ISC Class 11 Sociology Syllabus

ISC Class 11 Sociology Syllabus 

Sociology is the social science that analyses or examines human interactions and helps us prepare for specific careers by studying particular sectors of society and sharpening our skills that are needed to be effective in public life. Extramarks provides Sociology class 11 syllabus where students can get proper information and awareness of every chapter with ease. 

ISC Class 11 Sociology syllabus helps students understand the complete syllabus pattern. Subjects like Sociology will become easy to study once you access ISC Syllabus on our Extramarks website. Students may register on Extramarks to access ISC class 11 Sociology syllabus any time they need. In addition to the syllabus, they may also refer to ICSE sample question papers, ICSE revision notes and ICSE important questions for the Sociology subject. Students may also refer to and compare the ISC & ICSE syllabus on Extramarks.

ISC Class 11 Sociology Syllabus 2023-24 – Semester (1 & 2)

The ISC Class 11 Sociology Syllabus has the following chapters divided into two semesters. 

Chapter Topic
1 Origin and Development of Anthropology and Sociology
2 Research Methodology
3 Basic Concepts
4 Social Structure
5 Social Problems
6 Indian Sociologists

Students may click on the respective chapter to access the study material mentioned under ISC Class 11 Sociology Syllabus. At Extramarks, we provide study materials such as sample question papers, important questions, revision notes, ICSE solutions and more. 

A brief of the ISC Class 11 Sociology Syllabus is as under.

  1. Origin and Development of Anthropology and Sociology

(i) Emergence of Anthropology and Sociology as Disciplines.

  • Talk about the definition, origin and growth of the two disciplines briefly.
  • Define the nature and scope of Sociology.

(ii) Classical Thinkers and Theories.

  • Contribution of the Classical Thinkers based on their theories.
  • The contribution of the following theories
  • Herbert Spencer – Theory of Evolution (use Organic Analogy, Social Darwinism);
  • Auguste Comte – Positivism;
  • Emile Durkheim – Structural Functionalism (employ the concepts profane and sacred, solidarity, division of labour)
  • Max Weber – Interpretive Sociology (types of authority, bureaucracy);
  • Karl Marx – Conflict Theory.

(iii) Sociology with more Social Sciences.

  • A comprehension of the interrelationship between Sociology and more Social Sciences
  • Relationship Sociology with other Social Sciences (similarities and dissimilarity) – Economics, Anthropology (Socio-culture Anthropology; Physical Anthropology Political Science, History, Philosophy, Psychology.
  1. Research Methodology

(i) Significance of research methodology in Anthropology and Sociology.

(ii) Definition and significance of social research.

(iii) The procedure of Sociology and Anthropology

  • Comparative method
  • Statistical method
  • Fieldwork and case study method
  • Scientific method and historical method 
    • Formulation of the observation, problem, hypothesis, classification, prediction and verification

(iv) Data collection tools (primary and secondary): A brief idea of research tools employed – interview, questionnaire, observation, documentary research. Definition, demerits and merits of the above.

  1. Basic Concepts

(i) Individual and Society.

  • Knowing the role of an individual and his relation to society.
  • Definition of Society; typical characteristics of society – explanation in detail.
  • Discuss the characteristics, definition, problems and differences between Rural and Urban Societies.

(ii) Socialisation- Human being as a Social Animal.

  • Human beings as social and rational partners in environmental activity.
  • Definition and features of socialization; primary and secondary agencies of socialization (school, family, society, religion, media, peer group).
  • Definition of natural selection, heredity and social selection. 
  • Nature vs nurture – A brief explanation (Explain human as a social being, applying the examples of the feral cases of Anna, Genie, Amala and Kamala. Documentary film on Genie and Anna can be featured as resource material).

