be interpreted sociologically.