• Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on your results!
    Let us know how you went here
    Got a question about your uni preferences? Ask us here

Religion Essays (1 Viewer)

-pari-

Active Member
Joined
May 26, 2005
Messages
1,070
Location
Cloud 9
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
i'm really stuck on getting my head around how to structure a religion essay.

i have to do one for the christian teachings on a specific ethical issue...and i'm not sure how to go about structuring it..

my main problem is the body.
my paragraphs get incredibly repetitive...its pretty much just...belief-why the believe it-impact on their everyday life.

i'm finding it hard to "expand" ...
:S

i really dnt know.
but any tips and advice about how to go about this?

and what are markers looking for in essays?

p.s. if its of any relevance i do 2u religion
 

snapperhead

Has decided to retire
Joined
Sep 14, 2003
Messages
3,018
Location
AD1 @ BMGS
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
-pari- said:
i'm really stuck on getting my head around how to structure a religion essay.

i have to do one for the christian teachings on a specific ethical issue...and i'm not sure how to go about structuring it..

my main problem is the body.
my paragraphs get incredibly repetitive...its pretty much just...belief-why the believe it-impact on their everyday life.

i'm finding it hard to "expand" ...
:S

i really dnt know.
but any tips and advice about how to go about this?

and what are markers looking for in essays?

p.s. if its of any relevance i do 2u religion
Have a look at the standards package to gauge what an essay looks like and what the markers are looking for

http://arc.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/go/hsc/std-packs/

NB..the structure of the 20 mark question has changed from what is in the SP so dont panic!
 

luscious-llama

Ára bátur
Joined
Nov 5, 2004
Messages
1,064
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
snapperhead said:
Have a look at the standards package to gauge what an essay looks like and what the markers are looking for

http://arc.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/go/hsc/std-packs/

NB..the structure of the 20 mark question has changed from what is in the SP so dont panic!
Yeah I was just realising this myself because distance ed sent me a package of notes & things regarding Question 20.... so its definately just an extended response now?
 

snapperhead

Has decided to retire
Joined
Sep 14, 2003
Messages
3,018
Location
AD1 @ BMGS
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
luscious-llama said:
Yeah I was just realising this myself because distance ed sent me a package of notes & things regarding Question 20.... so its definately just an extended response now?
Yeah...its a 2o marker for the extended questions (q/13-18)


BTW..are those notes postable / scannable?

I would love to have a look at them and post them up here for others to use- even if it is post HSC that is!
 

goliwog

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2006
Messages
82
Gender
Male
HSC
2006
well there are many ways to skin a cat here are a few methods of structuring social science like essays that may help depending on the question

1) start with an introduction that introduces everything, refers to the question and reveals your main arguments or ideas. You can also use a significant quote to help start your essay off on a strong point if you like.

Im not doing ethics but I can give you a typical example of an introduction to Teachers and interpreters that i would use which will hopefully help. Dont use this as a rule of thumb though look at other essays !

introduction : " Religious teachers and interpreters have made a massive impact on both Christianity and Hinduism. Two contemporary teachers/interpreters that have translated their views on religious traditions include Gandhi and Pope John the XXIII. Both of these figures have been pivitol to the faith in the modern day sense altering their religious traditions as they saw fit in thier time. "

2) After the introduction I use a system called TEEE which stands for Topic sentance explain , evaluate and example. So each paragraph then needs a topic sentance and explanation and evaluation and an example. here is an example

Topic sentance: A Pivitol contemporary interpreter for Christianity , particularly the catholic denomination was Pope John XXIII who was responsible for reforming the catholic faith in the 1960's.

Explain: John was born Angelo Roncalli he grew up in a poor family in Italy but later joint a convent of priests at a young age. He excelled as a Priest and became a cardinal of venice When the previous Pope , pope Pius died in 1958 John aged 76 became what most considered a care taker pope until a younger pope came along.

Evaluate: However it wasnt long before The elderly pope had embarked on a scheme to reform the church calling the second vatican council in 1962 which became a forum between Conservative and Liberal Catholics. The council took the church up to date with the occurances of the world.

