A Studies of Religion essay is worth 40% of your HSC Mark. 40%! When you consider that even your English essays weigh a max of 20% each, well that puts it into perspective. An SOR Essay is worth a MASSIVE amount of marks, all invested in a single essay and a single argument.

I’ll admit my first few prelim SOR essays were not very good. I didn’t quite get the idea of analysing a religions impact on the believer, it is definitely not something you learn how to do in any other religious based class before it. But I stuck at it, and I had an awesome teacher, and I got there. It is something that is difficult to do, but you know what, it can be done!

This guide goes through a few of the things to consider when addressing a SOR essay. Note that I did SOR 1, but this advice can absolutely be applied to SOR II as well.

Which Religion Should I Write About?

You may already know that the SOR exam is structured so that you choose which of your religious depth studies becomes the focus of the essay. So, the first natural question you may ask (in an exam situation at least) is which tradition to worry about? Are any ‘easier’ or ‘harder’ to attempt? Should I plan before I go in or should I decide after seeing the question?

My advice for this would be to develop an idea of which you would prefer, but don’t necessarily lock yourself in. None are easier, harder, or more likely to impress, it is all about which you prefer.

You may even have different preferences based on the area to be discussed! I, for example, studied Islam and Christianity. I was really happy writing essays on Islamic sexual ethics, as well as Aisha (personality), but I didn’t like discussing Friday prayer quite as much, I didn’t click with it as effectively. So if I got a religious practice question for an SOR essay I would switch to Baptism.

It is all about developing an intuition for what you are good at. Play to your strengths. A great way to develop this is through practice: We offer FREE marking for Studies of Religion essays, come and show us and we can help you develop it!

Should I Include All Areas, Or Just One?

Okay, I’ve picked my religious tradition, but what do I include?

Often, SOR essay questions will specify exactly what they want, and this makes things easy. For example:

How do ethical teachings in Islam guide adherents to ‘do good deeds’ in their daily lives?

But what about if they give you a bit of leeway?

Discuss the relationship between at least TWO of Significant Person, Significant Practice, and Ethics, and the way they contribute to Christianity as a living religious tradition.

My personal opinion on an SOR essay like this which gives you more choice is to do all three. If they specify a specific aspect, fair enough, but otherwise, why would you limit what you can talk about? Using all three aspects will give you more ammunition, more evidence, more things to discuss to show to the marker that you know what you are talking about. It allows you to pick the best of your ideas and put only the best on the page. This is by no means what will work for everyone, but it worked well for me, I preferred to have lots to chat about. If you need to brush up on your content, we have SOR Notes available, FREE to download!

But how do you create a SOR essay that links all the parts of a religious depth study together?

How do I Create an Integrated SOR Essay?

This is what was really confusing for me during the course. Essays need a central argument (if you think you want to brush up on the basics of essay writing, I have written a guide on this as well!)

How the heck do you link the three areas together? Sure, they all contribute to the importance of the religion to the adherent, but you are then restricted to writing one paragraph on each aspect. And this doesn’t show the relationships between the areas, like was required in the question above.

However, there isn’t really a way to discuss them together. How do you separate the argument so you can discuss the three areas in a single paragraph? I struggled with this for ages, before I finally figured out something that worked really well.

The answer lies in your preliminary studies. You spend Prelim, among other things, learning about living religious traditions, as well as learning about the core beliefs of each tradition. You learn that a religion is active and living when it enables adherents to connect to their beliefs in day to day life.

There is the link. You can use beliefs to link your three areas together in a SOR essay.

For example, say we are answering this very generic question.

In what way do the the three aspects of Islam (as studied in class) contribute to Islam as a living religious tradition?

Your introduction will cover the usual things. Defining a living religious tradition, explaining that such traditions allow adherents to connect to their beliefs in real, tangible ways, then identifying the areas you will be discussing.

