SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY – MAY 2012 CURRICULUM EVENTS – COURSE AIMS AND STRUCTURE
SUBJECT:
MODERN STUDIES
PURPOSE:
Modern Studies opens up the world of cont emporary society for learners. The purpose of this Course is to
develop the learner’s knowledge and understanding of contemporary political and social issues in local, Scottish, United
Kingdom and international contexts. In these contexts, learners will develop an awareness of the social and political issues
they will meet in their lives. Thi s purpose will be achieved through successful study of the Course Units which focus on the
democratic political system in the UK, social issues in the UK, and international issues.
National 3
National 4
National 5
Higher
COURSE AIMS
The main aims of this Course are to
enable learners to develop:
 a range of information handling
skills
 basic understanding of the main
features of democracy
 basic understanding of social
issues at local, Scottish, national
and international levels
 awareness of different views
about the role of government
 awareness of the ways societies
deal with conflict
 understanding of, and respect for,
The main aims of Modern
Studies are to enable learners
to develop:
The main aims of this Course
are to enable learners to
develop:
 a range of research and
information handling skills
 straightforward
understanding of the
democratic process
 straightforward
understanding of social
and economic issues at
local, Scottish, national
and international levels
and ways of addressing
needs and inequalities
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The main aims of Modern Studies
are to enable learners to develop:

a range of research and
information handling

skills
detailed understanding of
the democratic process

detailed understanding of
social and economic
issues at local, Scottish,
national and international
levels and ways of
addressing needs and

inequalities
a range of research and
evaluating skills
understanding of the
democratic process and
complex political issues
understanding of complex social
and economic issues at local,
Scottish, national and
international levels and ways of
addressing needs and
inequalities
understanding of different
views about the extent of state
National 3
basic human and legal rights and
responsibilities
National 4
 awareness of different
views about the extent of
state involvement in
society
 awareness of the nature
and processes of conflict
resolution
 understanding of human
and legal rights and
responsibilities and their
application in different
societies



National 5
understanding of
different views about the
extent of state
involvement in society
understanding of the
nature and processes of
conflict resolution
understanding of human
and legal rights and
responsibilities and their
application in different
societies
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
Higher
involvement in society
understanding of the nature
and processes of conflict
resolution
understanding of the
importance of human and legal
rights and responsibilities and
their application in different
societies
STRUCTURE, ASSESSMENT AND HIERARCHIES
Course Structure:
3 Units
Course Structure:
3 Units and Added Value Unit
 Modern Studies: Democracy in
 Modern Studies:
Scotland and the United Kingdom
1) Use a limited range of sources of
information to identify and
comment on accuracy and bias
relating to democracy in the
Scottish or United Kingdom
political systems
2) Draw on a basic knowledge and
understanding of democracy in
the Scottish or United Kingdom
political systems
Democracy in Scotland and
the United Kingdom
1) Use a limited range of
sources of information to
detect and explain bias
and exaggeration relating
to democracy in the
Scottish and United
Kingdom political
systems
2) Draw on a
Course Structure:
3 Units and Course
Assessment
 Modern Studies:
Democracy in Scotland and
the United Kingdom
1) Use a range of sources of
information to detect
and explain exaggeration
and selective use of facts
relating to democracy in
the Scottish and United
Kingdom political
systems
Course Structure:
3 Units and Course Assessment
 Modern Studies: Democracy in
Scotland and the United Kingdom
1) Use a wide range of sources
of information to detect and
explain the degree of
objectivity in contexts
relating to democracy in the
Scottish and United Kingdom
political systems
2) Draw on factual and
theoretical knowledge and
understanding of democracy
National 3
 Modern Studies: Social Issues in
the United Kingdom
1) Use a limited range of sources of
information to make and justify
decisions about social issues in
the United Kingdom
2) Draw on a basic knowledge and
understanding of social issues in
the United Kingdom
 Modern Studies: International
Issues
1) Use a limited range of sources of
information to draw and support
conclusions about international
issues
2) Draw on a basic knowledge and
understanding of international
issues
In a Hierarchy
National 4
straightforward
knowledge and
understanding of
democracy in the
Scottish and United
Kingdom political
systems
National 5
2) Draw on a detailed
knowledge and
understanding of
democracy in the
Scottish and United
Kingdom political
systems
 Modern Studies: Social
 Modern Studies: Social
Issues in the United
Kingdom
1) Use a limited range of
sources of information to
make and justify decisions
about social issues in the
United Kingdom, focusing
on either social inequality
or crime and the law
2) Draw on a straightforward
knowledge and
understanding of social
issues in the United
Kingdom, focusing on
either social inequality or
crime and the law
Issues in the United
Kingdom
1) Use a range of sources of
information to make and
justify decisions about
social issues in the United
Kingdom, focusing on
either social inequality or
crime and the law
2) Draw on a detailed
knowledge and
understanding of social
issues in the United
Kingdom, focusing on
either social inequality or
crime and the law
 Modern Studies:
 Modern Studies:
International Issues
1) Use a limited range of
sources of information to
International Issues
1) Use a range of sources of
information to draw and
Higher
in the Scottish and United
Kingdom political systems
 Modern Studies: Social Issues in
the United Kingdom
1) Research and use a wide range of
sources of information to make and
justify decisions about social issues
in the United Kingdom, focusing on
either social inequality or crime and
the law
2) Draw on factual and theoretical
knowledge and understanding of
social issues in the United Kingdom,
focusing on either social inequality
or crime and the law
 Modern Studies: International
Issues
1) Use a wide range of sources of
information to draw and
support conclusions about
international issues, focusing
on either a major world power
or a significant world issue
2) Draw on factual and theoretical
knowledge and understanding
of international issues, focusing
on either a major world power
or a significant world issue
National 3
National 4
draw and support
conclusions about
international issues,
focusing on either a major
world power or a
significant world issue
2) Draw on a straightforward
knowledge and
understanding of
international issues,
focusing on either a major
world power or a
significant world issue
and Added Value Unit
Modern Studies Assignment
1) Research and use
information relating to a
Modern Studies topic or
issue
National 5
support conclusions about
international issues,
focusing on either a major
world power or a
significant world issue
2) Draw on a detailed
knowledge and
understanding of
international issues,
focusing on either a major
world power or a
significant world issue
Higher
and Course Assessment
Question Paper and Assignment
In a Hierarchy
and Course Assessment
Question Paper and
Assignment
In a Hierarchy
In a Hierarchy
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
 using sources of information to
identify and comment on
accuracy and bias in familiar
political contexts
 using sources of information to
 developing and applying
straightforward skills,
knowledge and
understanding in political,
social or international

developing and applying
detailed skills, knowledge
and understanding in
political, social or
international contexts
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
developing and applying skills,
knowledge and understanding
across political, social and
international contexts
evaluating and synthesising a
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National 3
make and justify a decision in
familiar social contexts
using sources of information to
draw and support valid
conclusions about familiar
international issues
using knowledge and
understanding of the main
features of democracy in Scotland
and the UK by giving basic, factual
descriptions
using knowledge and
understanding of the main
features of a major social issue in
Scotland and the UK by giving
basic, factual descriptions
using knowledge and
understanding of the main
features of an international issue
relating to a significant world
power or recent world issue by
giving basic, factual descriptions
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National 4
contexts
with support, researching
and using information
collected from a limited
range of sources about
contemporary issues
which are familiar
using a limited range of
sources of information to
detect and explain bias
and exaggeration in
familiar political contexts
giving straightforward
justifications for decisions
made in familiar social
contexts using a limited
range of sources of
information
giving straightforward
support for valid
conclusions drawn from a
limited range of sources of
information about familiar
international issues
demonstrating knowledge
and understanding of the
main democratic
processes, institutions and
organisations which make
up political life in Scotland
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National 5
with guidance,
researching and using
information collected
from a range of sources
about contemporary
issues which are mostly
familiar
using a range of sources
of information to detect
and explain exaggeration
and selectivity in the use
of facts in mostly familiar
political contexts
giving detailed
justifications for decisions
made in mostly familiar
social contexts using a
range of sources of
information
giving detailed support
for valid conclusions
drawn from a range of
sources of information
about mostly familiar
international issues
demonstrating
knowledge and
understanding of the
main democratic
processes, institutions




Higher
wide range of evidence which
may be written, numerical and
graphical to detect and explain
the degree of objectivity in
political contexts which may be
familiar or unfamiliar
researching, evaluating and
synthesising a wide range of
evidence which may be written,
numerical and graphical to
make and justify decisions in
social contexts which may be
familiar or unfamiliar
evaluating and synthesising a
wide range of evidence which
may be written, numerical and
graphical to draw and support
conclusions in international
contexts which may be familiar
or unfamiliar
developing and applying factual
and theoretical knowledge and
understanding, giving detailed
explanations and analysis of the
democratic processes,
institutions and organisations
which make up political life in
Scotland and the United
Kingdom
developing and applying factual
National 3
National 4
and/or the UK by giving
factual descriptions and
straightforward
explanations
 demonstrating knowledge
and understanding of a
major social issue in
Scotland and the UK
focusing on either social
inequality or crime and
the law by giving factual
descriptions and
straightforward
explanations
 demonstrating knowledge
and understanding of an
international issue
relating to either a
significant world power or
contemporary world issue
by giving factual
descriptions and
straightforward
explanations.


National 5
and organisations which
make up political life in
Scotland and/or the UK
by giving factual
descriptions and detailed
explanations
demonstrating
knowledge and
understanding of a major
social issue in Scotland
and the UK focusing on
either social inequality or
crime and the law by
giving factual descriptions
and detailed explanations
demonstrating
knowledge and
understanding of an
international issue
relating to a either a
significant world power
or contemporary world
issue by giving factual
descriptions and detailed
explanations

Higher
and theoretical knowledge and
understanding and giving
detailed explanations and
analysis of a major social issue
in the United Kingdom focusing
on either social inequality or
crime and the law
developing and applying factual
and theoretical knowledge and
understanding and giving
detailed explanations and
analysis of an international
issue focusing on either a
political and socio-economic
study of a major world power or
a contemporary world issue