(iii) Culture

  • Notion and attributes of culture.
  • Definition and features of culture; short explanation of the features of customs, mores, values, norms, and folkways. Definitions only of nonmaterial and material culture, culture conflict and culture lag.
  • A brief look at some past customs and traditions which reflect an understanding of materialistic and non materialistic culture, e.g. sacred groves, Eris(water tanks of South India), Johads, farmer crops and their growing season in complete consensus with the confined environment and seasons, etc.
  1. Social Structure

(i) Social groups

  • Definition and characteristics of Community and Association, the dissimilarity between Community and Association
  • Definition and characteristics of Primary Groups and Secondary Groups, the dissimilarity between Primary Groups and Secondary Groups
  • Definition and characteristics of Organized and Unorganized groups (public, crowd, mobs and crowd behaviour), differences between Organised and Unorganisedgroups
  • Definition of the Reference group, Ingroup and Out-group.

(ii) Status and Role

  • Interpretation of status

(iii) Kind of status

  • Achieved and ascribed: definition, characteristics and dissimilarity between the two

(iv) Determinants of status.

  • Definition of role, role conflict and role stereotype to be explained with special reference to the Looking Glass Self Theory by C.H. Cooley

(v) Social processes.

  • Co-operation, competition and conflict – their definitions, characteristics and differences.
  1. Social Problems

Overpopulation (focusing on unemployment, illiteracy, and poverty)

  • Juvenile Delinquency
  • Child labour 
  • Problems of the Differently-abled
  • Problems of the Aged people (cultural and social attitude and built environment).

A detailed discussion of the above social problems highlighting their causes and remedial measures. Additionally, problems of the differently-abled and problems of the aged people to be discussed regarding the cultural, social, environment and the infrastructure – attitudes and special requirements like signage, and ramps.

  1. Indian Sociologists

Contribution of the Indian scholars in the field of Sociology: The following contributions of each of the scholars are to be discussed:

  • Irawati Karve – Kinship and the family;
  • N.K. Bose – Tribal absorption, The Hindu method;
  • M.N. Srinivas – The Concept of Sanskritisation and Brahminisation
  • G.S. Ghurye – Theories of Origination of the Caste system;
  • Radha Kamal Mukherjee – Social Ecology;

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ISC Class 11 Sociology Syllabus Paper Pattern

There are two papers in Social science: 

  • Paper I – Theory: 3 hours; 70 marks
  • Paper II- Practical Work; 30 marks.

Paper – I (Theory) is divided into two.

  • Part 1 (20 marks) consists of short answer questions(compulsory) testing knowledge, application and skills relating to elementary/fundamental/elementary aspects of the entire syllabus. 
  • Part II (50 marks) consists of eight questions, out of which you are required to answer five questions, each carrying ten marks.

Paper-II  (Practical Work): 30 Marks

Candidates are expected to undertake two studies. Topics for studies should be chosen from the overall syllabus.15 marks will be allocated per study.

ISC Sociology Class 11 Syllabus

There are two papers in the subject. Paper I is Theory of 3 hours and 70 marks. Part 1 (20 marks) consists of compulsory short answer questions testing knowledge, application and skills relating to elementary / fundamental aspects of the entire syllabus.

Part II (50 marks) consists of eight questions out of which you are required to answer five questions, each carrying 10 marks.

1. Origin and Development of Sociology and Anthropology

(i) Emergence of Sociology and Anthropology as Disciplines.

Discuss the definition, origin and growth of the two disciplines briefly.

Define the nature and scope of Sociology.

(ii) Classical Thinkers and Theories.

Contribution of the Classical Thinkers on the basis of their theories.

Discuss the contribution of the following on the basis of the given theories:

  • Auguste Comte – Positivism;
  • Herbert Spencer – Theory of Evolution (use Social Darwinism, Organic Analogy);
  • Emile Durkheim – Structural Functionalism (use the concepts sacred and profane, division of labour, solidarity)
  • Max Weber – Interpretive Sociology (bureaucracy, types of authority);
  • Karl Marx – Conflict Theory (class and class struggle).

(iii) Sociology and other Social Sciences.

An understanding of the interrelationship between Sociology and other Social Sciences

Relationship between Sociology and other Social Sciences (similarities and differences) – Political Science, Economics, Anthropology (Physical Anthropology; Socio-cultural Anthropology), History, Psychology, Philosophy.

