1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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)

13. 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/ .
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.

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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