Sociology is a relatively old subject: it was born after the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution, mid-1700s, in Europe. However, the sociology course that students study is based on contemporary society. On the sociology course, students learn about trends in society, e.g. trends in achievement by different social groups, and they learn theoretical explanations for these trends, e.g. explanations by Marxist theory or feminist theory. Students discuss these ideas in class and write essays that debate the arguments and conclude which one is most convincing. Weekly pre-reading is set, so students come to their lessons having prepared for what they are learning about, rather than turning up as ‘blank sheets’. Sociology is an excellent subject for people who are open-minded, who are interested in difference, who enjoy reading and learning new vocabulary, who enjoy discussion and are open to their ideas being challenged.