Paper 2 Technique: Topics in Sociology

Paper 2 examines your knowledge of two optional topics from a choice of four: Culture and Identity, Families and Households, Health, and Work, Poverty and Welfare. The most commonly studied topic is Families and Households, so this lesson will use examples primarily from that area while providing strategies applicable to all Paper 2 topics. The question structure is identical across all four topics, making the exam technique transferable regardless of your specific options.

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Paper 2 Structure Recap

You answer two sections, each worth 40 marks, in 2 hours. This gives you exactly 60 minutes per section. The question sequence within each section is as follows:

Question	Type	Marks	Recommended Time
Q1	Define	2	3 minutes
Q2	Using two examples, briefly explain	4	6 minutes
Q3	Outline and explain three ways	6	9 minutes
Q4	Applying material from Item, analyse two	10	15 minutes
Q5	Evaluate (essay)	20	27 minutes

Key Point: The 20-mark essay on Paper 2 is different from the 30-mark essays on Papers 1 and 3. It carries fewer marks for AO1 (description) and requires a more focused, concise response. The evaluation expectation is still high — AO3 accounts for 8 of the 20 marks.

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The 10-Mark Analyse Question: Mastering Item-Based Responses

The 10-mark question on Paper 2 presents an Item and asks you to apply material from the Item and your own knowledge to analyse two aspects of a sociological issue. This question type is consistent across all four Paper 2 topics.

How to Use the Item

The Item is not decorative — it is a tool that the examiner expects you to engage with substantively. Here is a systematic approach:

1. Read the Item carefully before looking at the question. Underline key sociological concepts, names of sociologists, and any claims or arguments presented.
2. Identify two distinct ideas in the Item. The Item is typically written to contain at least two identifiable strands that you can develop.
3. Use each idea as the starting point for one of your two analytical paragraphs.

Structure for Each Analytical Point

Step	Action	Example
Reference the Item	Quote or paraphrase	"As Item B suggests, the nuclear family is no longer the statistical norm..."
Develop with own knowledge	Add sociological concepts, theories, and evidence	"This can be linked to postmodernist arguments. Stacey (1998) argues that the 'divorce-extended family' reflects the diversity of family forms in contemporary society..."
Analyse	Explain the significance, identify patterns, or examine relationships	"This diversification challenges functionalist assumptions about the universality of the nuclear family, suggesting that family structures are fluid and shaped by individual choice rather than structural necessity..."

Common Analytical Techniques

Analysis requires you to go beyond describing what sociologists have said. Here are techniques for demonstrating analytical thinking:

• Causation: Explain why something happens. "Rising divorce rates since the Divorce Reform Act 1969 have contributed to family diversity because..."
• Comparison: Compare different perspectives. "While functionalists view family diversity as evidence of social breakdown, postmodernists interpret it as a positive expression of individual freedom..."
• Consequence: Explore the implications. "The growth of single-parent families has consequences for social policy because..."
• Complexity: Acknowledge nuance. "However, the picture is more complex than this suggests. While there is greater diversity in family structures, Chester argues that the majority of people still spend most of their lives in a nuclear family..."

Exam Tip: The word "analyse" does not mean "describe in detail." If your paragraph consists entirely of stating what different sociologists have said without explaining the connections, patterns, or implications, you are describing, not analysing. The examiner is looking for the connective tissue between ideas — the "so what?" and "why does this matter?" dimensions.

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The 20-Mark Evaluate Essay

The 20-mark essay is the highest-value question on Paper 2, and its mark allocation is split across three assessment objectives:

AO	Marks	What is assessed
AO1	8	Knowledge and understanding of relevant sociological material
AO2	4	Application to the question
AO3	8	Analysis and evaluation

Essay Structure for 20-Mark Questions

A 20-mark essay requires a more focused, concise structure than a 30-mark essay. You do not need as many paragraphs or as much descriptive content. Here is an effective structure:

Component	Content	Approximate lines
Introduction	Brief definition of key terms, identify the debate	3-4 lines
Paragraph 1	FOR the view — argument + evidence + evaluation	10-12 lines
Paragraph 2	AGAINST the view — counter-argument + evidence + evaluation	10-12 lines
Paragraph 3	Further FOR or AGAINST — additional perspective	10-12 lines
Paragraph 4 (optional)	Synoptic link or additional evaluative point	6-8 lines
Conclusion	Weigh up and reach a justified judgement	3-5 lines

Evaluation Techniques for Paper 2

Effective evaluation on Paper 2 involves making judgements about sociological views, supported by evidence and reasoning. Here are the key evaluation strategies:

1. Theoretical Critique

Every sociological claim is rooted in a theoretical perspective. Evaluating from an alternative perspective is the most straightforward evaluation technique.

If the question presents a view from...	Evaluate using...
Functionalism (e.g., nuclear family is universal)	Marxism (family serves capitalism), Feminism (family oppresses women), Postmodernism (family diversity)
Marxism (e.g., family reproduces inequality)	Functionalism (family provides stability), Postmodernism (class less relevant), Liberal feminism (progress has been made)
Feminism (e.g., family is patriarchal)	Liberal feminism (progress — symmetrical family), Postmodernism (women now have more choices), Functionalism (gender roles are functional)
New Right (e.g., nuclear family is best)	Feminism (ignores patriarchy), Postmodernism (diversity is positive), Evidence of successful alternative family forms

2. Empirical Evidence

Citing specific studies to support or challenge a view is essential. For Families and Households, key studies include:

Topic	Supporting Evidence	Challenging Evidence
Symmetrical family	Young and Willmott (1973) — march of progress	Oakley (1974) — women still do more domestic labour; Duncombe and Marsden (1995) — triple shift
Nuclear family as ideal	Parsons (1955) — warm bath theory, functional fit	Stacey (1998) — divorce-extended family; Giddens — pure relationship
Family diversity	Rapoport and Rapoport (1982) — five types of diversity	Chester (1985) — neo-conventional family still dominant
Childhood	Aries (1962) — childhood as social construction	Postman (1994) — disappearance of childhood
Power and control	Dobash and Dobash (1979) — domestic violence as patriarchal control	Wilkinson (1996) — stress and inequality as factors

3. Methodological Critique

Some studies can be challenged on methodological grounds. For example:

• Willmott and Young's study of the symmetrical family has been criticised for relying on a single survey question about men "helping" with housework, which may have overstated the extent of symmetry.
• Official statistics on marriage and divorce do not capture the quality of relationships, only their legal status.

4. Contemporary Relevance