RMPS AssignmentNational 5/Higher 

Name:

Class:

Teacher:

My Question:

The AssignmentThe National 5 Assignment is out of 20 marks. This is 25% of your

overall grade.  

The Higher Assignment is out of 30 marks and is worth 33% of your

overall mark.

You can write it on any topic you wish as long as it is a religious,

moral or philosophical. Your teacher will talk you through some

appropriate topics.

Once you have chosen a topic you will need to research, evaluate

different viewpoints and analyse the issue in depth.

You should look at counter arguments and challenges to your issue.

Approximate Word Count

National 5 ­ 1000­ 1500

Higher­ 1200­ 2500

Remember is is quality not quantity. 

You should have a minimum of two RELIABLEsources in your assignment. One should be from a

religious perspective.

learningrmps.wordpress.comMore Assignment Ideas and topics are available on

My Topic

My Topic is:

My Question is:

I have chosen this because -

Relevant News/ Current debate on this topic.

Overall PlanYour assignment should have about 4 or 5 main points. (Higher this would be about

6/8) Use this space to plan the main points or arguments you are going to make,how you will back your point up and any sources required.

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Overall PlanYour assignment should have about 4 or 5 main points. (Higher this would be about

6/8) Use this space to plan the main points or arguments you are going to make,how you will back your point up and any sources required.

Point 

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Sources

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Writing an Introduction

Your Introduction is where you show theexaminer that you have chosen a relevant

topic. You should set out your aims forwhat you will discuss.

ExemplarThe effectiveness of Capital Punishment as a deterrent for committing crimes is a widelydebated subject. Recent statistics show that crime rates in countries that have the death

penalty such as the USA are still rising therefore the threat of the death penalty is havingno effect. Others would argue that the death penalty does have an effect on the crime

rates. I aim to look at those in favour of the death penalty as well as those against, lookingat Christian responses as well as those from nonreligious groups such as humanists,

before concluding on the effectiveness of Capital Punishment at deterring criminals fromcommitting crimes.

Your Introduction

Structuring yourParagraphs

A paragraph is a bit like an orange it has different sections. You need to PEEL your essay.

P - Make a POINT.

E- Provide an EXAMPLE or EVIDENCE to back this point up.

E- EXPLAIN how your example informs your point or argument.

L- LINK your overall argument back to the main question.

Your paragraphs should each follow this

structure.

Focus on one point per paragraph. Although

you can link back to previous points made.

You should be summarising throughout your

essay.

Ask your teacher for a skills phrase book tohelp.

Exemplar Paragraph

Some Christians believe that the Death Penalty is justified. They believe

this because of what is said in the bible. "An Eye for an Eye, a tooth for a

tooth, a life for a life" This is found in Exodus. Exodus is the book of the

bible that gives Christians guidance on how to live their lives. Some

christians use this in their argument in support of the death penalty as they

believe that criminals should be punished in a similar way to the crime they

committed. This means that they would be in support of Retribution as the

main aim of punishment. The counter argument for many when looking at

this argument is the fact that Jesus taught about forgiveness. Overall there

are many Christians who use the 'eye for an eye' passage in the bible to

support their view that the Death Penalty is justified. 

Plan your Paragraphs 1Point

Example/ Evidence

Explanation

Link back to the question

What argument/ point is this paragraph going to be about? 

Back up your point with evidence or an example.

Explain how your evidence and other knowledge you have links

to the overall point and theme. 

Do a mini­ conclusion link back to your question. 

Plan your Paragraphs 2

Point

Example/ Evidence

Explanation

Link back to the question

What argument/ point is this paragraph going to be about? 

Back up your point with evidence or an example.

Explain how your evidence and other knowledge you have links

to the overall point and theme. 

Do a mini­ conclusion link back to your question. 

Plan your Paragraphs 3Point

Example/ Evidence

Explanation

Link back to the question

What argument/ point is this paragraph going to be about? 

Back up your point with evidence or an example.

Explain how your evidence and other knowledge you have links

to the overall point and theme. 

Do a mini­ conclusion link back to your question. 

Plan your Paragraphs 4Point

Example/ Evidence

Explanation

Link back to the question

What argument/ point is this paragraph going to be about? 

Back up your point with evidence or an example.

Explain how your evidence and other knowledge you have links

to the overall point and theme. 

Do a mini­ conclusion link back to your question. 

Plan your Paragraphs 5Point

Example/ Evidence

Explanation

Link back to the question

What argument/ point is this paragraph going to be about? 

Back up your point with evidence or an example.

Explain how your evidence and other knowledge you have links

to the overall point and theme. 

Do a mini­ conclusion link back to your question. 

Plan your Paragraphs 6Point

Example/ Evidence

Explanation

Link back to the question

What argument/ point is this paragraph going to be about? 

Back up your point with evidence or an example.

Explain how your evidence and other knowledge you have links

to the overall point and theme. 

Do a mini­ conclusion link back to your question. 

ConclusionYour conclusion is where you bring all your arguments together. Youshould be concluding all the way throughout your essay. Here you are

bringing your points together and evaluating your information.

Exemplar

In conclusion, there are many arguments made that support or are against

Capital Punishment. It is up to personal interpretation or experience as to how

different groups of people approach the justification of Capital Punishment.

Capital Punishment can be justified to a certain extent using examples such as

the Christian argument of an "Eye for an Eye" or the fact that by killing a criminal

they cannot reoffend. However Capital Punishment can also be argued against

using examples such as Jesus' teachings on forgiveness or rehabilitation

programmes that reduce reoffending rates. Therefore it is up to personal

interpretation,values and beliefs as to whether Capital Punishment can be

wholly justified.

Write your conclusion

Resource SheetYour resource sheet is the only resource you can use when you write

up your assignment.

National 5­ 200 words

Higher­ 250 words

You can however use symbols and pictures. They do not count as

words.