General Revision Tips for Law and Politics How do you begin eating a whole elephant? Answer: Cut it into bit size chunks that will last you a few months? Year 12 AS Law AQA Unit 1 Law Making & the Legal System Section A: • • Parliamentary Law Making • • Delegated Legislation • • Statutory Interpretation • • Judicial Precedent Section B: • • The Civil Courts and ADR • • The Criminal Courts and lay people • • The Legal Profession and funding • • The Judiciary Exam 90 minutes, 23/5/14: 9am 9 x 10 mark questions, 3 topics (one from sec A and one from section B and one other from A or B) Unit 2 The Concept of Liability: Underlying principles of Criminal Liability • The Courts: Procedure and Sentencing Introduction to Tort • • Liability in Negligence • • The Courts: Procedure and Damages Exam 90 minutes 2/6/14: 1pm No choice (half paper on criminal, half on tort) 3,5,7,10 mark questions A2 Law AQA Criminal Law (fatal and nonfatal offences against the person) • Murder • Voluntary manslaughter • Involuntary manslaughter • Non-fatal offences against the person • Defences • Evaluation of law Exam: 12/6/14, 9am Criminal Law (Offences against Property) • Theft Robbery, Burglary • Blackmail Fraud MOWP • Criminal Damage/Arson • Defences Concepts of Law • • Law and Morals • • Law and Justice • • Judicial Creativity • • Fault • • Balancing conflicting interests Exam: 17/6/14, 1pm Year 12 AS: UK Politics Edexcel Unit 1 • Democracy • Political parties • Pressure groups • Elections Unit 2 • The Constitution • Parliament • Prime Minister and the Executive • Judges and Civil Liberties Exam: 80 mins 20/5/14 (choose 2 topics from all 4: 5,10 & 25 mark questions) Exam: 80 mins 2/6/14 (choose 2 topics from 4, 1 source based (5,10,25mark), one 40 mark essay) Year 13 A2: Political Ideologies Edexcel Unit 3 • Liberalism • Conservatism • Socialism • Anarchism Unit 4 Nationalism • Multiculuturalism • Feminism • Ecologism Exams: Unit 3 - 9/6/14 Unit 4 - 13/6/14 Both exams: (3x 15mark , out of choice of 5; 1x45 mark, out of choice of 3) Eating a whole elephant involves 2 Stages: • Stage 1: exam months away • Stage 2: exam weeks away Exam Boards • Law: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/law/alevel/law-2160 • Government & Politics: http://www.edexcel.com/quals/gce/gce08/go v/Pages/default.aspx A wealth of information: specifications, past papers, mark schemes, examiner’s reports etc. Politics Links Further Reading/Study Support: • McNaughten Edexcel Government and Politics for AS and A2 (4th Edition) • Politics Review A Level Magazine • General AS Politics links: • BBC’s democracy live www.parliament.gov www.tutor2u.net www.historylearningsite.co.uk www.igshistoryonline.co.uk good selection of powerpoints/worksheets • http://politics-blog.ashbournecollege.co.uk/ Good A Level Law Sites • • http://a-level-law.com/ www.sixthformlaw.info • • www.law-exchange.co.uk/ www.sixthform.info/lawblog • • http://getrevising.co.uk http://www.bitsoflaw.org • • http://www.helpwithlawexams.co.uk/ www.cps.gov.uk/education • Stage 1 , Step 1: Gather the Essentials • • • • • • • • • • Quiet Table (larger the better) Refreshments Lined and plain paper Pen, Coloured small nib pens, highlighters Ruler Index Cards Post-its, blu-tack Poster paper Folder, file dividers, plastic inserts Stage 1, Step 2 Carefully select the topics that you are going to choose for the exam from the specification Stage 1, Step 3: • Plan a revision timetable and checklist Step 4: Know when the exam is Know how it is set up Step 5: Rewrite all your notes as neat, detailed and organised as you can. Use other sources. Step 6: Compile a word glossary and case booklet for law or example booklet for politics Step 7: Create Revision Cards of all the sub topics and possible exam questions Revision Recap: Stage 1 • Plan a revision timetable and checklist • Compile a comprehensive notes booklet of your own on every topic (use specs as your outline) – – – – – – Neat, ordered and creative Note booklets Use resources on Common Drive O:\Law O:\Government and Politics Class notes Revision sites (see internet link pages) Revision guides (commercially available, but better to make your own) • Compile a key word glossary • Compile a case/example glossary 1 to 2 hours a day (per subject) 20-30 minute chunks Stage 2 , Step 1: Practice exam style questions under exam conditions Stage 2, Step 2 Know how all the questions are marked, particularly the weighting of the assessment objectives Stage 2, Step 3: Form study groups to help with revision Coerce family members to quiz you Stage 2, Step 4: Revise a little but often Stage 2 (continued) • • • • • Compile revision cards Draw up Mind Maps (www.bubbl.us) Design Posters Design Charts Mnemonics (eg H.E.A.D.S.) Stage 2: 2 to 3 weeks before • • • • • Test yourself (K & U), get others to test you Practice exam answers (untimed, open book) Practice exam answers (untimed, closed book) Practice timed exam answers (open book) Practice timed exam answers (closed book) 2 hours a day (plus)