HSC Studies of Religion Question Thread

[jamonwindeyer]

i was wondering what the guidelines is to ask for SOR 1 integrated response is like how many posts do i have to make to get it marked?

Hey Mary! It's 15 posts per essay now, and based on other feedback you've received you'll need to get to 25 posts 

[Lauradf36]

Quick query: I have trials coming up real soon. Way too soon.

And I'm doing SOR 2 Unit. So I have to prepare what, 9 or 10 essays?? It's pretty overwhelming! What would be your tips/advice for getting on top of your essays and being able to memorise all your sacred text quotes??

Not sure if this thread is for 2 Unit as well. But hopefully the same principles will apply.

Ty!

[jamonwindeyer]

Quick query: I have trials coming up real soon. Way too soon.

And I'm doing SOR 2 Unit. So I have to prepare what, 9 or 10 essays?? It's pretty overwhelming! What would be your tips/advice for getting on top of your essays and being able to memorise all your sacred text quotes??

Not sure if this thread is for 2 Unit as well. But hopefully the same principles will apply.

Ty!

Hey there! Same principles definitely apply, but you have it worse than us 

There are a few ways to approach this. What I did (and what I recommend) is that you should plan ahead of time which religious tradition you will write about for each Section. Make it work for you! For example, I wrote really good Islam essays, not sure why to be honest. I just clicked with the content more. So, I always wrote my essays on Islam, and my short answers on Christianity. This is how I tailored my study (and you would just add Religion and Peace to that mix). It works well for giving you more focus!

Treat memorising sacred text quotes (and examples in general) like memorising quotes for English. I used Summary Sheets and wrote lots of practice essays, as well as doing brainstorms every so often to see how much I remembered. I know people who used recordings of notes (I did this for other subjects), palm card, there is literally heaps you can do! Pick something that works well for you 

Besides memorising quotes, all you need to do is have had practice writing essays, to the point where you have a rough idea of the structure you will take. In English, this doesn't work nearly as well, but SOR is much more restrictive in what can be asked of you. So, practicing a few essays (one for each element, and then one with all three) will have you sorted. Have \textbf{rough} plans in place, not explicitly if you don't want to, even just in the back of your mind based on prior experience.

Practice Makes Perfect! The absolute best way to prepare is practice, but of course, time is limited for Trials. I didn't have much time for practice this time in 2014, so instead, you can dot point your practice essays! Write a Thesis, then dot point what examples you'll give in each paragraphs. This way you can do a 'practice essay' in 10 minutes instead of an hour, much faster and just as good for practicing structure and memorising quotes 

Just a few comments, I hope this helps! 

[Lauradf36]

Hey there! Same principles definitely apply, but you have it worse than us 

There are a few ways to approach this. What I did (and what I recommend) is that you should plan ahead of time which religious tradition you will write about for each Section. Make it work for you! For example, I wrote really good Islam essays, not sure why to be honest. I just clicked with the content more. So, I always wrote my essays on Islam, and my short answers on Christianity. This is how I tailored my study (and you would just add Religion and Peace to that mix). It works well for giving you more focus!

Yeah I have heard of that strategy, however our teacher warned us off it as he thinks it is quite risky. Tbh the maths of how picking each essay works, and why it would be risky, does my head in... but I will probably focus on doing Christianity for the ext. responses regardless. Thanks so much for the tips!

[jamonwindeyer]

Yeah I have heard of that strategy, however our teacher warned us off it as he thinks it is quite risky. Tbh the maths of how picking each essay works, and why it would be risky, does my head in... but I will probably focus on doing Christianity for the ext. responses regardless. Thanks so much for the tips!

Hmmm, I would partially agree, but I don't think there is any risk in picking a tradition for the extended response section. I wrote about Islam really well! What is dangerous is picking an aspect to write an essay about (EG - significant person), because you can't predict the essay question. Picking the tradition is a little risky, for sure, but I personally think it is well worth it 

No worries at all! 

