Course: Society and Culture
Overview:
The central goal of Society and Culture Stage 6 is the development of social and cultural literacy
and a clear understanding of the interaction of persons, societies, cultures, environments and
time. The influence of other aspects of societies and cultures – including power, authority, identity,
gender, technologies and globalisation – is also central to the course.
Society and Culture draws on cross-disciplinary concepts and social research methods from
anthropology; communication; cultural and media studies; philosophy; social psychology;
and sociology. It has direct relevance to the immediate needs of students and to their future
lives by enabling them to develop understanding of:
● themselves
● their own society and culture
● the societies and cultures of others
Society and Culture develops social and cultural literacy and a clear understanding of the interactions of persons, society, culture, environment and time, and how these shape human behaviour. The course draws on cross-disciplinary concepts and social research methods, and students undertake research in an area of particular interest to them. The research findings are presented for external assessment in the Personal Interest Project (PIP).
Topics:
Preliminary Course
1. The Social and Cultural World
The interactions between persons and groups within societies
2. Personal and Social Identity
Socialisation and the development of personal and social identity in a variety of social and cultural settings
3. Intercultural Communication
How people in different social, cultural and environmental settings behave, communicate and perceive the world around them
HSC Course
1. Core
● Personal Interest Project - individual research project
● Social and Cultural Continuity and Change - nature of social and cultural continuity and change as well as application of research methods and social theory to a selected country study
2. Depth studies (40% of course time)
TWO to be chosen from the following:
● Popular Culture - the interconnection between popular culture, society and the individual
● Belief Systems and Ideologies - the relationship of belief systems and ideologies to culture and identity
● Social Inclusion and Exclusion - the nature of social inclusion and exclusion as well as implications for individuals and groups in societies and cultures
● Social Conformity and Nonconformity - the nature of conformity and nonconformity and its influences on the formation of peoples’ attitudes and behaviours
Possible Internal Assessment Types:
| Preliminary | HSC |
Research Report Mini PIP with extended written component Formal Examination including multiple extended written responses |
PIP Proposal Research Task Vlog Extended Response In-Class including extended written response Trial Examination including multiple extended written responses |
HSC Assessment Format:
The HSC Assessment Mark will be made up from a Personal Interest Project worth 40 marks and an HSC Examination worth 60 marks.
Personal Interest Project
This is a major work that makes up 40% of the external HSC mark for the course. It is externally marked.
Society and Culture students must each undertake, on an individual basis, a Personal Interest Project worth 40% of the HSC examination mark. The PIP requires students to select a suitable topic related to the course, develop and apply appropriate research methods and submit a completed project containing the required components.
HSC Examination
The examination will consist of a written paper worth 60 marks.
The time allowed is 2 hours plus 5 minutes reading time.
Section I – Core – Social and Cultural Continuity and Change (20 marks)
● There will be objective response questions to the value of 8 marks.
● There will be short-answer questions to the value of 12 marks.
Section II – Depth Studies (40 marks)
● Candidates will be required to answer a question from two (2) Depth Studies
● There will be 1 question in two unrelated parts worth a total of 20 marks:
● the first part will be worth 5 marks
● the second part will be worth 15 marks
● The expected length of response for each Depth Study will be around six pages (approximately 800 words).
Other helpful information: