Exam answers

1. Exam answers Learning objective - To gain knowledge of how to improve exam answers.

2. Ninian Smart Dimensions of Religion • Don’t • Make • Everything • Red • Everything • Is • Mustard

3. Q a) Introductions • Look at the introductions to the a) question. You have copies of the first paragraph of three essays. Consider how well each introduces the essay. Give a mark out of 4.

4. With reference to a range of television programmes, examine the presentation of religious themes in popular broadcasting. (30 marks) 1. One religious theme included regularly in popular broadcasting is moral issues. Soap operas often use these themes, for example, Christian preacher Lucas has committed adultery on several occasions and murdered two people then lied about it. Here Lucas is presented as the complete opposite of what a Christian should be. It gives the impression that religious people when led astray are susceptible to making very drastic, negative changes in their lives. This would generally give religion a bad view as the viewer is persuaded to laugh at Lucas while he constantly prays for forgiveness before going out to Murder someone else.

5. With reference to a range of television programmes, examine the presentation of religious themes in popular broadcasting. (30 marks) 2. Terrestrial broadcasting offers quite a range of different religious programmes. These can include comedy programmes, documentaries and soaps. Each style caters for a different audience and a different reaction. 3. Religion is portrayed in a number of different ways on popular television and has a number of themes that range from serious worship to comedy.

6. Q a) Main paragraphs • Look at paragraphs from the main body of the essays for the a) questions. Consider how well each paragraph explains its point and uses examples. Give a mark out of 4.

7. With reference to a range of television programmes, examine the presentation of religious themes in popular broadcasting. (30 marks) 4. There has also been a substantial rise in the amount of documentaries exploring religion. Journalists travel to different parts of the world to analyse and obtain an indication of how religion is, and how important it is, in different cultures. This is not biased as most journalists are not particularly religious or strong in faith, so they are neutral in terms of faith. This may please some as documentaries main purpose is to explore and not convert people. Documentaries give viewers a significant amount of insight into particular religion or culture which is why it is so interesting to the majority.

8. With reference to a range of television programmes, examine the presentation of religious themes in popular broadcasting. (30 marks) 5. Then there are the perfectly neutral shows like documentaries and factual programmes that show religion as an interesting historical thing. Songs of Praise is a very popular, well known programme that has multicultural aspects that may even attract non religious people. There are plenty of shows such as ‘Around the world in 80 faiths’ that present it as cultural, fascinating and varied.

9. With reference to a range of television programmes, examine the presentation of religious themes in popular broadcasting. (30 marks) 6. We often find that in soap operas religion is seen in a negative way. In Eastenders the theme of going against your religion is usually presented. For example a Muslim man realised he was gay – this is going against Muslim teachings. This theme is presented in a negative way as it can make the audience believe that no-one can keep the rules of a religion, or, puts a negative view on that religion altogether.

10. Q a)Conclusions • Look at the concluding paragraphs for the a) questions. Consider how well each paragraph sums up the essay. Give a mark out of 4.

11. With reference to a range of television programmes, examine the presentation of religious themes in popular broadcasting. (30 marks) 7. Following back onto the subject of moral issues, the Big Questions uses religion as a positive aspect and is presented in mainly the most emphasised question on how to answer that question. 8. Altogether religion is portrayed negatively on popular TV. This applies to almost all the themes included. 9. In conclusion popular broadcasting channels do involve a lot of religious aspects but it is not always presented in a good way.

12. Q b) Introductions • Look at the introductions to the b) question. You have copies of the first paragraph of three essays. Consider how well each introduces the essay. Give a mark out of 4.

13. Assess the view that popular television trivialises religion (15 marks) 1. Popular television is said to trivialise religion. I agree with this to a point, but some programmes show how important religion is and how much it means to some people. 2. To trivialise something means to describe something as unimportant and something which is useless; a factor which some programmes do to religion. 3. Some popular TV shows trivialises religion others don’t, but then, some does both. Take for instance Eastenders, it trivialises Christianity because Dot is Christian but others don’t take her seriously because of her belief.

14. Q b) Main paragraphs • Look at paragraphs from the main body of the essays for the b) questions. Consider how well each paragraph explains its point and uses examples. Give a mark out of 4.

15. Assess the view that popular television trivialises religion (15 marks) 4. The view that popular TV trivialises religion is easy to understand when applied to a single character like Dot who is never shown in church etc but applied to a the whole programme then it becomes less valid, as the recent storylines have showcased the key features of Islam and shown the character Syed Masood deny his homosexual love for another man as his faith is so important to him. 5. However, the sitcom “The Vicar of Dibley” can be perceived in two ways. One being that through comedy religion (Christianity) and its characters is seen as down to earth regular people who share a belief rather than force it onto people. On the other hand this sitcom could be seen as hypocritical of religion through its characters and storylines e.g. drinking, praying for men.

16. Assess the view that popular television trivialises religion (15 marks) 6. Comedy is an obvious example. Religion is often the subject of laughter in comedy, examples include The Life of Brian, The Vicar of Dibley and Father Ted. In all three, religion is the main theme and basis of the programme and people would assume that people are laughing and making a mockery of religion. However this is not the case, rather instead the comedy factor comes from the actions of the believers or their views; based around ordinary people the characters are easy for the viewer to relate to and laugh at. Religion in the programmes is still respected and shown to be a key and important part of life. Viewers could still accuse comedy of trivialising religion however as members of the religion are often stereotyped and poked fun at yet they are important.

17. Q b)Conclusions • Look at the concluding paragraphs for the b) questions. Consider how well each paragraph sums up the essay. Give a mark out of 4.

18. Assess the view that popular television trivialises religion (15 marks) 7. I think it depends upon the type of programme as to whether religion is seen as negative or positive, And it also is up to how people interpret religion as to whether they believe religion is trivialised in popular television or not. 8. To conclude I think there are programmes that both support and disprove this view and some that can be seen to do both, like The Vicar of Dibley which promotes female vicars, but can be seen as trivial with the vicar worrying over things like romance. This is why I both agree and disagree with the statement. 9. In conclusion I do think religion is trivialised on popular TV today, however people know it is a joke and respect it.

19. Your turn… • In pairs or small groups write an essay that includes an introduction, main & conclusion for the 30 mark question. • With reference to a range of television programmes, examine the presentation of religious themes in popular broadcasting. (30 marks)