Example: The council was responsible for abolishing aspects in the church such as Tirumphalism which was the proud assertion that the catholic church alone possessed a hold on truth and holiness; Clericalism , which was the emphasis on the bishops and clergy to the detriment of the laity; and juridicism which was the legalistic spirit in which church law was applied , lacking both warmth and teaching.

then perhaps a sentance to link the paragraph back to the questions (which i cant exactly do without a question lol ) mind you this structure could probably be split into two paragraphs but whatever works for you ... You can then do the same for each paragraph using teee. So this could be the beginning of my essay. I shall write another plan using a bit of a different method later.
 
Last edited:

luscious-llama

Ára bátur
Joined
Nov 5, 2004
Messages
1,064
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
snapperhead said:
Yeah...its a 2o marker for the extended questions (q/13-18)


BTW..are those notes postable / scannable?

I would love to have a look at them and post them up here for others to use- even if it is post HSC that is!
PM me a postal address and i can send them to you..."postable" hahaha.. I dont want them after my exam!! It extends for the new course too and cause distance ed is comprehensive they're good... just that I got confused in the whole course over things such as this 20 mark response... the past questions had it all broken up... ah wells :)
 

-pari-

Active Member
Joined
May 26, 2005
Messages
1,070
Location
Cloud 9
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
thanks snapperhead :)

goliwog:

so (from the example you gave) something like:

*point/ topic sentence
* background info on the point
*relevance of point to christianity/essay question
* demonstration of something the point (in your case the pope) has done

....?
 

hopeles5ly

Take Me Higher.
Joined
Aug 1, 2005
Messages
2,796
Location
Sydney
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
goliwog said:
well there are many ways to skin a cat here are a few methods of structuring social science like essays that may help depending on the question

1) start with an introduction that introduces everything, refers to the question and reveals your main arguments or ideas. You can also use a significant quote to help start your essay off on a strong point if you like.

Im not doing ethics but I can give you a typical example of an introduction to Teachers and interpreters that i would use which will hopefully help. Dont use this as a rule of thumb though look at other essays !

introduction : " Religious teachers and interpreters have made a massive impact on both Christianity and Hinduism. Two contemporary teachers/interpreters that have translated their views on religious traditions include Gandhi and Pope John the XXIII. Both of these figures have been pivitol to the faith in the modern day sense altering their religious traditions as they saw fit in thier time. "

2) After the introduction I use a system called TEEE which stands for Topic sentance explain , evaluate and example. So each paragraph then needs a topic sentance and explanation and evaluation and an example. here is an example

Topic sentance: A Pivitol contemporary interpreter for Christianity , particularly the catholic denomination was Pope John XXIII who was responsible for reforming the catholic faith in the 1960's.

Explain: John was born Angelo Roncalli he grew up in a poor family in Italy but later joint a convent of priests at a young age. He excelled as a Priest and became a cardinal of venice When the previous Pope , pope Pius died in 1958 John aged 76 became what most considered a care taker pope until a younger pope came along.

Evaluate: However it wasnt long before The elderly pope had embarked on a scheme to reform the church calling the second vatican council in 1962 which became a forum between Conservative and Liberal Catholics. The council took the church up to date with the occurances of the world.

Example: The council was responsible for abolishing aspects in the church such as Tirumphalism which was the proud assertion that the catholic church alone possessed a hold on truth and holiness; Clericalism , which was the emphasis on the bishops and clergy to the detriment of the laity; and juridicism which was the legalistic spirit in which church law was applied , lacking both warmth and teaching.

then perhaps a sentance to link the paragraph back to the questions (which i cant exactly do without a question lol ) mind you this structure could probably be split into two paragraphs but whatever works for you ... You can then do the same for each paragraph using teee. So this could be the beginning of my essay. I shall write another plan using a bit of a different method later.
Hey, is it possible you can elborate a bit on triumphalism, clericalism, and juridicism? I was writing one of my teachers and interpreters essays, but i only could give general points on that area. Also, how many challenges should be included in order to get 17+? For eg. i talked about the renewal of music and prayer and how the priest now faces the congregation in one paragraph and then in the other i talked about how the liturgy was now spoken in vernacular. Hence, should i have another paragraph, talking about another one of his changes?

Also for the 2004 sacred writing and stories - outline the origins of the sacred writings and stories of two religious traditions and evaluate the importance of sacred writings and stories for believers for TWO religious traditions, can i link it in relation to ethical justification?
 
Last edited:

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top