📚 SQA Modern Studies Assignment: Key Points for Practical Assessment | SQA 现代研究作业：实践考核要点
The SQA National 5 Modern Studies assignment is your opportunity to act as a social researcher. You will investigate a contemporary political, social or international issue, gather evidence and present your findings in a structured report. This practical assessment is worth 20 marks – roughly one fifth of your overall grade – and tests your ability to plan, research and think critically about real-world topics.
SQA 国家五级现代研究作业是你扮演社会研究者的机会。你将调查一个当代政治、社会或国际议题，收集证据并在结构化的报告中展示研究结果。这项实践考核占20分，约占总成绩的五分之一，旨在考查你规划、研究以及批判性思考现实议题的能力。
1. Understanding the Assignment | 理解作业要求
The Modern Studies assignment requires you to produce a written report based on independent research. You will normally be given a set amount of supervised time (e.g. one hour) to write the final report under exam conditions, using a prepared plan and notes. Before that, you conduct background research, collect data and analyse sources over several weeks in class and at home.
现代研究作业要求你基于独立研究撰写一份书面报告。通常你会获得一定的监督时间（例如一小时），在考试条件下使用事先准备好的计划和笔记完成最终报告。在此之前，你需要在课堂和家中花数周时间进行背景研究、收集数据并分析资料。
The assignment assesses three key skills: Knowledge and Understanding, Research Methods, and Analysis and Evaluation. Your report must show that you understand the topic, can gather and select relevant evidence, and can evaluate competing viewpoints before reaching a reasoned conclusion.
该作业评估三项关键技能：知识与理解、研究方法以及分析与评价。你的报告必须展示你对课题的理解、收集和筛选相关证据的能力，以及能够在得出理性结论前评估对立观点。
2. Choosing Your Topic | 选择你的课题
Select a topic from one of the three Modern Studies themes: Democracy in Scotland and the United Kingdom, Social Issues in the UK, or International Issues. Examples include: ‘Should the voting age be lowered to 16?’, ‘Why has poverty increased in Scotland?’, or ‘What are the main causes of the Ukraine conflict?’.
从现代研究的三个主题中选择一个课题：苏格兰与英国的民主、英国社会问题或国际问题。例如：“是否应该将投票年龄降低到16岁？”、“苏格兰的贫困为何加剧？”或“乌克兰冲突的主要原因是什么？”。
Your topic must be specific enough to research in depth, yet broad enough to find a range of sources. A good topic is phrased as a question that invites debate, not a simple fact-finding task. Avoid overly personal or unresearchable questions.
你的课题必须足够具体以便深入研究，同时又足够宽泛以找到多种资料来源。一个好的课题通常以引发辩论的疑问句呈现，而非简单的寻实任务。避免过于个人化或无法研究的问题。
Topic Checklist
- Does it relate to a clear Modern Studies theme?
- Can you find both primary and secondary sources?
- Is there genuine debate or different viewpoints?
- Can it be answered within your report length?
课题检查清单
- 它是否与明确的现代研究主题相关？
- 你能否找到一手和二手资料？
- 是否存在真实的争论或不同观点？
- 是否能在报告篇幅内回答？
3. Research and Sources | 研究与资料来源
Effective research is the backbone of your assignment. Use a mix of primary sources (surveys, interviews, emails from experts) and secondary sources (news articles, official reports, textbooks, academic journals). Credibility is crucial: evaluate each source for bias, currency and authority. The SQA expects you to explain why you chose your sources.
高效的研究是作业的支柱。混合使用一手资料（问卷、访谈、专家邮件）和二手资料（新闻文章、官方报告、教科书、学术期刊）。可信度至关重要：评估每份资料的偏见、时效性和权威性。SQA 期望你能解释为何选择这些资料来源。
Keep a research log or notes sheet where you record details of sources and useful quotations. This will help you build your final plan and bibliography. Remember, you are not allowed to copy directly from sources into your final report – your writing must be your own.
记录研究日志或笔记表，记下资料来源的详细信息和有用引文。这会帮助你构建最终计划和参考书目。请记住，不允许在最终报告中直接照抄资料内容——你的写作必须是原创的。
4. Structuring Your Report | 报告的结构
A clear structure helps you communicate your findings effectively. The recommended sections are: Title Page, Introduction, Main Findings, Analysis and Evaluation, Conclusion, and Bibliography. Aim for a logical flow that takes the reader from question to evidence to reasoned judgement.
清晰的结构有助于有效传达研究结果。推荐的结构包括：标题页、引言、主要发现、分析与评价、结论以及参考书目。力求逻辑流畅，引导读者从问题到证据，再到理性的判断。
The introduction should set out the issue and your aims. Main findings present key evidence, often organised by sub-themes. Analysis and evaluation weigh up evidence and different perspectives. The conclusion directly answers your research question and may offer recommendations.
