Build an Essay: Functions of the Family and Family Social Policy
This activity is designed to help you practise one of the hardest skills in AQA A Level Sociology: turning your knowledge into a clear, well-structured essay. Rather than writing a full answer straight away, you will build your response step by step by selecting the right sociological ideas, evidence, analysis and evaluation and placing them into a logical paragraph structure.
The focus here is on two key areas of the Families and Households topic: the functions of the family and family social policy. As you work through the task, you should think carefully about how different perspectives view the family and whether government policies really help families perform their functions effectively. Some sociologists see family policy as supportive and necessary, while others argue that it can reinforce inequality, patriarchy or dependency.
Families and Households Essay Builder
Build a full essay by dragging or clicking theory, evidence, explanation, link and evaluation cards into four PEELE paragraphs. This version focuses on functions of the family and family social policy.
How the activity works
- Select a paragraph box so it becomes active.
- Click a card to add it, or drag and drop it into the paragraph.
- Try to build each paragraph using Point, Evidence, Explain, Link and Evaluation.
- Keep each paragraph focused on one perspective.
- Press Check essay to see whether your paragraphs are complete and balanced.
Suggested paragraph order
- Paragraph 1: Functionalism
- Paragraph 2: New Right
- Paragraph 3: Feminism
- Paragraph 4: Marxism
Essay question
Evaluate the view that family policies generally help families to perform their functions effectively.
Card bank
Essay builder
Paragraph 1: Functionalism
Build a paragraph on positive functions and supportive policy.
Paragraph 2: New Right
Build a paragraph on dependency, responsibility and family policy.
Paragraph 3: Feminism
Build a paragraph on patriarchy, childcare and unequal effects of policy.
Paragraph 4: Marxism
Build a paragraph on capitalism, labour power and class inequality.
Suggested build
- Functionalism: the family performs positive functions; policy can support socialisation and care.
- New Right: policy should support responsibility, self-reliance and a stable nuclear family.
- Feminism: policy may reinforce patriarchy and unequal caring roles.
- Marxism: policy may keep families stable enough to support capitalism without removing inequality.
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