ACTIVITY BOOKLET

15GBAR01

Getting Ready to Teach Pearson’s new GCSE Religious Studies Specification A from 2016

Delegate Booklet

Prepared by CPL

Activity 1: Write a possible part (a) question

Activity:

• Ensure you have blank paper, a pen, a copy of the specification and a copy of the SAMs.

• Select one section of the specification that you are likely to teach.

• Select a bullet point in that section.

• Attempt to write a Part (a) question for that bullet point: it cannot be non-religious, and it cannot show the religion in a negative light.

• Swap it with the person next to you to check.

  1. Possible Part (a) question

Religion and Paper ______

Bullet point from the content ______

______

______

______

______

______

  1. Any other questions or comments

Activity 2: Part (b) question practice

Activity:

• Ensure you have some sticky notes (or use the space below), a pen, a copy of the specification and a copy of the SAMs.

• Select one section of the specification that you are likely to teach.

• Select a Part (b) question in that section.

• Write a reason that answers the question on your sticky note (or the space below).

• Swap with the person next to you; they have to write a development on your reason.

• Check each other’s answers.

Religion and Paper ______

Question:
Reason(s):
1.
2.
Development(s):
1.
2.

Activity 3: Part (c) question practice

Activity:

• Ensure you have paper, a pen, a copy of the specification, a copy of the SAMs.

• Read the exemplar below.

• Write notes on the exemplar. We will go through on the board as part of this presentation.

• Check your assessment of the exemplar with the trainer and the person sitting next to you.

Exemplar:

Explain two Islamic teachings on the importance of prophethood.

In your answer you must refer to a source of wisdom and authority.

Prophethood is the way that Allah communicates with mankind, therefore without it humanity could not gain a positive afterlife.

Belief in prophethood is one of the six beliefs and so is an essential belief in order to be a Muslim which is shown in the Qur’an that makes it clear that disbelief prophethood is disbelief in Allah.

Thoughts and comments:

Mark scheme:

Question
number / Answer / Mark
AO1 5 marks
Award one mark for each reason/belief. Award further marks for each development of the reason/belief, up to a maximum of four marks.
Award one further mark for any relevant source of wisdom or authority.
  • Belief in the first prophet, Adam, shows that Islam existed from the beginning of man (1) and has been central for all of time (1) “We make no distinction between any of them” (Surah 2:136) showing a consistent chain of prophecy from Allah since he created mankind.
  • Prophethood is the channel between Allah and mankind, (1) therefore without it humanity could not reach akhirah, (1) as Allah has revealed his truth through the stories of the prophets in the Qur’an (Surah 2:136). (1)
  • Belief in prophethood is one of the six beliefs (1) and so is an essential belief in order to be a Muslim, (1) Muslims must submit to the will of Allah (Surah 2:136) which means they must believe the teaching of the Prophets. (1)
Accept any other valid responses. / 5

Activity 4: Part (d) question practice

Activity:

• Ensure you have paper, pen, a copy of the specification and a copy of the SAMs and copy of the exemplar in your activity booklet.

• Write notes on the exemplar. We will go through it on the board as part of this presentation.

• Check your assessment of the exemplar with the trainer and the person sitting next to you.

Exemplar:

‘Belief in hell is very important.’

Evaluate this statement considering arguments for and against. In your response you should:

  • refer to Catholic teachings
  • refer to different Christian points of view
  • reach a justified conclusion.

Belief in hell may not be very important for Catholics because forgiveness is a key belief, they believe if God is all forgiving then there is no one whose sins cannot be forgiven; therefore no one should be condemned to hell; this would even apply to a serious sinner who repents at the end of their life.

Hell might also not be important as Roman Catholics teach that purgatory is a place that purifies and punishes sinners which will allow access to heaven eventually as God is believed.

Other Christians suggest that the reality of hell was affirmed at the Council of Nicaea and in the Bible; this belief in hell keeps Christians faithful to their beliefs; as such it encourages them to keep the commandments because they want to avoid hell.

In conclusion I would suggest that belief in hell is very important as it helps people avoid sin and encourages Catholics to go to confession regularly; in this way they will always be prepared whenever death comes.

