⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
SOC1501: Community, Society and Inequality
in a Globalised World
Introduction to Sociology
⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY — UNISA
Exam Revision Guide
SOC1501
Module Code:
Community, Society & Inequality in a Glob-
Module Name:
alised World
OCT/NOV Examination 2026
Paper / Exam:
OCT/NOV 2023, 2024 & 2025 Papers
Coverage:
100 marks (per paper)
Total Marks:
2 hours
Duration:
This guide covers all exam questions from the 2023–2025 October/November papers
with full model answers. Study for understanding, not memorisation.
Exam Revision Notes | SOC1501 | 2023–2025
,SOC1501 | Exam Revision OCT/NOV 2023–2025
PART A: OCT/NOV 2023 EXAMINATION
Community, Society and Inequality in a Globalised World (SOC1501) · Total: 100 marks ·
Duration: 2 hours
Page 2 of 54 ⋆
,SOC1501 | Exam Revision OCT/NOV 2023–2025
SECTION A — Short-Answer and Concept Questions [50 marks]
Question 1.1 [5 marks]
Question: Define sociology and explain what distinguishes it from other social sciences
such as psychology and economics.
Answer:
Sociology is the systematic, scientific study of human society, social relationships, institu-
tions, and the patterns of social interaction that shape collective life. Unlike psychology,
which focuses on the individual mind and behaviour, sociology examines social structures,
groups, and institutions. Unlike economics, which centres on the production and distribution
of goods, sociology is concerned with the full range of social relations and cultural meanings.
Key features that distinguish sociology:
• Social focus: It analyses groups, organisations, and societies rather than isolated individ-
uals.
• Structural perspective: It examines how social arrangements (class, race, gender) shape
life chances.
• Critical stance: It questions taken-for-granted social arrangements and asks who bene-
fits from them.
• Empirical method: It uses scientific research (surveys, interviews, observation) to test
ideas.
[Key Concept]
Sociology asks: How does society shape the individual? and How do individuals col-
lectively shape society? These two questions capture what C. Wright Mills called the
sociological imagination.
Page 3 of 54 ⋆
,SOC1501 | Exam Revision OCT/NOV 2023–2025
Question 1.2 [5 marks]
Question: Explain C. Wright Mills’ concept of the “sociological imagination” and illus-
trate it with a South African example.
Answer:
The sociological imagination (Mills, 1959) is the capacity to see the connection between
individual personal troubles and the broader public issues of social structure. It allows us to
look beyond personal failings and recognise how historical and social forces shape individual
lives.
Mills distinguished two levels:
• Personal troubles: Private matters experienced by an individual (e.g., losing a job).
• Public issues: Matters rooted in social structure (e.g., mass unemployment due to dein-
dustrialisation).
[Example]
South African illustration: A young person in Soweto who cannot find employment
may feel personally inadequate. The sociological imagination reveals that this is not a
personal failure but a structural issue rooted in apartheid’s legacy, unequal education,
and a high youth unemployment rate exceeding 60%. The private trouble is inseparable
from the public issue of structural inequality.
[Exam Tip]
Always link the sociological imagination to both levels (personal/public). Examiners
award marks for the distinction and the example.
Page 4 of 54 ⋆
,SOC1501 | Exam Revision OCT/NOV 2023–2025
Question 1.3 [5 marks]
Question: Describe the historical context that gave rise to sociology as a discipline.
Name two founding figures and their key contributions.
Answer:
Sociology emerged in Europe during the late 18th and 19th centuries as a response to pro-
found social upheavals:
• The Enlightenment: Emphasised reason, science, and the idea that human society could
be studied rationally.
• The French Revolution (1789): Disrupted traditional social order; raised questions
about power, democracy, and social cohesion.
• The Industrial Revolution: Created urbanisation, factory labour, poverty, and new
social classes — generating urgent social problems that demanded explanation.
