1. Welcome to study of Religion

2. What is so great about SOR?
Incredible understanding of world religions
Insight into how and why the world is the way it is
Your writing, analytical and research skills will become outstanding
It will help improve your OP
It will help you on your spiritual journey
Anyone can achieve a VHA if they do the work
The skills and practices (tools) you learn in SOR will assist you with all subjects and into the future

3. What will stop you from succeeding in SOR?
Being closed to different ideas
Believing there is only one answer
Being angry and confrontational about the subject rather than inquisitive
Failing to study, learn and know all the new information
Leaving things to the last minute – laziness and not making the most of conferencing
Not pulling your weight when working cooperatively

4. Taking a Phenomenological Approach
The phenomenology of religion concerns the experiential aspect of religion, describing religious phenomena in terms consistent with the orientation of worshippers.

5. Overview of the Year Where are we headed?
Item 1
Diversity of Religion and its significance in the world
Short Response (Term 1)
Extended Written (Term 1)
- Origin of Religion and Aboriginal Spirituality
Item 2
Research Assignment (Term 2)
- Islam
Item 3
Multimodal Presentation (Exam Week - End of Semester 1)
- Judaism
Item 4
Ritual (Term 3)
Extended written response Essay – Ethnographic Investigation
- Hinduism and Buddhism
Item 5
Sacred Texts (Term 4)
Exam – Essay (unseen question)
- Hinduism and Christianity
Where are we headed?
Overview of the Year

6. The main 5 World Religions
Christianity
Judaism
Islam
Buddhism
Hinduism

7. SOR TOOL KIT
Study of Religion

8. What are the main tools?
How best do I learn: Studying and retaining information
Understanding the SOR Criteria Sheet
Summarising and note taking
APA referencing
Using the “Booklet”
Vocabulary and a style of writing using the phenomenological approach
Applying the inquiry method
Essay with a hypothesis

9. Study of Religion Essay Writing Vocabulary Inquiry Method Study
Referencing
Criteria
Study of Religion
Note taking
Booklet

10. Research & CommunicationA B C D E
Knowledge &
Understanding
The student’s work has the following characteristics:
knowledge and understanding of key ideas and concepts about ritual, drawing on a divergent range of materials, issues and phenomena in familiar and unfamiliar contexts.
knowledge and understanding of key ideas and concepts about ritual, drawing on a diverse range of materials, issues and phenomena in familiar and unfamiliar contexts.
knowledge and understanding of key ideas and concepts about ritual, drawing on a range of materials, issues and phenomena in familiar contexts.
knowledge of ideas and concepts about ritual drawing on well-known materials and issues in familiar situations.
awareness of ideas about ritual drawing on materials and in very familiar situations.
Evaluative Process
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation
critical analysis of diverse explicit and implicit information about ritual, and formation of hypothesis.
synthesis of complex and divergent ideas about ritual.
evaluation of complex ideas, texts and approaches and testing of hypothesis justified using evidence and critical reasoning.
analysis of diverse explicit and implicit information about ritual and formation of hypothesis.
synthesis of complex ideas about ritual.
evaluation of ideas and texts and testing of hypothesis, justified using evidence and plausible reasoning.
analysis of explicit information about ritual and formation of straightforward hypothesis.
integration of ideas about ritual.
evaluation of ideas, texts, and hypothesis with basic justification using evidence.
description and scant analysis of simple and familiar information about ritual, stating a position.
integration of familiar ideas about ritual.
evaluation of familiar information about ritual and given hypothesis with superficial justification using opinion rather than evidence.
description of simple and familiar information about ritual.
restatements of information about ritual.
restatements of ideas that may reflect the topic rather than use evidence.
Research & Communication
identification of a range of diverse issues and framing of well-constructed and pertinent research questions.
evidence of broad and focused investigations establishing the validity of a wide range of diverse sources.
consistent and effective presentation of information, ideas and concepts about ritual using a range of modes and language with discernment, for the intended audience.
identification of a range of issues and framing of well-constructed research questions.
evidence of focused investigations establishing the validity of a wide range of sources.
effective presentation of information, ideas and concepts about ritual using modes and language with discernment, for the intended audience.
identification of issues and framing of relevant research questions.
evidence of investigations establishing the validity of relevant sources.
presentation of information, ideas and concepts about ritual, using appropriate modes and language for the intended audience.
identification of familiar issues and use of rudimentary research questions.
evidence of investigations using familiar source.
presentation of information about ritual, using modes and language that may suit the intended audience.
identification of known issues and use of questions.
evidence of use of familiar sources.
presentation of information about ritual using language that may suit the intended audience.
Criteria

11. Referencing
SOR is not just about knowledge, it is also about the RESEARCH PROCESS
Referencing must be in full APA style
Correct referencing gives your assignments academic weight and credibility
This is a direct requirement of the syllabus, and is essential for any university study

12. Inquiry Method
To a certain extent, you will be responsible for the direction of your study for assessments
You will develop a series of research questions
You will conduct research to answer these questions
Formation of a hypothesis
Constant reflection/re-evaluation
Construction of your response

13. Research Booklets
One of your three exit criteria is Research and Communication
Follow the research booklet to do well in the criteria
Follow the RESEARCH PROCESS – develop research questions, an hypothesis…
Booklets will provide you with the correct STRUCTURE. Structure is important for your…

14. Essays
SOR is an academic subject – do not make the mistake of thinking that it will be ‘wishy washy’
Essay structure will provide your responses with academic credibility
Responses should be easy to read (not simplistic), and should ‘flow’ nicely – PEEL structure

15. Vocabulary
You will need to learn and understand the new concepts, terminologies and definitions
Important to differentiate – differences between Catholic and Christian, agnostic and atheist
Accuracy of our phrasing – eg. The Torah is not the ‘Jewish Bible’