Aims & Objectives

Course Aims

• Encourage the systematic and critical study of: human experience and behaviour; physical, economic and social environments; and the history and development of social and cultural institutions

• Develop in the student the capacity to identify, to analyse critically and to evaluate theories, concepts and arguments about the nature and activities of the individual and society

• Enable the student to collect, describe and analyse data used in studies of society, to test hypotheses, and to interpret complex data and source material

• Promote the appreciation of the way in which learning is relevant both to the culture in which the student lives, and the culture of other societies

• Develop an awareness in the student that human attitudes and beliefs are widely diverse and that the study of society requires an appreciation of such diversity

• Enable the student to recognize that the content and methodologies of the individuals and societies subjects are contestable and that their study requires the toleration of uncertainty

• Understand key political concepts and contemporary political issues in a range of contexts

• Develop an understanding of the local, national, international and global dimensions of political activity

• Understand, appreciate and critically engage with a variety of perspectives and approaches in global politics

• Appreciate the complex and interconnected nature of many political issues, and develop the capacity to interpret competing and contestable claims regarding those issues

Assessment Objectives

Knowledge and understanding

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key political concepts and contemporary issues in global politics

• demonstrate understanding of relevant source material

• at HL only, demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of political issues in two detailed case studies

Application and analysis

• apply knowledge of key political concepts to analyse contemporary political issues in a variety of contexts

• identify and analyse relevant material and supporting examples

• use political concepts and examples to formulate, present and sustain an argument

• apply knowledge of global politics to inform and analyse experiential learning about a political issue (engagement activity)

• at HL only, apply knowledge of global politics to analyse political issues in two case studies

Synthesis and evaluation

• compare, contrast, synthesise and evaluate evidence from sources and background knowledge

• compare, contrast, synthesise and evaluate a variety of perspectives and approaches to global politics, and evaluate political beliefs, biases and prejudices, and their origin

• synthesise and evaluate results of experiential learning and more theoretical perspectives on a political issue (engagement activity)

• at HL only, demonstrate synthesis and evaluation of different approaches to and interpretations of political issues in two case studies

Use and application of appropriate skills

• produce well-structured written material that uses appropriate terminology

• organize material into a clear, logical, coherent and relevant response

• demonstrate evidence of research skills, organization and referencing (engagement activity and HL extension in particular)

• at HL only, present ideas orally with clarity