In September, I excitedly ordered 2 top mark papers back from each A2 exam. I was so pleased that after two years I had a selection of exam answers to work from and set the standard. I also of course wanted to do as many blogs as possible to share the information…then they arrived and I realised I had 18 answers sat in front of me. So after 3 months of trying to motivate myself to start working through the papers, alongside settling in new classes and all the inevitable start of term stresses, it just wasn’t happening. So my busy blogger’s brain started, how was I going to share all of this invaluable information without endless screen shots, highlighting and footnote commentaries? The answer…why not film myself analysing the papers instead!

Here is my first attempt (after many false starts and numerous edits when I couldn’t read certain words)

Second attempt:

I hope you find them useful. I will post all new videos on YouTube and you can access them on the blog via: Mark With Me 

The questions you will not be asked tomorrow are:

May 2017 First Year Paper:

May 2018 First Year Paper:

This means that all areas of the first year spec have had a question asked on them. So what has been covered is: specific topic (natural law) + open issue, specific topic (Kant) + open issue, specific issue (Business), specific issue (euthanasia), specific topic (SE) + open issue and specific topic (Utilitarianism) + open issue. So all topics have had a specific question on them as applied to moral decision making (an issue). And both business and euthanasia have been asked on there own. Note the massive overkill already with the terms ‘moral decision making’!

So what is missing:

Specific topic on it’s own (e.g Bentham vs Mill )
Specific topic with specific issue (e.g NL+SoL)

So last minute advice:

1. Check out the BBC news for any recent events in business, euthanasia or sex ethics
2. Be prepared that at least one of your questions (I think 2 out of the four) will be application
3. Give specific examples and statistics to avoid vague sweeping statements
4. If a comparison Q is asked e.g Bentham vs Mill make sure you compare in every paragraph using language like: whereas, both, differing, similarly etc
5. Whatever is mentioned specifically in Q, that is the start of every paragraph. So if ‘Emotivism is the only way to approach ethical language’ Discuss, every paragraph needs to start with emotivism, even if you bring in EN or I to criticise it, that comes later on in the paragraph.
6. Meta and Conscience are stand alone topics. This means that you are not expected to link meta or conscience to sex ethics or the AS topics (NL, SE etc) You can make synoptic links i.e. between Fletcher’s conscience and Aquinas because they both link to conscience, as part of your evaluation.

Make sure you read:Panic “My Exam is Tomorrow!” Must Read for Ethics (First and Second Year) and Predictions for Ethics (First and Second Year). Don’t forget last minute support with Revision Podcasts on YouTube: Revision Podcasts and also my Tips for Writing an Application Essay:

Finally the more links to specific wording in the question and the more you argue, argue, argue, the better you will do! Get off the fence, raise discussion points, pass judgements and criticisms, defend arguments and evaluate everything. Control your content and need to regurgitate information, it is not how much you write/ remember it is what you do with it!

Good Luck

I will be thinking about you all tomorrow. Show off and shine!!

Preview of lesson plan:

Agree/disagree worksheet in pairs/ groups on pre/ extra/ homosexuality. Discuss answers as a class – initial debate over key issues.

Cut and stick – different philosopher’s views. Add strengths and weaknesses.

Ppt: Slides 1-2 outlining how Sexual Ethics is an application topic.

Ppt: Slide 3: Students write a paragraph answering:
‘Should sexual behaviour be private and personal or subjected to societal norms and legislation?’ (make sure students happy with all words used e.g legislation)

On board write private/ personal vs societal norms/ legislation. Students share views and discuss ideas – add to the board.

Continue reading “Sexual Ethics: A2 Application” →

Preview of lesson plan:

1. Write each of these words into a sentence: good, bad, right, wrong.
2. Are these examples of fact or opinion?

Introduce that Meta ethics focuses on the meaning of these words and how ethical language is applied.

Ppt: Slides 1-2 covering absolute and relativism and how this links to Meta Ethics

Using three colours students highlight which arguments belong to EN, Intuitionism and Emotivism – using textbooks, internet (not the ppt) adding in extra detail on the other side.

Ppt: slides 3-7 covering ethical naturalism from Bradley and Foot.

Continue reading “Meta Ethics: A2 Ethics” →

Featuring all your favourites including Descartes, Sartre and Plato, with inspirational speakers Malala and Katie Piper and what tree would be complete without Bertrand Russell, Anthony Flew and Dawkins. And of course Obama as my angel (Trump just doesn’t fill those shoes!!)

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Preview of Lesson Plans:

Powerpoint: Discussion questions in pairs then as class

PP on Aquinas 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd Ways

Read Aquinas’ original text in booklet – find three quotes suitable for essays and put what they mean into your own words.

Can you spot any potential strengths or weaknesses?

PP – criticisms

Link Aquinas’s 3 ways specifically to Hume’s criticisms – draw a table on board

Work through work sheets in booklet, filling in blanks and answering questions.

Fill in Glossary

Homework: complete evaluation table (see Teaching Evaluation (A02): Bank of Basics for activity)

If you would like a Lesson Pack with activities and worksheets, that complements the power point, please click on the image below:

You can own a copy of the power point. Just click on the image below to download this product quickly and safely, so that you can adapt it for your students year on year (for a small charge).

Revision Support:

This 52 page pack contains quizzes, glossaries, summary sheets, essay tips and possible exam questions to help structure your revision for all eight of the AS philosophy topics. It also provides space for notes and outlines the spec requirements. Everything you need to get your revision off to a flying start!

This 20 page pack contains a C grade minimum quiz and a Higher level quiz covering all Philosophy topics. It also includes worksheets featuring topic jumbles for the Arguments for Existence of God, Problem of Evil and Religious Experience. Everything you need to take your revision to the next level.

 

 

 

 

Go to guide:

Going for top grades?

Recommended extended reading/ quote source (Amazon links below):

Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, and The Natural History of Religion (Oxford World’s Classics)

Summa Theologica (Complete & Unabridged)