Higher Modern Studies Assignment Worth 30 marks out of a total of 110 for the course – 27% of grade The marks gained for the assignment will be added to the marks gained in final exam to give an overall grade for the course

Higher Modern Studies Assignment Identify an topic on which there is currently a few different ideas on how to approach a solution Research chosen topic using a variety of different sources Show detailed knowledge and understanding of the topic Analyse and synthesise (link together) information from a range of sources Reach a final conclusion on which solution is best Show an awareness of alternatives (different views) Communicate information in a report format Evaluate the usefulness and reliability of sources

Higher Modern Studies Assignment Two stages: Research stage – 8 hours Identifying issue, collecting evidence, analysing, synthesising and evaluating information, reaching a decision. 6 sources of evidence. Production of evidence stage – 1.5 hours (Exam Conditions) During this, only have access to specified resources (research evidence) which is material collected during research stage on up to two single-sided sheets of A4

Higher Modern Studies Assignment Production of evidence is completed independently (on your own!) although teachers can provide “reasonable assistance”, such as: Showing candidates the instructions for assignment Clarifying instructions Advice on choice of issue Advice on sources to use Arranging visits to gather evidence Checking progress regularly

How marks are awarded… Showing knowledge and understanding of chosen issue and awareness of alternative views – up to 10 marks Analysing and synthesising information from various sources including use of research evidence – up to 10 marks Communicating evidence in a report format (Structure) – up to 4 marks Reaching a decision (Conclusions), supported by evidence – up to 4 marks Evaluating the usefulness and reliability of sources of information – up to 2 marks

Possible Topics – Three Courses of Action Democracy Scottish Independence Option1- Independence Option 2-Scotland remains part of the union Option 3-Devolution Max The House of Lords Option 1- Elect the House of Lords Option 2-Disband the House of Lords Option 3- Keep the existing arrangement Increase voter turnout Option 1-Introduce compulsory voting Option 2-Decrease the age to 16 Option 3-More campaigns to increase turnout The Influence of the Media Option 1-More control over the media Option 2-Less control over the media Option 3-Level of influence of the media to stay the same

Possible Topics – Three Courses of Action Democracy EU Membership Option1- Leave the EU Option 2- Remain in the EU Option 3- Leave the political union but remain in the economic union Prisoners Voting Rights Option 1- All prisoners receive right to vote Option 2- Some prisoners receive the right to vote Option 3- Prisoners do not have the right to vote Voting System Option 1- Introduce STV to UK General Elections Option 2- Introduce the Alternative Vote to UK GE Option 3- Keep the current system - FPTP UK Immigration Option 1- Stop all immigration to the UK, including asylum Option 2- Cap numbers of immigrants per year Option 3- Introduce a points based system

Possible Topics – Social Issues in the UK Make sure the problem you identify is one where there are several different views which can lead to different decisions The Welfare State in the UK Obesity in Scotland Alcohol in Scotland Smoking in Scotland Child Poverty Gender Inequality in Society Racial Inequality in Society Unemployment in the UK Social Exclusion

Possible Topics – Three Courses of Action The Welfare State in the UK Option 1- Benefits for all Option 2-Means Tested Benefits Option 3-Scrap the benefits system Obesity in Scotland Option 1-Tax fatty foods/ drinks Option 2-Free healthy school meals for all Option 3-Government subsidised fruit and veg Alcohol Use in Scotland Option 1-Minimum pricing on alcohol Option 2-Increase legal drinking age to 21 Option 3-More government information campaigns Smoking in Scotland Option 1-Increase the price of cigarettes Option 2-Increase legal age to buy cigarettes to 21 Option 3-Reduce cigarette advertising

Possible Topics – Three Courses of Action Child Poverty Option1- Free school meals for all Option 2- Increased nursery hours Option 3- Child benefit should be universal Gender Inequality in Society Option1- 50:50 policy Option 2- Increase in the national minimum wage Option 3- Free childcare up to the end of primary school Racial Inequality in Society Option1- Introduce affirmative action policies Option 2- Increased racial awareness schemes in schools Option 3-Tougher penalties for organisations for not implementing the Equality Act Unemployment in the UK Option1- More training programmes for unemployed youths Option 2- Get rid of zero hour contracts Option 3-Cut benefits Social Exclusion Option1- More vocational education Option 2- Increase benefits Option 3- Increase the national minimum wage

