Circular letter M35/02

To: The Management Authorities of Second-level schools

Prescribed Titles for Religious Education Journal Work

for Junior Certificate 2003 and 2004

  1. A new syllabus for Religious Education was introduced on a phased basis in September 2000 and will be examined for the first time in the Junior Certificate examination of 2003.
  1. The syllabus indicates that the assessment of Religious Education will have two elements – (1) a final written paper, and (2) journal work. The titles for journal work for the Junior Certificate examination of 2003 were issued with Circular M58/01. The titles for journal work for the Junior Certificate examination of 2004 are attached, as are the titles for 2003.
  1. These titles are common to Ordinary Level and Higher Level. Students are required to submit journal work on one title only.
  1. The subject will be assessed externally at Ordinary Level and at Higher Level. At both levels, journal work will account for 20% of the marks. Please note that this mark allocation supersedes that given in the syllabus for Religious Education.
  1. In undertaking journal work students may work in groups or undertake a visit or investigation as a whole class. However, each student must complete and submit an individual journal for assessment.
  1. Guidelines for undertaking journal work are included in Religious Education - Guidelines for Teachers which was issued in June 2001.
  1. The journal work must be submitted in a standard form in a booklet which will be supplied for that purpose by the Department. Students taking the examination in 2003 will be supplied with the booklet in October 2002. Students taking the examination in 2004 will be supplied with the booklet in October 2003.
  1. Please bring this circular and the attached lists of journal work titles to the notice of the teachers concerned.
  1. Please provide a copy of this circular to the appropriate representatives of parents and teachers for transmission to individual parents and teachers.

John Dennehy,

Secretary General. July, 2002.

Prescribed Titles for Religious Education Journal Work

for Junior Certificate 2003

Two titles are given for each section of the syllabus. Students select any one from the following list:

Section A.Communities of Faith

a.1Churches/communities of faith working together in my community

a.2A profile of a local or a national religious organisation

Section B.Foundations of Religion – Christianity

b.1 Jesus in the Gospel of Mark

b.2 The characteristics of the first Christian communities

Section C.Foundations of Religion – Major World Religions

c.1A profile of the religious beliefs and practices of a member of one of the following communities of faith in Ireland today - Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam or Judaism

c.2 A biography of the founder, or a significant person in one of the following communities of faith - Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam or Judaism

Section D. The Question of Faith

d.1A survey of religious belief in my locality

d.2 Money - the source of meaning in human life in 21st Century Ireland?

Section E. The Celebration of Faith

e.1A place of religious significance in my local community

e.2 Christmas symbols and their place and meaning in the religious celebration of Christmas

Section F. The Moral Challenge

f.1 How two religious traditions view reconciliation

f.2 The school as a source of morality

Prescribed Titles for Religious Education Journal Work

for Junior Certificate 2004

Two titles are given for each section of the syllabus. Students select any one from the following list:

Section A.Communities of Faith

a.1Ecumenism in my community

a.2 A profile of the national leader of a church / religious organisation in Ireland today

Section B.Foundations of Religion – Christianity

b.1The Kingdom of God in the preaching of Jesus

b.2 Discipleship and young people today

Section C. Foundations of Religion – Major World Religions

c.1 A place of worship or prayer for one of the following communities of faith in Ireland today - Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam or Judaism

c.2 The faith and lifestyle of young people in one of the following communities of faith – Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam or Judaism

Section D. The Question of Faith

d.1 Changing images of God

d.2 Humanism and the question of faith

Section E. The Celebration of Faith

e.1. The symbolism of funeral rites

e.2 Young people and prayer

Section F. The Moral Challenge

f.1 Religious perspectives on peace

f.2Developing a mature conscience