Two founding figures:
1. Auguste Comte (1798–1857): Often called the “father of sociology.” He coined the
term sociologie and argued that society should be studied using scientific methods (positivism).
He proposed a hierarchy of sciences with sociology at the apex.
2. Emile Durkheim (1858–1917): Established sociology as a distinct academic discipline.
He introduced the concept of social facts — external forces (norms, laws, institutions)
that constrain individual behaviour. His study of suicide showed that even deeply per-
sonal acts are shaped by social integration.
Question 1.4 [5 marks]
Question: Define the concept of “culture” and distinguish between material and non-
material culture. Provide examples.
Answer:
Page 5 of 54 ⋆
, SOC1501 | Exam Revision OCT/NOV 2023–2025
Culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, norms, symbols, language, practices, and material
objects that members of a society use to make sense of their world and organise their lives
together. Culture is learned (not innate), shared, and transmitted across generations.
Aspect Material Culture Non-Material Culture
Definition Physical, tangible objects cre- Intangible aspects: ideas, values,
ated by a society beliefs, norms
Examples Smartphones, buildings, tradi- Language, religion, laws, cus-
tional clothing, art toms, taboos
Transmission Through physical artefacts Through socialisation and com-
munication
[Example]
In South Africa, material culture includes the beadwork of Zulu communities; non-
material culture includes the value of ubuntu (“I am because we are”), which shapes
social obligations and community solidarity.
Question 1.5 [5 marks]
Question: What is socialisation? Explain the role of two agents of socialisation in shap-
ing individual identity.
Answer:
Socialisation is the lifelong process through which individuals learn the norms, values, lan-
guage, roles, and expectations of their society. It transforms a biological human into a social
being capable of participating in group life. Socialisation operates through primary social-
isation (early childhood in the family) and secondary socialisation (later in schools, peer
groups, media).
Two key agents of socialisation:
1. The Family: The first and most influential agent. Children acquire language, emotional
responses, gender roles, religious beliefs, and basic values from family members. In South
Page 6 of 54 ⋆
SOC1501: Community, Society and Inequality
in a Globalised World
Introduction to Sociology
⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY — UNISA
Exam Revision Guide
SOC1501
Module Code:
Community, Society & Inequality in a Glob-
Module Name:
alised World
OCT/NOV Examination 2026
Paper / Exam:
OCT/NOV 2023, 2024 & 2025 Papers
Coverage:
100 marks (per paper)
Total Marks:
2 hours
Duration:
This guide covers all exam questions from the 2023–2025 October/November papers
with full model answers. Study for understanding, not memorisation.
Exam Revision Notes | SOC1501 | 2023–2025
,SOC1501 | Exam Revision OCT/NOV 2023–2025
PART A: OCT/NOV 2023 EXAMINATION
Community, Society and Inequality in a Globalised World (SOC1501) · Total: 100 marks ·
Duration: 2 hours
Page 2 of 54 ⋆
,SOC1501 | Exam Revision OCT/NOV 2023–2025
SECTION A — Short-Answer and Concept Questions [50 marks]
Question 1.1 [5 marks]
Question: Define sociology and explain what distinguishes it from other social sciences
such as psychology and economics.
Answer:
Sociology is the systematic, scientific study of human society, social relationships, institu-
tions, and the patterns of social interaction that shape collective life. Unlike psychology,
which focuses on the individual mind and behaviour, sociology examines social structures,
groups, and institutions. Unlike economics, which centres on the production and distribution
of goods, sociology is concerned with the full range of social relations and cultural meanings.
Key features that distinguish sociology:
• Social focus: It analyses groups, organisations, and societies rather than isolated individ-
uals.
• Structural perspective: It examines how social arrangements (class, race, gender) shape
life chances.
• Critical stance: It questions taken-for-granted social arrangements and asks who bene-
fits from them.
• Empirical method: It uses scientific research (surveys, interviews, observation) to test
ideas.
