WJEC/Eduqas RS for A2/Yr2: Buddhism

T1 Religious gures and sacred texts AO2 Developing skills It is now important to consider the information that has been covered in this section; however, the information in its raw form is too extensive and so has to be processed in order to meet the requirements of the examination. This can be done by practising more advanced skills associated with AO2. The exercises that run throughout this book will help you to do this and prepare you for the examination. For assessment objective 2 (AO2), which involves ‘critical analysis’ and ‘evaluation’ skills, we are going to focus on different ways in which the skills can be demonstrated effectively, and also, refer to how the performance of these skills is measured (see generic band descriptors for A2 [WJEC] AO2 or A Level [Eduqas] AO2). Your task is this: Below is a summary of two different points of view concerning whether the Abhidhamma is useful or not . It is 150 words long. You want to use these two views and lines of argument for an evaluation; however, to just list them is not really evaluating them. Present these two views in a more evaluative style by firstly condensing each argument and then, secondly, commenting on how effective each one is (weak or strong are good terms to start with). Allow about 200 words in total. The Abhidhamma is very useful; it is for those who want to understand the Dhamma in greater depth and detail. It aids the development of insight into the three characteristics of existence: impermanence, unsatisfactoriness and non-self. It is useful not only for the periods devoted to formal meditation, but also during the rest of the day when Buddhists are engaged in various mundane chores. Monastics derive great benefit from the study of the Abhidhamma to help experience absolute reality. The Abhidhamma would be of no real use to a novice monk or a lay person as it is far too advanced and complex. In this sense, within the whole scope of Buddhism, the Abhidhamma is in fact pretty useless and very rarely accessed or referred to. It is also of no real practical use for anyone other than those who are far advanced along the Buddhist path such as monks and nuns. When you have completed the task, refer to the band descriptors for A2 (WJEC) or A Level (Eduqas) and, in particular, have a look at the demands described in the higher band descriptors towards which you should be aspiring. Ask yourself: ■ Is my answer a confident critical analysis and perceptive evaluation of the issue? ■ Is my answer a response that successfully identifies and thoroughly addresses the issues raised by the question set? ■ Does my work show an excellent standard of coherence, clarity and organisation? (WJEC band descriptor only but still important to consider for Eduqas) ■ Will my work, when developed, contain thorough, sustained and clear views that are supported by extensive, detailed reasoning and/or evidence? ■ Are the views of scholars/schools of thought used extensively, appropriately and in context? ■ Does my answer convey a confident and perceptive analysis of the nature of any possible connections with other elements of my course? ■ When used, is specialist language and vocabulary both thorough and accurate? Key skills Theme 1 The rst theme has tasks that deal with the basics of AO2 in terms of developing an evaluative style, building arguments and raising critical questions. Key skills Analysis involves: Identifying issues raised by the materials in the AO1, together with those identi ed in the AO2 section, and presents sustained and clear views, either of scholars or from a personal perspective ready for evaluation. This means: ■ That your answers are able to identify key areas of debate in relation to a particular issue ■ That you can identify, and comment upon, the different lines of argument presented by others ■ That your response comments on the overall effectiveness of each of these areas or arguments. Evaluation involves: Considering the various implications of the issues raised based upon the evidence gleaned from analysis and provides an extensive detailed argument with a clear conclusion. This means: ■ That your answer weighs up the consequences of accepting or rejecting the various and different lines of argument analysed ■ That your answer arrives at a conclusion through a clear process of reasoning. As you work through each section of the book, the focus will be on a variety of different aspects associated with AO2 so that you can comprehensively perfect the overall skills associated with AO2. 21