How to cite examples for 'A' level Sociology?

Question

When you answer questions which require you to give examples, do you have to give specific examples or generic ones?

Take this question for example:

What is social role? Give an example.

So I say: Social role is the role adopted by an individual to interact with society at large. When Mr Brown goes to work, he becomes Constable Brown. His social role is that of a police officer.

Now, a friend of mine who's doing General Paper says that's not acceptable in GP. You are required to give 'specific examples', he says. So should I use Gordon Brown as an example? He is Gordon Brown, but he has a social role separate from his private role as an individual. He is also the Prime Minister. That's his social role.

Comments and advice please.

Teck

Answer 1

There's no real difference in those two answers. Let us take the question as it stands: it does not ask for a specific example. Your friend is reading a word that is not there!!! Unless General Papers are different to the real world.

Answer 2

Different subjects frequently require different types of referencing; however, the usual factor for all subjects, is to correctly identify that which is being quoted: quotation marks; italicized etc. plus a source if this is the case (e.g. Smith, 2008; Brown, 2004) or vice-versa if you are requested to follow alphabet and not most recent date.

You have selected an example and provided an excellent role change; this is just as good as a real life example unless you have been specifically requested to provide real life persons/situations.

Good luck with your writing...