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WESLEY COLLEGE DUBLIN

The Complete Co-Educational Day and Boarding School

Politics and Society

Politics and Society

Introduction

Politics and Society provides the students with a dynamic and contemporary learning environment. Drawing on a range of materials from textbooks to podcasts to Bunreacht na hÉireann, and utilising the power of the TEAMS digital environment, students access and assess a huge range of sources. These sources will inform, challenge and contribute to the student’s growing conception of their world.

The course asks students to focus on four core areas –

  • POWER AND DECISION MAKING
  • HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
  • ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP
  • GLOBALISATION AND LOCALISATION

As the students investigate these areas, they will encounter the ideas and writings of 17 Key Theorists, ranging from the beginnings of political and sociological thinking in the 17th Century to the most contemporary insights into the world around us. These Key Thinkers represent a range of political and societal viewpoints which represent a multiplicity of political stances. Students are encouraged to evaluate whether they accept, accept with reservations, or reject the ideas and insights presented to them.

Assessment

The course’s assessment has two parts – a terminal examination in the summer of sixth year (worth 80%) and a Citizenship Project report (worth 20%). The brief for the report (which asks students to choose their option from a range of four titles) is issued in the Spring of Fifth Year; the students commence, execute and reflect on their title in the Autumn of Sixth Year.

5th Year

To facilitate students taking full advantage of events happening in their world which illustrate the work of their set Theorists, the scheme of work has to be flexible. To maximise student engagement, a highly interactive classroom dynamic must be responsive to students’ areas of interest and reflection. This classroom dynamic attempts where feasible to integrate elements of the Democratic Classroom. The course is further adjustable to meet the needs and strengths of the student cohort.

6th Year

Continuing examination of the Theorists and their relevance to both case studies and current affairs. Students continue to develop a rounded frame of theoretical insight; this insight can confirm or challenge the student’s views. The Autumn features the planning, execution and reporting on the Citizenship Project. Examination Papers from 2018 are on considered. 

Useful Links

https://www.ncca.ie/media/2587/presentation-politics-and-society.pdf 

https://thelearningrooms.com/politics-society-promotional-video/ 

https://ncca.ie/media/2161/politics-and-society-specification.pdf 

https://www.scoilnet.ie/search/resource/entity/show/Lre/32068/ 

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