[tahmina]

i need help asap ! what is an ethical teaching for christianity and how would you answer a homosexulality response for a 4 marker

[elysepopplewell]

i need help asap ! what is an ethical teaching for christianity and how would you answer a homosexulality response for a 4 marker

Okay, a few things to break down here.

First of all, there isn't a great likelihood that they would ask you to talk about an ethical issue as specific as homosexuality, or really, an ethical ISSUE in the short answer.

They are more likely to ask you about the SOURCES of ethical teachings, and, WHAT ARE the ethical teachings? It is a more higher order question to apply the ethical teachings to an issue, especially if the issue is specifically given.

With that in mind, an ethical teaching in Christianity is agape. You see this in the Ten Commandments, the Commandments of Love, in the writings of Paul, and modern day Church statements (like encyclicals). Another teaching might be the idea that Christians are made in the image of God.

It is so important that you don't talk about an ethical ISSUE unless they ask you specifically for that. I made this mistake in a short answer in my trial! If they ask for the sources of the ethics, talk about THAT. If they ask for the teachings, talk about THAT. Only if they ask you to apply the ethical teachings, or to talk about a modern issue in ethics, do you bring in something like homosexuality, contraception, etc (for sexual ethics). Hopefully this makes sense!

[Lauradf36]

Hmmm, I would partially agree, but I don't think there is any risk in picking a tradition for the extended response section. I wrote about Islam really well! What is dangerous is picking an aspect to write an essay about (EG - significant person), because you can't predict the essay question. Picking the tradition is a little risky, for sure, but I personally think it is well worth it 

No worries at all! 

So would you suggest knowing enough info to write an essay on your other traditions, but less in depth? Or just studying enough for an 8-marker?

[studybuddy7777]

Hi lauradf36!

If you are taking SOR II then i would definitely consider choosing your two stronger traditions or 2 stronger areas (eg sig people and ethics) in detail for an essay. 800 words 4-6 pages!! The only reason i dont like number 2 as much is because sometimes you are asked to link sig person, place and ethics. But definitely have 1 you can write an essay on, 1 you can respond up to an 8 marker on, and one somewhere in between

Note: Even though I have used definitely dont just take my word for it. Im still a HSC student trying to do well in SOR II.
PS. If you are an SOR I student then only know one for an essay and one for Section II

[Essej]

Hi lauradf36!

If you are taking SOR II then i would definitely consider choosing your two stronger traditions or 2 stronger areas (eg sig people and ethics) in detail for an essay. 800 words 4-6 pages!! The only reason i dont like number 2 as much is because sometimes you are asked to link sig person, place and ethics. But definitely have 1 you can write an essay on, 1 you can respond up to an 8 marker on, and one somewhere in between

Note: Even though I have used definitely dont just take my word for it. Im still a HSC student trying to do well in SOR II.
PS. If you are an SOR I student then only know one for an essay and one for Section II

Raises some good points! Although I wouldn't risk narrowing down anything to practices, ethics and people; if you're going to zero in for an essay make sure you know every aspect of the syllabus for that tradition and know it well. I find Islam easiest to write extended responses on (and Christianity the hardest @irony) so naturally play to your strengths - hopefully you've asked for feedback from teachers for responses?

Completely agree that SOR2 is alot tougher in the latter sections with the responses that ask you to link each part of the syllabus, I suppose teachers need to justify the high scaling in some way 

[jamonwindeyer]

If you're going to zero in for an essay make sure you know every aspect of the syllabus for that tradition and know it well. I find Islam easiest to write extended responses on (and Christianity the hardest @irony) so naturally play to your strengths

Couldn't have said it better myself 

[Lauradf36]

Hi lauradf36!

If you are taking SOR II then i would definitely consider choosing your two stronger traditions or 2 stronger areas (eg sig people and ethics) in detail for an essay. 800 words 4-6 pages!! The only reason i dont like number 2 as much is because sometimes you are asked to link sig person, place and ethics. But definitely have 1 you can write an essay on, 1 you can respond up to an 8 marker on, and one somewhere in between

Note: Even though I have used definitely dont just take my word for it. Im still a HSC student trying to do well in SOR II.
PS. If you are an SOR I student then only know one for an essay and one for Section II

Thanks everyone! I am doing SOR II so I definitely need some narrowing-down tips.

