IB World Religions SL

Teacher: Ms. Hansen

2020 - 2021

Phone:​ (734)-424-4240 ext. 7505

Email:​ ​hansenm@dexterschools.org
Website:​ ​http://mshansendhs.weebly.com/
Twitter:​ @ms_hansenDHS
Office Hours​ — Wednesdays 12:00 - 3:00 pm (by appointment)
*Other times may be arranged

Text(s): Provided by DHS Library

Van, Voorst Robert E. ​Anthology of World Scriptures.​ Boston, MA: Wadsworth, 2013.
Prothero, Stephen. ​God is Not One​. New York, NY: Harper One, 2010.

*If you are a student who likes to annotate/write in your books, buying your own version of God Is Not
One might be a good idea. Amazon has cheap paperback versions for purchase.

Material(s):
*Students should determine whether they plan to organize their materials physically (using a
binder/folder and notebook) or digitally (Google Drive folders). I will provide students with a
digital skeleton (Google Drive folders) to help them organize their work for this school year,
should they choose that option.

Course Summary
IB World Religions addresses questions of human existence and the human condition through
the study of the major religions practiced throughout the world today. Students will explore and
study the sacred texts, beliefs, rituals, symbols, and codes of conduct for each of the focal
religions in order to acquire a more thorough understanding of how faith and the practice of faith
affect humanity. The objective of World Religions is to provide students with an overview of
religion in a manner that is sensitive to individual beliefs. This academic study of religion will
encourage understanding and student acquisition of knowledge, not the practice of or importance
of one religion over another. World Religions will also highlight and interact with some of the
themes explored through the ​Theory of Knowledge​. World Religions​ ​is only offered as a
Standard Level IB course.
Course Structure
The course will focus on (3) essential questions in which you will be assessed by both IB and
myself. We will study (5) different religions. Three of these religions will be studied
foundationally, while two will be studied in depth. The three foundational religions will be the
basis for Paper 1 of your External Assessment. The two in depth will be the basis for Paper 2 of
your External Assessment. You are also required to complete an investigative study of a question
of interest. This will be called your Internal Assessment.

The following is a ​tentative​ semester progression:

Approximate Time
Kind of Unit Religion
Frame

Introductory What is Religion? 2 Weeks

Foundational Judaism 3-4 Weeks

Foundational & In-Depth Islam 8-9 Weeks

Foundational Hinduism 3-4 Weeks

Foundational Taoism 3-4 Weeks

Foundational & In-Depth Buddhism 8-9 Weeks

Internal Assessment Research Paper 2 weeks (all year)

Exam Time! Paper 1 — TBD Paper 2 — TBD

Post-Exam Studies &

Various Topics IB Exam - End of School
Project

Grading Scale:
93-100% = A 67-69% = D+
90-92% = A- 63-66% = D
60-62% = D-
87-89% = B+
83-86% = B 0-59% = E
80-82% = B-
Percentages round
77-79% = C+ up to the nearest
73-76% = C whole number.
70-72% = C-
Assessment Tools
● IB Style Assessments
○ Paper 1 Exams
○ Paper 2 Exams
○ Internal Assessment (course research paper)
● Non-IB Style Assessments
○ In-class readings, vocabulary quizzes, socratic seminars/discussions, projects and
reflective writing

Semester Grade Determinants:

In Class/At School
IB Style Assessments (worth 70% of your transcript-based grade)
● 5 Paper 1s​ - for these exams, you will be given excerpts from scripture for the
religion under study. You must analyze the scripture and answer two questions
about it (Part A and Part B).
● 2 Paper 2s​ - for these exams, students will be given a question that asks them to
evaluate a larger theme or point of contention within the religion being studied.
These questions require a longer, more organized response that is closer to the
traditional “in-class essay”, compared to Paper 1 exams.
○ Due to remote learning, Paper 1 and Paper 2 exams will be given, but be
more formative in nature. It’s necessary for students to practice these
assessments for both our transition to in-person learning and for those that
plan to take the IB exams in May. Students will receive extensive
feedback on their Paper 1 and Paper 2 exams completed both remotely and
in person (once we return to school).
● Your ​Internal Assessment​ will count as your final exam for Semester 2.
● Individual Investigations​ - these investigations will be completed
asynchronously and be submitted at the end of each unit. Students will identify an
investigative question (open-ended) for each religion studied, conduct research to
answer their question, and both share and communicate their findings with our
learning community. Students will have tremendous freedom when it comes to
their topics of exploration/investigative questions and their communication of
findings.

