A-level Sociology Tutor

November 2020: Paper 2

320 marks · 24 question parts · Paper, mark scheme and report on AQA's site · Printed for the cancelled summer 2020 exams

Question by question

QTopicMarksAOType
1 Identity and age, disability, ethnicity, gender, nationality, sexuality and class 10AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2Outline and explain
2 Conceptions of culture: subculture, mass, folk, high, popular and global culture 10AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3Analyse
3 Socialisation and the agencies of socialisation, Identity and age, disability, ethnicity, gender, nationality, sexuality and class 20AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6Essay
4 Gender roles, domestic labour and power in the family, Marriage, divorce, cohabitation and family diversity 10AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2Outline and explain
5 Demographic trends: birth rates, death rates, ageing and migration, Marriage, divorce, cohabitation and family diversity 10AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3Analyse
6 Childhood and the changing status of children 20AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6Essay
7 Inequalities in the provision of and access to health care 10AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2Outline and explain
8 Health inequalities by class, gender, ethnicity and region, Inequalities in the provision of and access to health care 10AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3Analyse
9 Mental illness, The social construction of health, illness, disability and the body 20AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6Essay
10 The distribution of poverty, wealth and income, Responses and solutions to poverty: the state and welfare providers 10AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2Outline and explain
11 The distribution of poverty, wealth and income, The nature, existence and persistence of poverty 10AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3Analyse
12 Work, worklessness and life chances 20AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6Essay
13 Religion and social groups: gender, ethnicity, age and class, Religious organisations: churches, sects, cults and New Age movements 10AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2Outline and explain
14 Secularisation and the global spread of religion 10AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3Analyse
15 Religion, social change and social stability, Ideology, science and religion 20AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6Essay
16 Employment, education, health, demography and gender in development 10AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2Outline and explain
17 Employment, education, health, demography and gender in development 10AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3Analyse
18 Aid, trade, industrialisation, urbanisation, environment and war, Transnational corporations, NGOs and international agencies 20AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6Essay
19 Selection and presentation of the news, The new media 10AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2Outline and explain
20 The media, globalisation and popular culture, Ownership and control of the media 10AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3Analyse
21 The media and audiences, Ownership and control of the media 20AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6Essay
22 Social mobility 10AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2Outline and explain
23 Class, status, power and life chances, Stratification and differentiation by class, gender, ethnicity and age 10AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3Analyse
24 Stratification and differentiation by class, gender, ethnicity and age, Class, status, power and life chances 20AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6Essay