You then craft body paragraphs around beliefs. For example, a Christian belief is in the Divinity and Humanity of Christ, part of which is the resurrection. The Christian significant practice of Baptism mimics this resurrection, particularly Orthodox denominations which practice immersion, allowing the participating adherent to experience their own “resurrection” and thus connect with their belief in Christ. Christian sexual ethics is based on Jesus’ ethical teachings, with the more contemporary focus on “agape” stemming directly from his preaching. Thus, adherents’ lives are informed directly by Christ. Etc, etc

Now this is very rough (I definitely prefer writing on Islam, but most people do Christianity), but you get the picture. The beliefs become the basis by which you discuss the impact of each branch on the adherent, simultaneously. This creates a fully integrated response.

Two things to remember. 1 – This is bloody difficult do to. An SOR essay written in this manner, fully integrated, took me AGES to get the hang of, and I’m still not perfect. 2- It may not suit every question, or every stimulus, or even every writing style. But it worked for me, so if it helps even one person out there, I’m happy to share!

So this is one way you can create an integrated response. There are infinitely many others. All you need is some system by which you can categorise the impact on adherents. You could talk about impacts on individuals, community, and history. You could talk about impacts on different societal groups. The possibilities are endless, find something which works for you.

Some more tips!

For your introduction:

• Most SOR essay questions have a focus on Living Religious Traditions. Be sure to define what this means, and define what you believe constitutes an “impact” on the adherent

• Make sure you make it clear which areas you will be discussing, and give a VERY brief introduction to them (EG – “Adherents connect to their beliefs through the teachings of significant persons, such as Paul of Tarsus, one of the most pivotal early Christian figures.”)

• If the question requires you to judge how effectively a religious tradition is active in the lives of its adherents (or some other judgement), make sure you do this at the end of your introduction.

For your body paragraphs:

• Make sure every one starts with a topic sentence which links whatever you will be discussing to the main idea

• Be sure to integrate sacred text references at every stage, even when not discussing sacred texts specifically. Prepare quotes for each of the three branches and use them as evidence throughout

• Reread every sentence and make sure you are constantly addressing the question at hand, avoid waffle at all costs

• Finish every paragraph conclusively, with some final judgement or summary. These are the perfect time to make the links to your Thesis as strong as possible

And for your conclusion, just make sure you give it a good length. Two sentences aren’t enough; you need a solid length paragraph to summarise your stance.

I hope this guide is helpful! I also invite everyone to post any SOR essay questions/ideas (structure, content, etc) in our SOR Question Forum.

FAQs

Q: How significant is an SOR essay in the HSC?

An SOR essay carries substantial weight in the HSC, accounting for 40% of your overall mark. This underscores its importance as a single essay can significantly impact your final grade. While challenging, mastering the art of crafting a compelling SOR essay is attainable with practice and guidance.

Q: How do I choose which religious tradition to focus on in my essay?

 The SOR exam allows you to select which of their religious depth studies to centre your essay on. While some may perceive certain traditions as easier or harder, the key is to choose based on personal preference and familiarity. Consider your strengths and interests in each area of study to make an informed decision.

Q: Should I include all areas of study or focus on one in my essay?

In essays where the question permits flexibility, it's advisable to incorporate all relevant areas of study. Utilizing all aspects provides a comprehensive analysis, offering more evidence and depth to support your argument. However, if the question specifies a particular aspect, focus on addressing it effectively.

Q: How can I integrate different areas of study into my SOR essay?

A: Integrating various aspects of a religious depth study can be challenging but rewarding. One effective approach is to link them through shared beliefs. By exploring how beliefs inform significant persons, practices, and ethics, you create a cohesive narrative that demonstrates a thorough understanding of the tradition's impact on adherents.

Q: What are some tips for crafting a strong SOR essay?

• Introduction: Define living religious traditions, briefly introduce the areas of study, and clearly state your thesis.
• Body Paragraphs: Start each paragraph with a topic sentence linking to the main idea, integrate sacred text references, ensure relevance to the question, and conclude decisively.
• Conclusion: Provide a substantial summary of your argument, reinforcing your thesis and key points.

Remember to maintain clarity, relevance, and coherence throughout your essay, supported by evidence and analysis. With diligent practice and attention to detail, you can develop proficiency in SOR essay writing and achieve success in your HSC studies.