引言应阐明议题和你的目标。主要发现部分展示关键证据，通常按子主题组织。分析与评价部分权衡证据和不同观点。结论直接回答你的研究问题，并可提出建议。
5. Writing the Introduction | 撰写引言
Your introduction must grab attention and establish context. Start with a broad statement about the significance of the issue, then narrow to your specific research question. Clearly state what you aimed to find out and briefly outline the structure of your report.
引言必须吸引注意力并建立背景。以关于议题重要性的概括性陈述开头，然后聚焦到你的具体研究问题。明确说明你探究的目的，并简要概述报告结构。
For example: ‘Income inequality remains a pressing social issue in the UK. This report investigates why poverty has increased in Scotland since 2015, examining economic, policy and demographic factors. The report first reviews key trends, then analyses competing explanations before drawing conclusions.’
例如：“收入不平等仍然是英国一个紧迫的社会问题。本报告调查自2015年以来苏格兰贫困加剧的原因，考察经济、政策和人口因素。报告首先回顾主要趋势，然后分析相互竞争的解释，最后得出结论。”
6. Presenting Findings | 呈现研究结果
This section forms the core of your report. Present the evidence you have gathered, organised logically. Use data to support your points: for instance, ‘According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, child poverty in Scotland rose from 19% in 2015 to 23% in 2023.’ Compare and contrast different sources.
这一部分是报告的核心。逻辑有序地呈现所收集的证据。用数据支持你的观点：例如，“根据约瑟夫·朗特里基金会的统计，苏格兰的儿童贫困率从2015年的19%上升到2023年的23%”。对比不同来源的资料。
While you cannot include photographs or graphs in the final exam-style write-up, you can describe trends and patterns in words. Use subheadings if appropriate to break down the topic. Always link evidence back to your research question.
尽管在类似考试的最终书写中不能包含照片或图表，但你可以用文字描述趋势和模式。适当使用小标题分解主题。始终将证据与你的研究问题联系起来。
7. Analysis and Evaluation | 分析与评价
This is where you move beyond description to interpretation. Analyse the causes, consequences and connections between pieces of evidence. Critically evaluate different viewpoints: which arguments are strongest? Are there gaps or contradictions in the data?
这是你将描述升华为解释的地方。分析证据之间的原因、后果和联系。批判性地评价不同观点：哪些论据最强？数据是否存在空白或矛盾？
For top marks, you must go further than simply listing ‘for’ and ‘against’ sides. Explain why certain sources are more reliable or why some explanations carry more weight. Use balancing language such as ‘While X argues…, Y’s evidence suggests… This may be because…’
要获得高分，你必须超越简单地列举“支持”和“反对”双方。解释为何某些资料更可靠，或为何某些解释更有分量。使用平衡性语言，例如“虽然X认为……，Y的证据却表明……这或许是因为……”。
8. Conclusion and Recommendations | 结论与建议
The conclusion should provide a direct answer to your research question, based on the evidence you have presented. Do not introduce new material; instead, synthesise the main findings and offer a final judgement. Where appropriate, suggest realistic recommendations for action or policy change.
结论应根据你所呈现的证据，直接回答研究问题。不要引入新内容；而应综合主要发现并提出最终判断。在适当的情况下，提出切实可行的行动或政策建议。
Example: ‘Overall, the evidence points to welfare reform and rising housing costs as the primary drivers of increased poverty in Scotland. To address this, the Scottish Government could expand rental subsidies and strengthen job-training programmes.’
例如：“总体而言，证据表明福利改革和住房成本上升是苏格兰贫困加剧的主要驱动因素。为解决这一问题，苏格兰政府可以扩大租金补贴并加强职业培训计划。”
9. Referencing and Bibliography | 参考文献
Proper referencing is essential. SQA expects you to list all sources used in a bibliography, formatted in a consistent style such as Harvard referencing. For books: Author surname, Initial. (Year) Title. Place of publication: Publisher. For websites: Author/Organisation (Year) Title. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).
恰当的参考文献必不可少。SQA 要求你在参考书目中列出所有使用过的资料来源，采用一致的引用格式，如哈佛参考文献格式。书籍：作者姓氏，首名缩写。（年份）书名。出版地：出版社。网站：作者/组织（年份）标题。可查阅网址：URL（访问日期：日期）。
Within your report, you should also refer to sources by naming them: ‘According to the Scottish Government (2022)…’ This shows you are integrating evidence from research rather than just listing it at the end.
在报告中，你还应通过名称引用资料：“根据苏格兰政府（2022）……”。这表明你将研究证据融入文中，而非仅在末尾罗列。Published by TutorHao | Year 10 政治 Revision Series | aleveler.com
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