The questions

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November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q1 10 marks AO1=5, AO2=3, AO3=2 Outline and explain identity class gender ethnicity
Topic A1 Culture and Identity 0 1 Outline and explain two ways in which social class may have become less important in shaping identities. [10 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q2 10 marks AO1=3, AO2=4, AO3=3 Analyse conceptions of culture
0 2 Read Item A below and answer the question that follows. Item A Mass culture is usually seen as commercially produced by businesses for profit rather than being created by ordinary people or reflecting their experiences. Mass culture is also seen as oversimplified, requiring little thought or evaluation. Mass culture may prevent social change. Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which mass culture may prevent social change. [10 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q3 20 marks AO1=8, AO2=6, AO3=6 20-mark essay socialisationidentity class gender ethnicity
0 3 Read Item B below and answer the question that follows. Item B Feminist sociologists often emphasise the ways in which the socialisation process encourages people to conform to hegemonic masculine and feminine identities that reinforce patriarchy. However, other sociologists have argued that people actively construct their gender identities, and that gender identities have become much more fluid. Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate feminist views of the extent to which the socialisation process reinforces patriarchy. [20 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q4 10 marks AO1=5, AO2=3, AO3=2 Outline and explain gender roles and domestic labourmarriage divorce and family diversity
0 4 Outline and explain two ways in which changing childbearing patterns may have influenced gender roles and relationships within families and households. [10 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q5 10 marks AO1=3, AO2=4, AO3=3 Analyse demographic trendsmarriage divorce and family diversity
0 5 Read Item C below and answer the question that follows. Item C Globalisation involves the growing inter-connectedness between countries through increased travel opportunities. It enables more freedom of choice in terms of lifestyles and personal relationships. Globalisation may influence families and households. Applying material from Item C, analyse two ways in which globalisation may influence families and households. [10 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q6 20 marks AO1=8, AO2=6, AO3=6 20-mark essay childhood
0 6 Read Item D below and answer the question that follows. Item D Some sociologists argue that UK society has become more child-centred. Children today are more privileged than they have ever been. There are a large range of laws and policies in place to protect them and there is an increasing emphasis now placed on children’s rights. However, other sociologists argue that the extent of child-centredness is exaggerated, and that childhood can be a negative experience for some children. Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate the view that UK society has become more child-centred. [20 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q7 10 marks AO1=5, AO2=3, AO3=2 Outline and explain access to health care
0 7 Outline and explain two reasons for social class differences in consumer choices of health care. [10 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q8 10 marks AO1=3, AO2=4, AO3=3 Analyse health inequalitiesaccess to health care
0 8 Read Item E below and answer the question that follows. Item E Black and other minority ethnic groups in the UK are more likely than the majority to experience low incomes and live in disadvantaged areas. The cultural values of these groups often prioritise support from the family and community rather than outside support. There are inequalities between ethnic groups in their health chances. Applying material from Item E, analyse two reasons for inequalities between ethnic groups in their health chances. [10 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q9 20 marks AO1=8, AO2=6, AO3=6 20-mark essay mental illnesssocial construction of health
0 9 Read Item F below and answer the question that follows. Item F Rates of mental illness vary between different social groups, such as those based on social class, gender and ethnicity. Some explanations of mental illness point to social issues such as racism, sexism, poor housing and poverty as contributing factors. Others argue that mental illness is a label applied to deviant behaviour. Mental illness is socially constructed through interpretations made by others. Applying material from Item F and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of the differences in rates of mental illness between social groups. [20 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q10 10 marks AO1=5, AO2=3, AO3=2 Outline and explain distribution of wealth and incomeresponses to poverty
1 0 Outline and explain two ways in which government policies have affected the distribution of income in the UK. [10 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q11 10 marks AO1=3, AO2=4, AO3=3 Analyse distribution of wealth and incomepoverty
1 1 Read Item G below and answer the question that follows. Item G The values and attitudes of some members of the working class may lead to them accepting their position in society. Patriarchal values mean that females can be disadvantaged. Some social groups are more likely than others to experience poverty. Applying material from Item G, analyse two reasons why some social groups are more likely than others to experience poverty. [10 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q12 20 marks AO1=8, AO2=6, AO3=6 20-mark essay work and worklessness
1 2 Read Item H below and answer the question that follows. Item H Worklessness affects retired people and those unable to work as well as unemployed people. People without work are more likely to be disadvantaged than those in work. They are excluded from some aspects of social life and their life chances are diminished. There are others who do not work because they have sufficient wealth. However, some sociologists argue that work is now less important as a source of identity and that worklessness has become less significant. Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of the effects of worklessness on people’s lives and life chances. [20 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q13 10 marks AO1=5, AO2=3, AO3=2 Outline and explain religion and social groupsreligious organisations