Mark scheme:

Question number / Indicative content / Mark
1(d) / AO2 12 marks, SPaG 3 marks
Candidates must underpin their analysis and evaluation with knowledge and understanding. Candidates will be required to demonstrate thorough knowledge and understanding as well as accuracy of religion and belief when responding to the question and in meeting AO2 descriptors.
AO2
Arguments for the statement:
  • if God is all forgiving then there is no one whose sins cannot be forgiven; therefore no one should be condemned to hell; this would even apply to a serious sinner who repents at the end of their life like the thief crucified with Jesus
  • Roman Catholics believe in post death purification; this is considered a place of temporal punishment known as Purgatory; this purification and punishment will allow sinners access to heaven eventually
  • God is believed to be endlessly loving; people do not need to worry about hell as nothing in either life nor after death can separate people from the love of God; this means that people do not need to be concerned should they occasionally fall into sin.
Arguments against the statement:
  • All Christians are encouraged to avoid occasions of sin; belief in the existence of hell encourages Catholics to go to confession regularly; in this way they will always be in a sinless state whenever death comes
  • The existence of hell is required for ultimate justice; God is referred to as a just judge who will reward and punish; this makes sense of the moral life that the good will be rewarded and the bad punished (2 Corinthians 5:1-10);
  • many protestant Christians believe that entry to heaven is not based on how a life is lived but only in believing in salvation through the death of Jesus; so these Christians will try to convert others in order to save them from hell as they believe there is no second chance after death
Accept any other valid responses.
Candidates who do not consider different viewpoints within the religious tradition (as instructed in the question) cannot achieve marks beyond Level 2. / 15
Level / Mark / Descriptor
0 / No rewardable response.
Level 1 / 1–3 /
  • Information/issues are identified and make superficial connections among a limited range of elements in the question, underpinned by isolated elements of understanding of religion and belief.
  • Judgements are supported by generic arguments to produce a conclusion that is not fully justified.

Level 2 / 4–6 /
  • Superficial connections are made among many, but not all, of the elements in the question, underpinned by a limited understanding of religion and belief.
  • Judgements of a limited range of elements in the question are made. Judgements are supported by an attempt to appraise evidence, much of which may be superficial, leading to a conclusion that is not fully justified.

Level 3 / 7–9 /
  • Deconstructs religious information/issues, leading to coherent and logical chains of reasoning that consider different viewpoints. These are underpinned by an accurate understanding of religion and belief. Connections are made among many, but not all, of the elements in the question.
  • Constructs coherent and reasoned judgements of many, but not all, of the elements in the question. Judgements are supported by the appraisal of evidence, some of which may be superficial, leading to a partially justified conclusion.

Level 4 / 10–12 /
  • Critically deconstructs religious information/issues, leading to coherent and logical chains of reasoning that consider different viewpoints. These are underpinned by a sustained, accurate and thorough understanding of religion and belief. Connections are made among the full range of elements in the question.
  • Constructs coherent and reasoned judgements of the full range of elements in the question. Judgements are fully supported by the comprehensive appraisal of evidence, leading to a fully justified conclusion.

Marks / Descriptors
0 marks / No marks awarded /
  • The candidate writes nothing.
  • The candidate’s response does not relate to the question.
  • The candidate’s achievement in SPaG does not reach the threshold. Performance level, for example errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar severely hinder meaning.

1 marks / Threshold performance /
  • Candidates spell and punctuate with reasonable accuracy.
  • Candidates use rules of grammar with some control of meaning and any errors do not significantly hinder meaning overall.
  • Candidates use a limited range of specialist terms as appropriate.

2 marks / Intermediate performance /
  • Candidates spell and punctuate with considerable accuracy.
  • Candidates use rules of grammar with general control of meaning overall.
  • Candidates use a good range of specialist terms as appropriate.

3 marks / High performance /
  • Candidates spell and punctuate with consistent accuracy.
  • Candidates use rules of grammar with effective control of meaning overall.
  • Candidates use a wide range of specialist terms as appropriate.

Activity 5: Part (d) question practice

Activity:

• Ensure you have paper, a pen, a copy of the specification and a copy of the SAMs.

• Work in a small group.

• Write one of the Part (d) question stimuli on the piece of paper (or in space below).

• Write anything you feel might be appropriate – reasons, quotations, strengths, weaknesses.

• As a group, link up the ideas to make a coherent argument with a line.

• This shows what a candidate’s answer could be like.

• What is your group’s conclusion?

Question:
Reasons, quotes, strengths, weaknesses:
Linking the ideas together:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Conclusion:

Delegate Booklet

Prepared by CPL