Ethics and Religious Studies Advanced: Application and Exam Skills
FoundationThis lesson advances exam skills: comparing viewpoints across materials and quoting key words in data-response answers; mastering the four-part essay of stance, reasons, rebuttal and conclusion, with concessive rebuttals; handling religious-position questions properly; and turning daily notes into examination performance.
- Data-response techniques: compare the divergence, quote precisely, answer in layers.
- Divergence sits on facts or on values; naming the level deepens analysis.
- Essay in four movements — stance, reasons, rebuttal, conclusion — one point per paragraph.
文體小知識：人文議題說明文——講解資料回應題與論證寫作四部曲的進階技巧，並示範讓步式反駁的寫法與議題筆記法。
§Text Passage
1At this level, examination work has two main lines: reading accurately and writing steadily. Reading accurately means, in data-response questions, discerning each material's stance, grounds and underlying values; writing steadily means laying out stance, reasons, rebuttal and conclusion step by step in argumentative writing. Both lines rest on the same base: clear concepts, ample examples, restrained expression.
2Three advanced techniques serve data-response questions. First, comparison: state where two materials diverge — in their reading of facts or in their ordering of values. Second, quotation: pick up the material's key words and show where a view comes from. Third, layering: first report what the material says, then give your own response; keep the two layers distinct and never blend them.
3The argumentative essay has four movements: stance, reasons, rebuttal and conclusion. State the stance at the outset; give one reason per paragraph, tied to framework concepts; the rebuttal is the key to this level — first restate the opponent's strongest reason fairly (the concession), then explain why it does not change your position; the conclusion restates the stance, admits limits, and does not exaggerate.
4For religious-position questions, observe the rules. If the question asks what a tradition says about an issue, answer with common-knowledge statements in formulas such as 'generally holds' or 'opinions differ'. If it asks your own position, you may argue it yourself, and may note which grounds align with certain teachings, but you should not claim that religions uniformly support you.
5Issue notes are the daily work of preparation: one page per issue, four columns for the factual points, the values involved, the parties' positions and usable examples. In revision, cover the content and recall it from the column headings. The subject includes a written examination and other components, with specific arrangements following the HKEAA's assessment guidelines; steady daily work makes for a calm examination.
1Summary 重點摘要
This lesson advances exam skills: comparing viewpoints across materials and quoting key words in data-response answers; mastering the four-part essay of stance, reasons, rebuttal and conclusion, with concessive rebuttals; handling religious-position questions properly; and turning daily notes into examination performance.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
A rebuttal that first restates the opponent's strongest reason fairly, then explains why one's position stands.
The technique of picking the material's key words to show where a view comes from.
Pointing out where materials diverge in factual judgement or in ordering values.
Reporting the material first, then one's own response, keeping the layers distinct.
The four parts of argumentative writing: stance, reasons, rebuttal and conclusion.
Revision notes on an issue in four columns: facts, values, positions, examples.
A position's tendency to rank values in order of priority.
Keeping the answer tied to the question's instructions and scope.
A paragraph carrying one reason tied to a concept in argumentative writing.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: How to read the materialWhen reading materials, discern three things: the stance (what the material claims), the grounds (what reasons support it) and the values (what those reasons prize). When several materials sit side by side, annotate them with simple symbols and the agreements and clashes stand out at once. Circling key words prepares quotation, ready to be taken up in the answer. For example, material A advocates building cycle tracks for the sake of greener travel, prizing environmental sustainability; material B opposes because nearby residents would be disturbed, prizing neighbourhood quiet — the point of divergence is plain.
- Step 2: The two levels of comparisonIn comparing materials, identify which level the divergence sits on: at the factual level, the parties differ in what they take the situation to be; at the level of values, they differ in how they rank what matters. Naming the level deepens the analysis. For example, in the cycle-track dispute, if material B doubts the track's usage rate, the split is factual; if both accept high usage but one ranks the environment first and the other quiet first, the split is one of values.