Possible Topics – Three Courses of Action The USA Illegal Immigration Option 1- Tighter border control Option 2-Amnesty to illegals Option 3-Guest worker programme Health care in the USA Option 1-The Affordable Care Act Option 2- Free universal healthcare for all Option 3-Individual responsibility Political Participation in the USA Option 1-Vote or Die/ Rock the Vote Option 2-Compulsary voting Option 3-More ethnic minority candidates

Other Ideas EU membership Nuclear weapons Prisoner voting rights Change the UK voting system Immigration system Homelessness in the UK The UK Constitutional arrangement (independence, devolution, federalism)

Choosing my Sources Choose between three and ten sources. Use different sources such as newspaper reports, public opinion surveys, pie charts/bar graphs, notes from a DVD, interview notes, response to a letter/email. Make sure you use a variety of text, visual and statistical sources. The sources that you use must be RELEVANT to your topic. It is important to note the ORIGIN of your source. For example dates, authors, titles of reports, TV channel first aired etc.

Research your Topic There are two types of research: Primary and Secondary Primary Research Primary Research is where you do your own research. It could be a survey, an interview or a focus group. All of these methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Primary research would be good for Scottish/UK Political and Social topics where your interviewees might know about the issue you ask them about. For some, but not all International topics, primary research might be more difficult. It depends on what your topic is and what information you’re trying to find out.

Research your Topic Secondary research Secondary research is where you use someone else’s research. It can be books, magazine/newspaper articles, websites, blogs, social media or online encyclopaedias such as Wikipedia. Wikipedia gets a bad name. It is said to be unreliable, full of mistakes, ½ truths and gossip. Maybe. But not all of it is. If all you do is use Wikipedia you wouldn’t get a good mark in your assignment. In fact its best not to refer to Wikipedia as one of your Sources at all. But as a first place to go, to get a feel for the arguments and be a launch pad for further research it can be very useful. Pressure Groups Chances are for your chosen topic there will be organised groups lobbying to have your issue legalised/criminalised/abolished/strengthened. Whatever. Chances are they will have an online presence and you can find their ‘take’ on things very easily. The American Association for Affirmative Action is, as you would expect, for Affirmative Action. The cleverly named Center for Equal Opportunities is against Affirmative Action

Reliability of Sources Pressure Groups Have an agenda Not that they tell lies, but its strong political position may impact on its objectivity in presenting the facts of the matter. Newspapers Newspapers can be biased as they want to be. Some are more obviously biased than others. You should take care to establish the agenda of particular newspapers and journalists/bloggers. Some may be upfront and tell you. Others may not! Bias can take many forms. It can be in selecting/unselecting information. It can also be in using loaded, sometimes emotional language.

Research your Topic BBC The BBC website is a vast store of articles which are highly useful for a Modern Studies assignment and as a first port of call is highly recommended. For example... BBC on Michigan Supreme Court ruling Newspapers Most newspapers, international ones, national and local too have an online version of their print edition and these can be very valuable too. Magazines The same as for newspapers applies. But magazines such as The Economist may well have a data base of high quality articles relevant to your topic. YouTube As you know, there are some weird and wacky YouTube videos. But also many from ‘proper’ news organisations which are informative, accessible and useful.

The following are good questions to ask when thinking about the reliability of a source… Who has produced it? An academic, a pressure group, someone with specialised knowledge of the topic, someone with ‘inside info’, a ‘citizen journalist/blogger’? Is it reputable? Do they have standards? The BBC has certain standards which its journalists must maintain in order to protect the BBC’s need for objectivity, impartiality and truthfulness. Quite apart from this, the BBC has a legal obligation not to be biased. The BBC has a well-established complaints system which holds the organisation accountable should someone or a group feel that BBC reporting has failed in the standards it expects of itself. Given all of this, you could normally trust BBC reports more than other Sources. This does not mean that the BBC is perfect. But it does have high quality assurance procedures which other organisations may not have. And it prides itself on its reliability and objectivity, a reputation it will protect.

The following are good questions to ask of and comment about any Source. Is it dated? It could be overtaken by events. Is there information missing? Has your Source omitted facts/arguments which may not suit their arguments? They’re not telling lies. But there may be another side to the story they have left out. Maybe not on purpose, but important facts all the same Survey What is the sample size? IPSOS/MORI will be keen to make sure they interviewed enough people to make their survey findings meaningful. It has procedures and standards to ensure that its polls are as unbiased and accurate as is humanly possible. Some others may not. Comment on the sample size and why it makes its reliable/unreliable What is the sample frame? Have the right people been contacted? Sometimes a balance of ages/genders/ethnicities may be appropriate but sometimes the frame should focus only on a particular group. The information you receive sometimes depends on who you ask