S4
Research and project on moral issues of your choice. (Examples below)
- Abortion.
- Illegal drugs & underage drinking.
- War & Peace.
- Euthanasia.
- [Other topics with discussion]
S5
RMPS National 5 Unit
All S5 Pupils have a period of RME/RMPS per week where they work towards a stand-alone unit from the Level 5 Course from the Morality and Belief section. Pupils study moral issues relating to one major moral issue and responses to it.
The course develops a range of cognitive skills. It encourages active learning in the process of investigating religious, moral and philosophical issues. Pupils learn to express viewpoints and have the opportunity for personal reflection. Pupils develop a wide range of important and transferable skills including accurate recording of information, researching resources, analysing and evaluating beliefs and values, and expressing reasoned personal opinions in a variety of contexts.
National 5 Course
- World Religion – Islam.
- Morality and Belief – Morality, Medicine and the Human Body.
- Religious & Philosophical Questions – The Problem of Suffering and Evil.
- Assignment - Candidates have an open choice of religious, moral or philosophical issue.
SQA Course specification can be found here: https://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/RMPSCourseSpecN5.pdf
Internal Assessment
Students are required to write essays demonstrating knowledge analysis and evaluation in all units. There will be a formal assessment at the end of each unit.
External Assessment
Question Paper:
The question paper gives candidates an opportunity to demonstrate application of the following skills and breadth of knowledge and understanding from across the course:
- analysing religious, moral and philosophical questions
- presenting detailed and reasoned views
The question paper has 80 marks out of a total of 100 marks. The question paper is therefore worth 80% of the overall marks for the course assessment.
Assignment 20 Marks
The assignment allows candidates to demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and understanding within the context of religious, moral and philosophical questions:
- 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
The assignment has 20 marks out of a total of 100 marks. The assignment is therefore worth 20% of the overall marks for the course assessment. 50% of the marks cover skills.
Homework
Extension of class based assignments and exam skills practise. We aim to incorporate homework as an integral part of the programme of study. Homework materials are used to underpin and extend classroom learning. Homework also supplements the formative assessment used with the department to determine the progress of pupils. We believe homework reinforces the skills of self-learning and self-discipline, vital to the nature of courses offered by the Department in the upper school. We operate a 100% homework policy and parents will be informed if tasks are not completed by students. We encourage parents to actively support and encourage pupils to complete homework.
Entry Requirements to National 4
- Completed the S3 Specialism in Humanities
- By negotiation with the department
Entry Requirements to National 5
- National 4 RMPS or National 4 in any other Humanities subject or English
- By negotiation with the department
Who is this course for?
The course is appropriate for a wide range of learners including those who wish to: achieve a greater understanding of religion and its place in society; learn more about traditions, beliefs and values; progress to more specialised study, further education, training or employment.
Pupils develop a wide range of important and transferable skills including accurate recording of information, researching resources, analysing and evaluating beliefs and values, and expressing reasoned personal opinions in a variety of contexts.
Higher Course
- World Religion – Buddhism.
- Morality and Belief – Morality and justice.
- Religious & Philosophical Questions – Origins of the Universe & Life.
- Assignment - Candidates have an open choice of religious, moral or philosophical issue.
SQA Course specification can be found here:
https://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/HigherCourseSpecRMPS.pdf
Internal Assessment
Students are required to write essays demonstrating knowledge analysis and evaluation in all units. There will be a formal assessment at the end of each unit.
External Assessment
Course assessment structure: question paper
Question Paper 1
World Religion and Morality units:
This question paper assesses the skills of applying in-depth knowledge and understanding, analysing and evaluating religious, moral and philosophical questions and presenting reasoned and well-structured views. This question paper has 60 marks out of 110 marks for the course assessment.
Question Paper 2
This question paper assesses the skills of applying in-depth knowledge and understanding, analysing and evaluating religious, moral and philosophical questions and presenting reasoned and well-structured views. This question paper has 20 marks out of a total of 110 marks for the course assessment.
Assignment
Pupils identify an issue of religious, moral or philosophical significance on which there are a range of viewpoints. They choose a question based on this issue, research the issue and gather sources relevant to their question. Pupils then draw upon the skills of knowledge and understanding, analysis and evaluation to produce an extended piece of writing in response to their question. The assignment has 30 marks out of a total of 110 marks for the course assessment.
Homework
Extension of class based assignments, essays and source answers and historical research for the externally marked assignment. 2 hours a week on average. We aim to incorporate homework as an integral part of the programme of study. Homework materials are used to underpin and extend classroom learning. Homework also supplements the formative assessment used with the department to determine the progress of pupils. We believe homework reinforces the skills of self-learning and self-discipline, vital to the nature of courses offered by the Department in the upper school. We operate a 100% homework policy and parents will be informed if tasks are not completed by students. We encourage parents to actively support and encourage pupils to complete homework.
Entry Requirements
National 5 RMPS or any other Humanities subject or English.
Who is this course for?
The course is appropriate for a wide range of candidates, including those who wish to:
- Achieve a greater understanding of religion and its place in society.
- Learn more about the traditions, beliefs and values of their own religion.
- Progress to more specialised study, further education, training or employment.
Pupils develop a wide range of important and transferable skills including accurate recording of information, researching resources, analysing and evaluating beliefs and values, and expressing reasoned personal opinions in a variety of contexts.