Advanced Higher Modern Studies - Choosing a Study Theme

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Planning Step 1 Choosing a Study Theme
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Planning Step 1 -The Study Theme
Step 2 Choosing the issue
Step 1 Choosing the Study Theme
Step 3 Brainstorming Making a mind map
Step 8 Description justification of RMs
The Dissertation
Step 4 What research methods?
Step 7 Introduction Aims
Step 5 Drawing up a plan or structure
Step 6 Introduction Context
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Choosing a Study Theme

• Study Theme 1
• Comparative Politics
• Study Theme 2
• Law and Order
• Study Theme 3
• The European Union

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Context AFunctions of Political Parties

• The nature, role, organisation, ideologies and
  electoral success of the main political parties
  within the political systems.
• Analyse the role of and the advantages/disadvantag
  es of two-party and multi-party systems.
• Understand the importance of sectional interests
  within the systems.

Study Theme 1 Comparative Politics
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Context BFunctions of Elections

• Understand how the electoral system functions and
  their advantages and disadvantages.
• Explain how the electoral systems interact with
  political parties in forming governments.
• Analyse the major influences on electoral
  behaviour main theories and trends in recent
  elections.

Study Theme 1 Comparative Politics
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Context CDecision-making in Central Government

• Understand the role of the main institutions
  within the structure of central government and
  the process of decision-making.
• Analyse the main influence on decision-making in
  central government including links with pressure
  groups, the media and public opinion.
• Examine key issues in decision-making and demands
  for change, such as the need for a written
  constitution, demands for change to political
  structures and the role of a Bill of Rights for
  the individual.

Study Theme 1 Comparative Politics
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Context DCentral Devolved State Government

• Understand the structures of central and
  devolved/state governments in the UK and either
  the USA or Germany.
• Analyse the main influences on policy-making and
  its implementation in devolved governments in the
  UK and state governments in either the USA or
  Germany.
• Examine the differences in the relationships
  between the central and devolved governments in
  the UK and federal state governments in either
  the USA or Germany.

Study Theme 1 Comparative Politics
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Context ATheories of law and order

• Understand the nature and role of laws and values
  underpinning laws.
• Analyse the nature and limits of individual
  rights in the UK.
• Explain the concept of responsibility and duty
  within the framework of law and order.

Study Theme 2 Law Order
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Context BCrime and public disorder in the UK

• Understand the causes of different types of
  crime.
• Explain the relationship between crime rates and
  factors such as location, social class, poverty,
  unemployment.
• Analyse the social and economic effects of crime
  on individuals and groups.

Study Theme 2 Law Order
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Context C Responses to crime and public
disorder in the UK

• Understand the role of the police, specific
  approaches to policing and the justice system in
  dealing with crime.
• Analyse the response of government to issues
  concerning law and order.
• Examine the policies of the main political
  parties with regard to law and order.

Study Theme 2 Law Order
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Context DThe Legal System

• Understand the main theories of deterrence,
  punishment and rehabilitation.
• Analyse the effectiveness of the penal system
  and its different forms of treatment and
  punishment for young offenders, in the UK.
• Examine the arguments for and against reform of
  the UK penal system,making comparisons with the
  system in at least one other country.

Study Theme 2 Law Order
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Context A The UK and European Decision-making
process

• Understand the policies of the major political
  parties in the UK towards the EU and the UKs
  involvement in it.
• Understand the attitudes of the governments of
  major EU members towards the UK and UK membership
  of the EU.
• Analyse the causes and consequences of conflict
  between the UK and the EU.

Study Theme 3 The European Union
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Context B Representation in the European
Parliament

• Explain the processes involved in elections to
  the European Parliament in the UK and in other
  member states.
• Understand the nature of political groupings
  within the functional structure and organisation
  of the European Parliament.
• Analyse the role of the European Parliament in
  the wider EU decision-making process.

Study Theme 3 The European Union
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Context C Decision-making in the European Union

• Understand the functions and relative powers of
  the Council of Ministers and the the Commission,
  and their relative importance with the European
  Parliament.
• Analyse the importance of Inter-Governmental
  Conferences and Summit Meetings.
• Examine the nature of the main groupings of
  states within the EU and the purpose of these
  groupings.

Study Theme 3 The European Union
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Context D The European Union and the Wider World

• Understand the arguments for and against
  expansion of the EU.
• Explain the relationship between the EU and other
  major economic blocs and the developing world.
• Analyse the function and organisation of the
  Western European Union.

Study Theme 3 The European Union