Year 12 – 2023

INSTRUMENT 8
Extended Response to Stimulus
Unit: Meaning and Purpose of Life

NAME: _____________________________________________

TEACHER: _________________________________________

TASK:
Using the stimulus and structure provided, respond to the following
Religious Education Faculty

questions in the genre of a Feature Article. Your target audience is

young people and you are creating the article for a Spirituality Today
Magazine.
 How do you find purpose and meaning in your life?
 How does this impact upon others?
 How does a personal spirituality help you with this search?
.

CONDITIONS:
Type: Feature Article
Extended Response to Stimulus
Length: 600 - 800 words

Preparation Time: 4 Weeks (in class and home)

Teacher Input: Students are allowed to conference with teachers

regarding their ideas in class.

Draft must be as close to finished copy as possible

and submitted through Turnitin

Draft Due: Week 1 A (Friday 6th October)

Date Due: Week 2 B (Friday 13th October)

STATEMENT OF AUTHENTICITY

I declare that this assessment task is my own work and that all sources which have
contributed to the production of this task (including ideas as well as quotes) have been
referenced.

Student signature: ___________________________________________

 About the Genre

Purpose: You are a feature writer providing reflective insight into your own ideas of
how meaning and purpose are found, and how personal spirituality can help with
this search. You are not simply informing your readers but are presenting your own
personal reflection and point of view. You must analyse, evaluate and persuade.

Mode: Written

Genre: Feature article

Medium: Spirituality Today magazine

Role: You are a columnist for Spirituality Today magazine.

Audience: Your audience are the readers of Spirituality Today (people of

your age but also younger adults)

Textual Features: Your article should include the following elements -

 Headline
 By-line
 Identification of perspective (clear topic and point of view)
 Evidence of research and thorough understanding of this topic.
 Persuasive writing techniques.
 Evidence of responding to the stimulus provided
 “The greater the struggle,
the more glorious the
triumph” Ring Master in
Butterfly Circus

“…….I found my
strength in Jesus
Christ and you’re
going to find your
strength in whatever
you find it in.” Nick
Vujicic

Hugh Mackay urges parents to wish

for something more substantial for
their kids than happiness, and he
quotes F. Scott Fitzgerald, "The
redeeming things are not 'happiness
and pleasure,' but the deeper
satisfactions that come out of
struggle."
Exploring the Meaning of Life
Year 12 Religion & Ethics
 A B
 accurate recognition and  accurate recognition and
comprehensive description
of concepts, ideas and
terminology about meaning,
purpose and spirituality.
 accurate identification and 
comprehensive explanation
Knowing and of the ways meaning,
Understanding purpose and spirituality.
contribute to the personal,
relational and spiritual
perspectives of life and
society  thorough explanation of a
 comprehensive explanation
of a wide range of
viewpoints and practices
related to meaning,
purpose and spirituality.
 detailed and thoughtful
organisation of a wide
range of information and
material related to meaning,
purpose and spirituality.
 insightful analysis of a wide
range of perspectives,
viewpoints and practices
related to meaning,
purpose and spirituality.
 efficient and competent
Applying and application of concepts and
Examining ideas to make justifiable
decisions about inquiries
 proficient use of language
conventions and features to
effectively communicate
ideas and information,
according to purposes.
 efficient and competent  competent planning and
planning and undertaking of
inquiries about meaning,
purpose and spirituality.
 fluent and cohesive
communication of the
Producing and outcomes of inquiries that
Evaluating sustain audiences’
engagement
thorough description of
concepts, ideas and
terminology about meaning,
purpose and spirituality.
accurate identification and
thorough explanation of the
ways meaning, purpose
and spirituality. contribute
to the personal, relational
and spiritual perspectives of
life and society
range of viewpoints and
practices related to
meaning, purpose and
spirituality.
 methodical organisation of
a range of information and
material related to meaning,
purpose and spirituality.
 in-depth analysis of a range
of perspectives, viewpoints
and practices related to
meaning, purpose and
spirituality.
 competent application of
concepts and ideas to
make informed decisions
about inquiries
 controlled use of language
conventions and features to
clearly communicate ideas
and information, according
to purposes.
undertaking of inquiries
about meaning, purpose
and spirituality.
 clear communication of the
outcomes of inquiries that
engage audiences
 considered appraisal of
inquiry processes and the
C D
 recognition and description 
of concepts, ideas and
terminology about meaning,
purpose and spirituality.
 identification and
explanation of the ways
meaning, purpose and
spirituality. contribute to the
personal, relational and
spiritual perspectives of life
and society
 explanation of viewpoints
and practices related to
meaning, purpose and
spirituality.
 organisation of information
and material related to
meaning, purpose and
spirituality.
 analysis of perspectives,
viewpoints and practices
related to meaning,
purpose and spirituality.
 application of concepts and
ideas to make decisions
about inquiries
 use of language
conventions and features to
communicate ideas and
information, according to
purposes.
 planning and undertaking of 
inquiries about meaning,
purpose and spirituality.
 communication of the
outcomes of inquiries, to
suit audiences
 appraisal of inquiry
processes and the
outcomes of inquiries.
partial recognition and  minimal recognition and
simple description of
concepts, ideas and
terminology about meaning,
purpose and spirituality.
 inconsistent identification 
and disjointed explanation
of the ways meaning,
purpose and spirituality.
contribute to the personal,
relational and spiritual
perspectives of life and
society  statements of information
 simple explanation of
narrow viewpoints and
obvious practices related to
meaning, purpose and
spirituality.
 inconsistent organisation of
a narrow range information
and material related to
meaning, purpose and
spirituality.
 identification of aspects of
perspectives and practices
related to meaning,
purpose and spirituality.
 uneven application of
concepts and ideas to
make simple decisions
about inquiries
 inconsistent use of
language conventions and
features to communicate
aspects of ideas and
information, according to
purposes.
partial planning and
undertaking of inquiries
about meaning, purpose
and spirituality.
 vague communication of
the outcomes of inquiries,
somewhat suited to
audiences
 description of inquiry
E
superficial description of
concepts, ideas and/or
terminology about meaning,
purpose and spirituality.
minimal identification and
superficial statements of
the ways meaning, purpose
and spirituality. contribute
to the personal, relational
and spiritual perspectives of
life and society
about viewpoints and/or
practices related to
meaning, purpose and
spirituality.
 collection of material
related to meaning,
purpose and spirituality.
 unrelated statements about
religion, beliefs and ethics
 use of concepts and/or
ideas in inquiries
 minimal use of language
conventions and/or features
to present ideas and
information.
 minimal undertaking of
inquiries about meaning,
purpose and spirituality.
 unclear statements of
information about religion,
beliefs and ethics
 fragmented description of
inquiry processes and/or
the outcomes of inquiries.