Analysis and Evaluation Questions Setting Out Your Answer

Learning Intentions and Outcomes You will look at:  How to structure a 15 mark answer  How to write an introduction, main argument and conclusion You will be able to:  Construct a well set out answer to question 2 of an exam question paper  Argue clearly

“Some people claim that Buddhism is a selfish religion because it concentrates on individual enlightenment” Discuss two possible responses to this claim.5KU 10AE  You should set your answer out like you would an essay  Introduction  Main body  Short conclusion (this is the least important part)  I would suggest that you DO NOT start you answer by saying “Buddhism is not a selfish religion”  This shows lack of sophistication in your writing skills  Nor should you be saying “ so how can Buddhism be selfish?”  If this is what you are claiming then it must be shown through your knowledge and argument

Introduction  “The two responses that I will give will be from the Theravada and the Mahayana schools of Buddhism”  Now go on to explain a little bit about each  Their origins: when and how they began  Some of the major differences  You could have written something like “ I will attempt to argue against the claim that Buddhism is a selfish religion”  You will not start doing this until you get on to the main body of the essay  The introduction will set the scene, show the direction that you are going

Main Body  Here you need to set out your arguments clearly  For this question you could be arguing that Buddhism is not a selfish religion by comparing the differences between the Arhat and Bodhisattva as the Buddhist ideals  You must explain what the arhat is and state his qualities  Arhats are not reborn after death, their enlightenment has been for themselves alone  They have achieved this state by their own efforts  They are compassionate selfless beings, they have overcome the illusion of self, they are no longer bound to samsara by the Three Poisons  Compassion is a fundamental element in attaining this state, without it would not be achieved

Main Body of the Essay cont  The arhat and the bodhisattva have similar qualities  Now you must explain the bodhisattva’s qualities  Bodhisattvas take a vow to remain in samsara in order to help all sentient beings  You should also talk about Buddhism being a Middle Way to support your argument  The moral discipline of the Noble Eight Fold Path means acting towards others in a way that causes no harm  You may also discuss the nature of impermanence and the doctrine of no self to show that Buddhism is not focussed on the individual self

Conclusion  If you have argued well enough and run out of time this is the part that you can leave out  However, if you have time, add a conclusion to tie everything together  It leaves the reader in no doubt as to what you were saying before  It should be short as you have already made the points before in the main part of the answer  Pick out the main point in your argument that precisely addresses the question or statement for example

Final Word!  “Although Theravada Buddhism is concerned with the enlightenment of the individual it cannot be considered selfish; as the perfect ideal the arhat is a wise compassionate being with no concept of a self, his actions are completely selfless and performed for the sake of others. The Noble Eight Fold Path encourages moral actions towards all beings, animals included, for all Buddhists. It is a path between all extremes which cultivates moderation and compassion, making Buddhism one of the least selfish religions”  The above applies to all 15 mark questions  Questions where you are asked to list the benefits and difficulties would be set out in the same way, you do not need to have a balance between the two but you won’t get full marks unless you include both