Last years HSC rites question
Assess how ONE rite of public worship OR ONE rite of personal devotion is significant to
believers. In your answer, refer to ONE rite you studied in TWO religious traditions.
2003 Rites Question(s)
(a) Name ONE religious rite of personal devotion and the religious tradition
to which it belongs.
(b) For ONE religious tradition, describe a religious rite of public worship OR
a religious rite of personal devotion in relation to ONE of the following:
• the nature, role and function of officiating celebrants
• significance of sacred writings
• use of symbolism
• social structure
• human experiences
(c) For TWO religious traditions, critically evaluate the significance of ONE
religious rite in the everyday lives of believers.
2002 Rites Question(s)
(a) Demonstrate the importance in ONE religious tradition of ONE religious rite
within ONE of the following categories:
• rites of passage
• rites of personal devotion
• rites of public worship
(b) Compare a religious rite from the same category chosen in part (a) in TWO
religious traditions in relation to ONE of the following:
• the nature, role and function of officiating celebrants
• significance of sacred writings
• use of symbolism
• social structure
• human experiences
(c) Choose a religious rite from a different category to that chosen in parts (a) and (b).
Evaluate its effectiveness in maintaining a religious focus in the everyday lives
of believers from TWO religious traditions.
2001 Rites Question
(a) Outline the role of ONE rite of public worship OR rite of personal devotion in
ONE religious tradition.
(b) Explain how the rite of public worship or the rite of personal devotion, chosen in
part (a), makes a difference in the everyday lives of believers.
(c) Evaluate the importance of ONE of the following in a religious rite common to
TWO religious traditions:
• The nature, role and function of officiating celebrants
• Significance of sacred writings
• Use of symbolism
• Social structure
• Human experiences
From those judge/predict for yourself what they will ask..
They can't ever specifially ask you to write about one type of rite (personal devotion, passage, public worship) because they syllabus specifies that you do two and not everyone will choose the same two types of rites.. Thats why they give you the option rite of public worship OR rite or passage OR rite of personal devotion.
As to whether or not they can ask TWO rites in TWO traditions is purely up to the board and whoever rites the question. They can in theory because everyone has studied TWO rites in TWO tradtions. Yes, your essay would be generalised compared to one where you only had to talk about ONE rite in TWO traditions but hey, thats life!