Understanding Standards: Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies (National 5) An Overview of Course Assessment RGB colours for text Purple = R204 G153 B209 & Dark Blue =R0 G51 B102

What this Presentation Covers Overall structure of the course. Changes in 2017/2018. Overview of course components. General guidance.

Structure of the Course Overview Units and unit assessment are no longer required for course award. Additional detail on content provided. Increased mark allocation and time for question paper. Assignment remains the same.

Changes Course Specification Documentation Course Specification Course Assessment Specification Course Support Notes Course Specification Specimen Question Paper Revised Specimen Question Paper

Changes Aims - simplified and clarified Candidates develop a range of skills at a straightforward level, including the ability to: give accurate accounts of factual information relating to aspects of religion, morality and philosophy demonstrate an understanding of aspects of religion, morality and philosophy analyse beliefs and practices related to world religions, moral issues and philosophical questions evaluate beliefs and practices related to world religions, moral issues and philosophical questions

Changes Skills, knowledge and understanding - clarified and simplified Knowledge and understanding of the impact, relevance and significance of religion through studying some beliefs and practices found within one of the world’s six major religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism or Sikhism) and the contribution these make to the lives of followers. Knowledge and understanding of moral issues and responses. Knowledge and understanding of religious and philosophical issues and responses.

Changes Skills, knowledge and understanding - clarified and simplified Analysing and evaluating religious, moral and philosophical issues and responses. Expressing views about religious, moral and philosophical issues and responses. Researching sources to present an analysis and evaluation of some viewpoints of a religious, moral or philosophical issue.

Course Detail World Religions: clarified with increased detail No requirement to learn sources. Expectation of familiarity with sources. No questions referring specifically to sources. Focus on teaching candidates how to: demonstrate knowledge and understanding of religious beliefs and practices analyse religious beliefs and practices evaluate the relevance, significance and impact of religious beliefs and practices

Course Detail World Religions: Buddhism Revised Old Three Marks of Existence Four Noble Truths Three Poisons Beliefs about the Buddha Three Jewels Kamma Samsara Nibbana Living according to the Eightfold Path Five Precepts Meditation and puja  nature of reality  nature of human beings beliefs about Buddha Samsara and Nibbana living according to the Eightfold Path individual and community worship 

Course Detail Morality and Belief: clarified with increased detail No requirement to teach religious authority or utilitarianism. Requirement only to know religious and non religious perspectives. No questions referring specifically to moral stances.

Focus on teaching candidates how to: present factual knowledge and understanding of the moral issues present factual knowledge and understanding of a religious and non-religious viewpoint on the moral issues analyse the different moral issues evaluate a religious and non-religious response to the moral issues present a reasoned viewpoint on the moral issues

Course Detail Morality and Belief: Relationships Old Revised gender roles: family, employment, religion sexual relationships: purpose of sex, sexual consent, same sex marriage: arranged marriages, co-habitation, same-sex marriages, divorce equality and exploitation: religion, media Old Revised gender roles sexual relationships marriage

Course Detail Religious and Philosophical Questions: clarified with increased detail There is a greater scope of questions. Removal of the opening question. Scope for each option to be taught with a focus on one religion.

Course Detail Religious and Philosophical Questions: The problem of suffering and evil types of suffering and evil explanations of suffering and evil — free will and responsibility — determinism — natural causes — role of God problems for beliefs about God — nature of God — challenge to the nature of God — challenge to the existence of God — theodicies who is responsible for evil and suffering? supernatural agencies human responsibility

Question Paper STRUCTURE Three sections: each section worth a minimum of 25 marks. Marks range 3-8 marks. Evaluation question 8 marks. Duration 2 hours 20 minutes. Worth 80 marks 80% of the total course award. Assignment 20 marks 20% of the total course award.

Assignment Assignment is unchanged. High degree of supervision. Resource sheet of not more than 200 words. Write up completed in one hour. Supervision statement is common to all subjects completing an assignment of this type.

Assignment Assignment Assessment: clarified Identifying an appropriate religious, moral or philosophical issue for study, about which there are alternative or different points of view. Commenting on the significance or impact of the issue. Using sources of information. Drawing on knowledge and understanding to explain and analyse the issue and viewpoints, one of which must be religious, moral or philosophical. Drawing and presenting a detailed and reasoned conclusion on the issue.

Course Overview Depth Difficulty SCQF level 5 uses the term STRAIGHTFORWARD More than naming and stating Less than detailing Exemplars on Understanding Standards website Difficulty Option permutation - equal demand World Religion - technical terms Morality and Belief - evaluating moral responses Religious and Philosophical Questions - distinguishing between Big Bang/Evolution and Cosmological and Teleological

Developing Course Skills Knowledge and understanding: is factual is knowing THAT something is the case leads to analysis when done well Analysis: is explaining how something works is explaining WHY something is the case is pulling ideas apart is often found as part of good knowledge and understanding

Developing Course Skills Evaluation: is making a judgement of facts, analysis or perspectives has a stated focus in each topic: World Religion Morality and Belief RPQ Relevance Religious responses Significance Non religious responses Impact Personal view of beliefs and practices to a moral issue to a religious and philosophical question

THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS APPROPRIATE Additional Advice: developing skills Evaluation: avoid reducing evaluation exclusively to formulae like: benefits and drawbacks advantages and disadvantages agree and disagree for and against relevance and irrelevance THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS APPROPRIATE

Additional Advice Evaluation: World Religions impact on individuals and communities, types of impact relevance to living in a secular/religious society significance to the individual, the religion, the community encourage critical engagement and avoid reinforcing stereotypes

Additional Advice Evaluation: Morality and Belief focus on what makes actions/positions right or wrong the role of consequences in moral decision making the role of duty in moral decision making the role of religion in moral decision making the role of human rights in moral decision making

Additional Advice Evaluation: Religious and Philosophical Questions focus on issues that create the debate the likelihood of there being an answer the basis of the answers, fact or opinion the consistency of the answer the quality of the evidence and the arguments supporting the answer

Assignment: Support for Candidates In the research stage, reasonable assistance may include: directing candidates to the instructions for candidates clarifying instructions/requirements of the task advising candidates on the choice of issue advising candidates on possible sources of information arranging visits to enable gathering of evidence interim progress checks

Assignment: Support for Candidates At any stage, reasonable assistance does not include: providing the issue directing candidates to specific resources and providing specific locations of information providing model answers providing detailed feedback on drafts, including marking providing past examples

Assignment: Support for Candidates Reasonable assistance does include: advice on the right direction for issues and research ensuring that they are aware of what is being looked for in terms of assignment structure and research ensuring that their topic is viable in terms of content and resources ensuring that they stay on track with their research and assignment provide general feedback on drafts

Assignment: Resource Sheet Candidates must produce a resource sheet. It can be no more than 200 words. It can be written on any A4 sheet of paper. The candidate decides what the most useful content on it would be. It can contain plans, mind maps, bullet points, illustrations and/or quotes.

SQA contacts for further clarification Elaine McFadyen (Qualifications Manager) elaine.mcfadyen@sqa.org.uk Lynne McCallum (Qualifications Officer) lynne.mccallum@sqa.org.uk

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