2. Research Methodology

Importance of research methodology in Sociology and Anthropology.

Definition and importance of social research.

Methods of Sociology and Anthropology – Comparative method, statistical method, field work and case study method, historical method and scientific method (formulation of the problem, observation, classification, hypothesis, verification, and prediction).

Tools of data collection (primary and secondary): A brief idea of research tools used – questionnaire, interview, observation, documentary research. Definition, merits and demerits of the above.

3. Basic Concepts

(i) Individual and Society.

Understanding the role of an individual and his relation to society.

Definition of Society; characteristics of Society – to be explained in detail.

Discuss the definition, characteristics, problems and differences between Rural and Urban Society.

(ii) Socialization – Man as a Social Animal.

Human being as a rational and social partner in environmental actions.

Definition and characteristics of socialization; primary and secondary agencies of socialization (family, school, society, peer group, media, religion).

Definition of natural selection, social selection and heredity.

Nature vs. nurture – to be discussed briefly (Explain man as a social being, using the examples of the feral cases of Genie, Amla and Kamala and Anna. Documentaries on Genie and Anna may be shown as resource material).

(iii) Culture

Notion and attributes of culture.

Definition and characteristics of culture; brief explanation of the features of norms, folkways, mores, customs, values. Definitions only of material and nonmaterial culture, culture lag and culture conflict.

A brief look at some past traditions and customs which reflect a close understanding of material and nonmaterial culture e.g. sacred groves, johads, eris (water tanks of South India), farmers crops and growing season in complete harmony with the local environment and seasons, etc.

4. Social Structure

(i) Social groups

Definition and features of Community and Association, differences between Community and Association; definition and features of Primary Groups and Secondary Groups, differences between Primary Groups and Secondary Groups; definition and features of Organized and Unorganized groups (public, mobs, crowd and crowd behaviour), differences between Organized and Unorganized groups; definition only of the Reference group, Ingroup, Out-group.

(ii) Status and Role

Definition of status; types of status – ascribed and achieved: definition, features and differences between the two; determinants of status.

Definition of role, role conflict and role stereotype.

The above to be explained with the help of examples with special reference to the Looking Glass Self Theory by C.H. Cooley (definition and brief explanation through one example).

(iii) Social processes

Co-operation, competition and conflict – their definitions, characteristics and differences.

5. Social Problems

Over population (with focus on poverty, unemployment, illiteracy), Child Labour, Juvenile Delinquency, Problems of the Aged and Problems of the Differently Abled (social and cultural attitude and built environment).

All the above social problems to be discussed in detail highlighting their causes and remedial measures.

Additionally, problems of the aged and problems of the differently abled to be discussed with reference to social, cultural environment and the infrastructure – attitudes, special requirements e.g. ramps, signage.

6. Indian Sociologists

Contribution of the Indian Thinkers in the field of Sociology: Radha Kamal Mukherjee, N.K. Bose, Irawati Karve, G.S. Ghurye, M.N. Srinivas.

The following contributions of each of the thinkers are to be discussed:

Radha Kamal Mukherjee – Social Ecology;

G.S. Ghurye – Theories of Origin of the Caste system;

N.K. Bose – The Hindu Method of Tribal absorption;

Irawati Karve – Kinship and the family;

M.N. Srinivas – The Concept of Brahminization and Sankritization.

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. How does the ISC Class 11 Sociology Syllabus help students prepare for examinations?

It is important for students to have good knowledge and clear concepts about all the topics in order to clear the ICE Sociology of class 11 exam. All the topics must be crystal clear. Studying from the ICE Sociology of class 11 syllabus will make your task easier by building the concepts and help you in securing good marks in the exam. 

2. How to score well in Sociology with the help of the ISC Class 11 Sociology Syllabus?

Your first step should be to approach the syllabus of class 11 Sociology and to go through it thoroughly. Acquaintance with the subject will help you plan your schedule and timetable to block out each day’s time for a well-defined learning activity. The ISC Class 11 Sociology syllabus will help you set your goals for each chapter.