- Step 3: The technique of quotingQuoting well means precision and economy: lift a key word or short phrase from the material into your own sentence, marking which material it comes from; never copy wholesale and never invent. Analysis must follow immediately, showing how the phrase supports the point you attribute to the material. For example, write: 'Material B opposes the track on the ground that residents would be disturbed, which shows its concern is neighbourhood quiet rather than the environment' — a short quotation with instant analysis is the disciplined form.
- Step 4: The four movements of the essayArrange the essay in four movements: an opening paragraph stating the stance and previewing the arguments; body paragraphs of one reason each, the point announced in the first sentence and tied to ethical concepts and examples; then the rebuttal paragraph; a conclusion restating the stance and summing up. The order lets the examiner know at every moment what you are doing. For example, on whether school-uniform suppliers should be kept from monopoly, state the stance, devote paragraphs to fairness, consumer interests and family burden, then answer the contrary concern about assured quality.
- Step 5: Writing a concessive rebuttalThe concessive rebuttal has two beats. First concede: restate the opponent's strongest reason fairly, admitting what is sound in it. Then turn: explain why, even so, your position stands — perhaps the reason rests on a false fact, or underestimates its cost, or a smaller alternative would serve. The concession makes the rebuttal fair; the turn keeps the stance firm. For example, against the claim that monopoly guarantees quality, concede that quality is a legitimate concern, then turn: assured quality need not cost a monopoly — regulation and open tendering can secure it too.
- Step 6: Handling religious-position questionsWhen a question involves religious positions, first work out what it asks. If it asks what a tradition says, answer in common-knowledge statements with formulas like 'this tradition generally holds', and mark internal disagreements explicitly. If it asks your own position, argue it yourself; you may note that some grounds align with certain teachings, but never claim the religions uniformly back you. For example, asked to discuss the duty to help the poor from one tradition's angle, writing that Buddhism teaches compassion and almsgiving is a statement; writing that therefore everyone must adopt that faith oversteps the line.
- Step 7: Issue notes and the rhythm of revisionKeep issue notes at one page and four columns per issue: factual points, values involved, parties' positions, usable examples — the examples covering daily life and ethical or religious concepts alike. In revision, cover the page and recall from the column headings, a stringent test of memory. The subject includes a written examination and other components, with arrangements following the HKEAA's assessment guidelines; let preparation flow steadily — update one page and practise one rebuttal each week. For example, build a page on whether the school should set up an anonymous suggestion box, and both data-response and essay writing gain ready material.
5Worked example Example
Worked example: material A holds that schools should require every student to take part in service learning yearly to cultivate civic responsibility; material B holds that service lies in its voluntary nature and compulsion makes it a hollow form. Identify the level at which the materials diverge, supporting each with one item from the material.
- Identify the stances: material A supports required participation; material B opposes compulsion and favours volunteering.
- Note the grounds: A's reason is cultivating civic responsibility; B's is that compulsion turns service hollow.
- Judge the level: the two do not dispute the facts; they differ in the ordering of values — the collective benefit of cultivation against the moral meaning of voluntariness.
- Quote in support: A rests on 'cultivating civic responsibility', B on 'compulsion makes it a hollow form', each echoing its own value orientation.
- Answer: The materials diverge at the level of values: A prizes the cultivating effect of service, B prizes the moral meaning carried by voluntary choice. Answer by stating both stances and grounds, naming the level of divergence, quoting 'cultivating civic responsibility' and 'a hollow form' with analysis — never merely retelling the material.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What three things must be discerned when reading materials?
Q2What are the two levels of divergence?
Q3What are the four movements of argumentative writing?
Q4What does the first beat of a concessive rebuttal do?
Q5What are the four columns of issue notes?
8Recap Recap
- Data-response techniques: compare the divergence, quote precisely, answer in layers.
- Divergence sits on facts or on values; naming the level deepens analysis.
- Essay in four movements — stance, reasons, rebuttal, conclusion — one point per paragraph.
- Concede the opponent's strongest reason fairly, then turn and hold your ground.
- Keep neutral formulas for religious-position questions; four-column issue notes, steady weekly rhythm.