[studybuddy7777]

Ok say you are doing three depth studies (this means 3 ethics, 3 people, 3 practices)
For eg ill do the ones i do
Judaism - Moses Maimonides, Sex Ethics, Synagogue Services. I know this in good enough detail to write an essay on. While I do have more for the other 2 than ethics, I can make some links to ethics.
Christianity - Paul of Tarsus, Bioethics, Marriage. I know bioethics really well, Paul of Tarsus i'd be able to make a section ii on, Marriage is shocking i only know my general knowledge. Ironically, Christianity is my worst one.
Islam - Sufism (bet you do A'isha here), Sex Ethics, Hajj. Hajj is good, sex ethics is all right, and Sufism is lacking a tad.
Religion and Peace- trial to be on world peace (what we got up fo on class)
Rel and Non Rel, Ab Sp, Post 1945.. Alright at.

Can anyone provide me help with what to study for?
______________________________________________________________________________

Okay now back to what was asked..

What are your strengths and weaknesses? Mine are listed above
Definitely aim to do 1 tradition per day. Make three sessions for yourself. Morning, Afternoon, Evening (making sure you have ample breaks)

Then do Ab Sp and Post 1945 on one of these sessions (preferably evening) on the 4th day and then Religion and Peace (morning) and Religion and Non-Religion (afternoon)

But how you are wondering to narrow my study you wonder? Without turning this into a commercialised post, Elyse's notes for SOR II ($25) are great!! Failing that, definitely look at the ones in the notes section. I can upload my notes which were actually my siblings (they got a Band 6 in SOR II) but they are currently hand written so I may just take photos

If you can only remember two things in the exam, make sure they are quotes (and their references) and teachings/contribution/impact/significance (depending on which part you are studying)

Just a reminder to never do a question you have never studied!

I'm sure you will be fine!
Be sure to flick me a PM or reply down below if you need any clarification or have any questions, comments, concerns, criticisms or otherwise

[Lauradf36]

Ok say you are doing three depth studies (this means 3 ethics, 3 people, 3 practices)
For eg ill do the ones i do
Judaism - Moses Maimonides, Sex Ethics, Synagogue Services. I know this in good enough detail to write an essay on. While I do have more for the other 2 than ethics, I can make some links to ethics.
Christianity - Paul of Tarsus, Bioethics, Marriage. I know bioethics really well, Paul of Tarsus i'd be able to make a section ii on, Marriage is shocking i only know my general knowledge. Ironically, Christianity is my worst one.
Islam - Sufism (bet you do A'isha here), Sex Ethics, Hajj. Hajj is good, sex ethics is all right, and Sufism is lacking a tad.
Religion and Peace- trial to be on world peace (what we got up fo on class)
Rel and Non Rel, Ab Sp, Post 1945.. Alright at.

Ok, the ones I would do probably:
Judaism - Isaiah, sex ethics, marriage. Could probably do an essay on all three, but not as confident with Isaiah.
Christianity - Paul, sex ethics, marriage. Confident with Paul and sex ethics, less confident with marriage. (agree with the general knowledge part haha)
Islam - Abu Hanifa (not A'isha. HA. I'm ~indie~ like that), sex ethics, hajj. Less confident with all of these, but definitely enough for some solid 8 markers. it would take a lot more time to be prepared for essay length responses since a lot of the sacred texts are new.

Ty for the help!

[studybuddy7777]

No worries at all
I have actually found the Quran the easiest to get quotes from and Islam the tradition I can answer easiest just because it is so different to what i already know i think. Its so weird how it works and hard to explain but true

Judaism I dont have much trouble in, although categorising everything into conservative, orthodox and progressive can get confusing. Maybe this is why christianity is my weakest? Because there are so many denominations you could cover (esp seeing as im a catholic/anglican and we have to learn about orthodox, uniting and pentecostals)

Anyway i would find it hard to do two as "marriage" i would get muddled up, its bad enough have to do 2 lots of sex ethics lol