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AQA A-Level Sociology: Neo-Marxism – Theory & Methods
Engaging, thought-provoking, and exam-focused | For Year 12

This lesson pack introduces Neo-Marxism as a theoretical development of classical Marxism, with a focus on Gramsci and Althusser. It is designed for the Theory and Methods section of the AQA A-Level Sociology course and is ideal for teaching after the introduction to classical Marxism.

What’s included:

Interactive PowerPoint covering Gramsci (hegemony, organic intellectuals) and Althusser (ISAs, RSAs, ideological control), complete with tasks, talk prompts, and knowledge check questions

A3 comparison sheet for students to contrast classical Marxism and Neo-Marxism across key categories (e.g. cause of inequality, role of the individual, possibility of revolution), supported with a visual key term bank

PEECL paragraph builder sheet to scaffold students’ AO3 evaluation and comparative writing with clear structure (Point, Evidence, Explain, Counter, Link)

Learning objectives:

Understand how Neo-Marxism develops and critiques classical Marxist theory

Explore the concepts of hegemony, ideological state apparatuses, and structural determinism

Analyse why a working-class revolution hasn’t happened in Britain

Evaluate which version of Marxism better explains modern inequality

This resource will help students deepen their theoretical understanding, build critical thinking, and practise exam-style paragraph writing, all while making complex thinkers accessible and relevant to real-world examples.