A Level Italian Themes 1-3 Sample Answers

This set of documents contains nearly 30 pages of grammatically sophisticated and vocabulary-rich paragraphs of Italian text concerning the main topics falling under Themes 1 (I cambiamenti della società italiana), 2 (La cultura politica e artistica nei paesi di lingua italiana), and 3 (L’Italia: una società in evoluzione) for the Pearson Edexcel Advanced GCE in Italian (A Level Italian, 2017 specification). This can be used by students as a basis to prepare their own responses to typical questions concerning topics examined on this course.

The text of each paragraph has been written to be adapted for use in the context of Paper 3 (Speaking), and, as such, contains idiomatic expressions and a range of opinions with justifications. Users of this resource can also adapt the sample responses provided for written work related to the topics covered, since complex grammatical elements and structures have been used throughout.

Ideas, information, and statistics have been included for each topic so as to ensure the contents meet the requirements of Assessment Objective 4 (AO4), i.e. knowledge/understanding of Italian culture and society, which is frequently overlooked in respect of Paper 3 by both students and teachers alike.

These documents were prepared by a Cambridge graduate in Modern Languages who subsequently took Italian at A Level and achieved an A* under the 2017 specification.

The topics covered are as follows:

1. I cambiamenti della società italiana
   a. L’evoluzione della famiglia italiana (cambiamenti nell’atteggiamento verso il matrimonio, la coppia e la famiglia; i mammoni)
   b. L’istruzione (il sistema scolastico e i problemi degli studenti; la fuga dei cervelli)
   c. Il mondo del lavoro (la parità tra i sessi; la disoccupazione; le imprese familiari; i nuovi modelli di lavoro)

2. La cultura politica e artistica nei paesi di lingua italiana
   a. La musica (cambiamenti e sviluppi; impatto sulla cultura popolare)
   b. I media (libertà di espressione; la stampa cartacea e online; l’impatto sulla società e la politica)
   c. Il patrimonio culturale (feste, usi e costumi)

3. L’Italia: una società in evoluzione
   a. L’impatto positive dell’immigrazione in Italia (il contributo di immigrati e migranti all’economia e alla cultura)
   b. I problemi della migrazione in Italia (marginalizzazione e alienazione; integrazione; l’impatto dell’emigrazione)
   c. Il divario Nord/Sud (spostamenti tra Nord e Sud; il ruolo delle industrie italiane; le differenze socio-culturali; la criminalità)

Each of the above subtopics has an entire document dedicated to it, which typically spans 3-5 pages (with the exception of subtopics 3(a) and 3(b) above, which are both covered in the same document as they interrelate). Theme 4 of the Specification (Dal Fascimo ai nostri giorni) is not included in this pack, since the rubrics allow for Theme 4 to be avoided altogether in Paper 3.