GCSE Religious StudiesEaster Revision

OCR Specification B

‘Can of Worms’

Starter

Learning Objectives: To understand the structure of the course To understand the structure of the paper To understand the structure of the examination

questions To consider time allocations To consider examination techniques To ensure up-to-date knowledge.

The examination

Assessment Objectives: Assessment Object 1 (AO1) :

Describe, explain and analyse, using knowledge and understanding 50%

Assessment Object 2 (AO2) : Use evidence and reasoned argument to express

and evaluate personal responses, informed insights, and differing viewpoints 50%

What skills are you examined on?

Unit B601: Philosophy 1 - Belief about deity Nature of God

Beliefs about the nature of God Belief in God

Reasons given in support of belief Miracles

Concept of miracles, including different beliefs within the religion

God intervening in the world through: Miracles Jesus Holy Spirit

What units do you study?

Unit B601: Philosophy 1 - The end of life Body and soul

Concept of soul The relationship between the body and soul

Life after death Concept of life after death

Beliefs about: Heaven Hell Purgatory Salvation Redemption The suffering of Christ Resurrection

Unit B601: Philosophy 1 - The end of life God as judge

Relationship between God the judge, life on earth and the afterlife

Funeral rites The ways funeral rites reflect belief and

aim to support the bereaved  

Unit B603: Ethics 1 - Religion and Human Relationships Roles of men and women in the family

Roles of men and women in a Christian family Roles of men and women in the Church family

Marriage and marriage ceremonies Marriage ceremonies The ways in which the ceremonies reflect and

emphasise Christian teaching about marriage Responses to civil partnerships

Unit B603: Ethics 1 - Religion and Human Relationships Divorce

Beliefs about the ethics of divorce Beliefs about the ethics of re-marriage

Sexual relationships and contraception Beliefs about sexual relationships Beliefs about contraception

Unit B603: Ethics 1 - Religion and Medical Ethics

Attitudes to abortion Different attitudes towards abortion Reasons for different attitudes

Attitudes to fertility treatment Responses to issues raised by fertility

treatment and cloning

Unit B603: Ethics 1 - Religion and Medical Ethics

Attitudes to euthanasia and suicide Different attitudes towards euthanasia Different attitudes towards suicide Reasons for different attitudes

Using animals in medical research Beliefs about the use of animals in medical

research

The structure of the paper: Each paper you sit has three topics on it You are answering on two of these topics

only Each topic has six questions, each of five

parts You have been taught the Christianity topics

and should answer only on these You must not answer more than one

question for each topic.

The structure of the questions: Each question is in five parts:

(a) 1 mark testing your knowledge(b) 2 marks testing your knowledge(c) 3 marks testing your knowledge(d) 6 marks testing your

understanding(e) 12 marks testing your evaluative

skills

Time allocations: You have one hour in which you should

answer two questions: This means you should spend about 30

minutes on each question In total each question has 24 marks so it is

just about one minute per mark

Examination techniques: For parts (a), (b), and (c) you need to show

your knowledge of the subject matter You could be asked to name 3 things for

example Or you might be asked to describe

something for 3 marks Whichever it is you should not spend much

more than 3 minutes on part (c).

Examination techniques: For part (d) questions you need to show what

you understand about a particular topic There are several different types of (d)

questions such as: Explain why people might believe … Explain how x might affect the life of …

However, they are all testing the same skill.

Examination techniques: The next slide shows one way which makes

it easier to answer some (d) questions It works for those question which asked how

something might ‘affect the live of a believer’ for example.

A structure for answering ‘affects’ type questions AO1

Personal Moral

SpiritualSocial

Examination techniques: For part (e) questions you need to show that you can

consider and discuss different viewpoints Each (e) question is structured like this:

‘If God existed we would know it.’Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. [12]Spelling, punctuation and grammar [3]

Examination Techniques: So, for a part (e) question you need to give

at least 3 viewpoints: 1 view must be a Christian one 1 view must be your own 1 view must be a different Christian one,

the point of view of a different religion or a secular or Humanist viewpoint.

Examination Techniques: Each viewpoint must be supported by

evidence and / or argument The (e) part of the question carries half the

total marks and you should spend about 15 minutes on it.

Remember there are three marks for the quality of your spelling, punctuation and grammar so make sure your writing is as clear as possible and try to avoid spelling mistakes. These marks are assessed on the two part (e) questions which you answer on each paper. You will be awarded the higher of the two marks which you receive. As a reminder this symbol appears next to the questions.

You should: ensure that text is legible and that spelling, punctuation and

grammar are accurate so that meaning is clear present information in a form that suits its purpose use an appropriate style of writing, and where applicable,

specialist terminology.

Examination techniques: The next slide shows one way which makes

it easier to answer (e) questions.

Some people would agree because… This view may be supported by:

who say - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -OR This view can be supported by saying- - - -

Some people would disagree because… Their view may be supported by saying - -OR by

who say - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

And therefore I……………….because…

?

Activity 1: (d) Explain why some Christians

do not agree with abortion? [6 marks]

Activity 1: Peer mark the answer: www - what worked well ebi – even better if

A procured abortion is the deliberate expulsion of the foetus from the womb. If a woman unfortunately has a miscarriage this is also described as an abortion.Roman Catholics consider that all life is a gift from God. If a woman becomes pregnant then it is God’s wish that a new life should come into the world. To have the foetus aborted is to go against God’s wishes.Catholics also believe that all human life is sacred – this is called the sanctity of life. An abortion would break this sanctity.If an abortion is caused as an unintended result of an operation, such as when the egg is fertilised in the fallopian tubes, an ectopic pregnancy, this is not a sin and is explained by the Doctrine of Double Effect.Catholics believe that as God gives life also only God has the right to take life therefore humans have no right to end a life.

Activity 2:(e) “Women should have the same rights as men in religion.”

Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. [12]

Spelling, punctuation and grammar [3]

Activity 2: Peer mark the answer: www - what worked well ebi – even better if

I agree that women should have the same rights as men in religion. God created men and women in his image (Genesis 1) therefore there should be no difference between their rights. Also women can worship God just as men can. There have been many great Christian women such as Blessed Mother Teresa who have devoted their whole life to God’s work and therefore they should have the same rights as men.Some people would disagree with me because they would say that in Genesis 2 God created the woman from the side of the man and that this shows that women have a secondary place. If women did have equal rights with men then women would be able to be priests and the Roman Catholic Church does not allow this even though many other churches such as the Church of England do. Because women are the ones who have to bear children many people would say that although they are equal to men they have different rights and duties in church.

Thank you and best wishes!

© Mayled-Pillay 2014