Non-IB Style Assessments (will be worth 30% of your transcript based grade)
● This portion of your grade will also include any other assessments (mostly
projects) that will be assigned
Actual IB Assessments ​(students planning to take the May exam):​
External Assessment (75% of your IB score)
● Paper 1 (30%) - Students will write answers to a series of questions based on the 3
Foundational Religions (April 27, 2018)
● Paper 2 (45%) - Students will write answers to a series of questions based on the 2
In Depth Religions (April 30, 2018)

Internal Assessment (25% of your IB score)

● 2 weeks, spread throughout the semester

Policies/Procedures:
1. Check your Dexter Schools email regularly :)
2. Announcements, assignments, and classroom resources will be posted on Canvas. It’s
expected that you check this site if you are absent.
3. Store and plug in your laptops before you leave class (use only your assigned #).
4. Phones must stay in your backpack during instruction.
5. Food Allergy Signs -- posted inside/outside the classroom, indicating which foods to
avoid eating (may vary by semester).

Zoom Norms & Expectations

Group 3 Aims

The aims of all subjects in Group 3, individuals and societies are to:
1. encourage the systematic and critical study of: human experience and behaviour; physical,
economic and social environments; the history and development of social and cultural institutions
2. develop in the student the capacity to identify, to analyse critically and to evaluate theories,
concepts and arguments about the nature and activities of the individual and society
3. enable the student to collect, describe and analyse data used in studies of society, to test
hypotheses and interpret complex data and source material
4. promote the appreciation of the way in which learning is relevant both to the culture in which the
student lives, and the culture of other societies
5. develop an awareness in the student that human attitudes and opinions are widely diverse and that
a study of society requires an appreciation of such diversity
6. enable the student to recognize that the content and methodologies of the subjects in group 3 are
contestable and that their study requires the toleration of uncertainty.

World Religions Aims

In addition, the aims of the Diploma Programme world religions course are to enable students to:
1. promote an inquiring, analytical and empathetic approach to the study of religion
2. develop an informed understanding of the diversity of world religions
3. foster a respectful awareness of the significance of the beliefs and practices for the faith member
4. develop an understanding of how religion affects people’s lives
5. encourage a global appreciation of the issues surrounding religious and spiritual beliefs,
controversies and movements in the world today
6. promote responsible and informed international citizenship.
Assessment Objectives
There are four assessment objectives (AOs) for the Diploma Programme world religions SL
course. Having followed the course, students will be expected to do the following.

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of specified content

● Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of five world religions chosen for the
introductory unit
● Define, understand and use concepts associated with particular world religions
● Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of two religions reflecting different
traditions
● In internal assessment, demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a specific world
religions investigative study

Demonstrate application and analysis of knowledge and understanding

● Demonstrate how the key concepts of a religion are expressed in the behaviour of
believers
● Demonstrate application and analysis of concepts
● Research, select and analyse material from both primary and secondary sources

Demonstrate synthesis and evaluation

● Evaluate concepts associated with world religions
● Synthesize by integrating evidence and critical commentary

Select, use and apply a variety of appropriate skills and techniques

● Select, use and apply the prescribed world religions skills in appropriate contexts
● Demonstrate the ability to organize ideas into a clear, logical, coherent and balanced
account
● Evaluate the reliability of evidence and the chosen method of research for the internal
assessment