1 3 Outline and explain two reasons why women are more likely than men to participate in New Age movements. [10 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q14 10 marks AO1=3, AO2=4, AO3=3 Analyse secularisation
1 4 Read Item I below and answer the question that follows. Item I Secularisation theory explains the decline in religious participation across parts of Europe, but it does not explain why religion continues to be popular in other parts of the world. It also fails to recognise that religion may be changing rather than declining. The extent of secularisation may have been exaggerated. Applying material from Item I, analyse two reasons why the extent of secularisation may have been exaggerated. [10 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q15 20 marks AO1=8, AO2=6, AO3=6 20-mark essay religion and social changeideology science and religion
1 5 Read Item J below and answer the question that follows. Item J Some sociologists argue that religion acts as a force for social change. It can be used to challenge mainstream beliefs and values, and inspire protest against the existing social order. However, other sociologists suggest that the relationship between religion and social change is not straightforward and that religion can even prevent social change. Applying material from Item J and your knowledge, evaluate the view that religion acts as a force for social change. [20 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q16 10 marks AO1=5, AO2=3, AO3=2 Outline and explain development gender health education
1 6 Outline and explain two ways in which development can lead to demographic changes. [10 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q17 10 marks AO1=3, AO2=4, AO3=3 Analyse development gender health education
1 7 Read Item K below and answer the question that follows. Item K Development can lead to new ways for previously exploited groups to improve their situation. It can also cause powerful groups to feel threatened by changes and lead them to assert what are seen as traditional attitudes and practices. Development can affect gender inequalities. Applying material from Item K, analyse two ways in which development can affect gender inequalities. [10 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q18 20 marks AO1=8, AO2=6, AO3=6 20-mark essay aid trade and industrialisationtncs ngos and international agencies
1 8 Read Item L below and answer the question that follows. Item L According to some sociologists, aid is essential for development because it helps countries reach take-off and industrialise. However, other sociologists are critical of aid and point out that many countries receiving aid have made little progress. Others argue that the real purpose of aid is to ensure a free market system that creates underdevelopment. Applying material from Item L and your knowledge, evaluate the view that aid is essential for development. [20 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q19 10 marks AO1=5, AO2=3, AO3=2 Outline and explain news selection and presentationnew media
1 9 Outline and explain two ways in which new media may have affected the selection and presentation of news. [10 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q20 10 marks AO1=3, AO2=4, AO3=3 Analyse media globalisation and popular culturemedia ownership and control
2 0 Read Item M below and answer the question that follows. Item M Media corporations have the power to produce images of lifestyles through which people form their identities. The wide reach of these corporations has led to local cultures becoming less important. Media corporations may contribute to a growth in global culture. Applying material from Item M, analyse two ways in which media corporations may contribute to a growth in global culture. [10 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q21 20 marks AO1=8, AO2=6, AO3=6 20-mark essay media audiencesmedia ownership and control
2 1 Read Item N below and answer the question that follows. Item N Some sociologists argue that audiences control media content through their choices as consumers. They claim that competition between media for audiences means that owners and companies have limited power over content. However, other sociologists argue that those who own and work in the media control the content. This means that the content can be biased and reflect dominant ideologies. Applying material from Item N and your knowledge, evaluate the view that the media reflect the views of their audiences. [20 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q22 10 marks AO1=5, AO2=3, AO3=2 Outline and explain social mobility
2 2 Outline and explain two factors which may lead to some members of the working class achieving upward social mobility. [10 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q23 10 marks AO1=3, AO2=4, AO3=3 Analyse class status and powerstratification and differentiation
2 3 Read Item O below and answer the question that follows. Item O Sociologists have increasingly recognised age as a dimension of inequality. For example, young people do not have all the same rights that adults do. Many older people are no longer in paid employment. Age may affect an individual’s status. Applying material from Item O, analyse two ways in which age may affect an individual’s status. [10 marks]
November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q24 20 marks AO1=8, AO2=6, AO3=6 20-mark essay stratification and differentiationclass status and power
2 4 Read Item P below and answer the question that follows. Item P Feminist sociologists argue that gender is the most important dimension of inequality today. This is despite some improvements in the social position of women. However, other sociologists see gender inequalities as natural and inevitable, or argue that other dimensions of inequality are more important. Applying material from Item P and your knowledge, evaluate the view that gender is the most important dimension of inequality today. [20 marks]

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