[Key Concept]
Sociology asks: How does society shape the individual? and How do individuals col-
lectively shape society? These two questions capture what C. Wright Mills called the
sociological imagination.
Page 3 of 54 ⋆
,SOC1501 | Exam Revision OCT/NOV 2023–2025
Question 1.2 [5 marks]
Question: Explain C. Wright Mills’ concept of the “sociological imagination” and illus-
trate it with a South African example.
Answer:
The sociological imagination (Mills, 1959) is the capacity to see the connection between
individual personal troubles and the broader public issues of social structure. It allows us to
look beyond personal failings and recognise how historical and social forces shape individual
lives.
Mills distinguished two levels:
• Personal troubles: Private matters experienced by an individual (e.g., losing a job).
• Public issues: Matters rooted in social structure (e.g., mass unemployment due to dein-
dustrialisation).
[Example]
South African illustration: A young person in Soweto who cannot find employment
may feel personally inadequate. The sociological imagination reveals that this is not a
personal failure but a structural issue rooted in apartheid’s legacy, unequal education,
and a high youth unemployment rate exceeding 60%. The private trouble is inseparable
from the public issue of structural inequality.
[Exam Tip]
Always link the sociological imagination to both levels (personal/public). Examiners
award marks for the distinction and the example.
Page 4 of 54 ⋆
,SOC1501 | Exam Revision OCT/NOV 2023–2025
Question 1.3 [5 marks]
Question: Describe the historical context that gave rise to sociology as a discipline.
Name two founding figures and their key contributions.
Answer:
Sociology emerged in Europe during the late 18th and 19th centuries as a response to pro-
found social upheavals:
• The Enlightenment: Emphasised reason, science, and the idea that human society could
be studied rationally.
• The French Revolution (1789): Disrupted traditional social order; raised questions
about power, democracy, and social cohesion.
• The Industrial Revolution: Created urbanisation, factory labour, poverty, and new
social classes — generating urgent social problems that demanded explanation.
Two founding figures:
1. Auguste Comte (1798–1857): Often called the “father of sociology.” He coined the
term sociologie and argued that society should be studied using scientific methods (positivism).
He proposed a hierarchy of sciences with sociology at the apex.
2. Emile Durkheim (1858–1917): Established sociology as a distinct academic discipline.
He introduced the concept of social facts — external forces (norms, laws, institutions)
that constrain individual behaviour. His study of suicide showed that even deeply per-
sonal acts are shaped by social integration.
Question 1.4 [5 marks]
Question: Define the concept of “culture” and distinguish between material and non-
material culture. Provide examples.
Answer:
Page 5 of 54 ⋆
, SOC1501 | Exam Revision OCT/NOV 2023–2025
Culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, norms, symbols, language, practices, and material
objects that members of a society use to make sense of their world and organise their lives
together. Culture is learned (not innate), shared, and transmitted across generations.
Aspect Material Culture Non-Material Culture
Definition Physical, tangible objects cre- Intangible aspects: ideas, values,
ated by a society beliefs, norms
Examples Smartphones, buildings, tradi- Language, religion, laws, cus-
tional clothing, art toms, taboos
Transmission Through physical artefacts Through socialisation and com-
munication
[Example]
In South Africa, material culture includes the beadwork of Zulu communities; non-
material culture includes the value of ubuntu (“I am because we are”), which shapes
social obligations and community solidarity.
Question 1.5 [5 marks]
Question: What is socialisation? Explain the role of two agents of socialisation in shap-
ing individual identity.
Answer:
Socialisation is the lifelong process through which individuals learn the norms, values, lan-
guage, roles, and expectations of their society. It transforms a biological human into a social
being capable of participating in group life. Socialisation operates through primary social-
isation (early childhood in the family) and secondary socialisation (later in schools, peer
groups, media).
Two key agents of socialisation:
1. The Family: The first and most influential agent. Children acquire language, emotional
responses, gender roles, religious beliefs, and basic values from family members. In South
Page 6 of 54 ⋆
