Developed by Mr. Hume
Peacock/Loudon
HRE 2O1
Grade 10 Religion I.S.U.
Students are to select one of the five models presented by Richard Niebuhr in Christ and
Culture and write a 1000 word essay arguing why their model fits into a time period of their
choice during the 2000 year span of Christianity’s existence. In order to properly defend their
thesis—that a given model applies to a chosen time period—students will need to provide in
their body an in-depth look at what constitutes culture, and an understanding of what was
going on in their chosen time period. Ultimately, the thesis should prove why the chosen
cultural model has been appropriately applied to the chosen time period.





Christ Against Culture (Opposition)
The Christ of Culture (Agreement)
Christ Above Culture (Limited Experience of Christ)
Christ and Culture Paradox (Tension)
Christ the Transformer of Culture (Reformation)
Research
Students should conduct thorough research for this assignment. A minimum of 3 academic
sources is required. Please conform to Chicago style citation formatting (see
www.smcsreligion.com for specifics).
On the back side of this page is a rubric outlining the grading scheme.
Assignment is due at the beginning of class on: January 6, 2014
Value: 10% of final grade.
2013 St. Michael’s Choir School
Rubric: Grade 10 Religion ISU Essay
Criteria
Level 1
Knowledge/
Understanding
• importance and
context
15
Thinking/Inquiry
• formulating a
thesis
Name _______________________________
Level 3
Level 4
 offers limited
explanation of the
importance and context
of chosen model for
Niehbuhr’s Christ and
Culture
 offers some
explanation of the
importance and
context of chosen
model for
Niehbuhr’s Christ
and Culture
Level 2
 clearly explains the
importance and
context of the essay
topic of chosen
model for
Niehbuhr’s Christ
and Culture
 thoroughly explains the
importance and context of
the essay topic of chosen
model for Niehbuhr’s
Christ and Culture
 presents a flawed thesis
statement that offers
limited focus for
unifying the essay
 presents an
appropriate thesis
statement that
partially unifies the
essay
 presents an effective,
focused thesis
statement that
unifies the essay
 presents an insightful,
thought-provoking thesis
statement that unifies the
essay
 incorporates limited
relevant evidence from
research on topic and
chosen model for
Niehbuhr’s Christ and
Culture
 incorporates some
relevant evidence
from research on
topic and chosen
model for
Niehbuhr’s Christ
and Culture
 incorporates
considerable and
relevant evidence
from research on
topic and chosen
model for
Niehbuhr’s Christ
and Culture
 incorporates highly
effective and relevant
evidence from research on
topic and chosen model for
Niehbuhr’s Christ and
Culture
 shows limited
command of essay
structure and chosen
organizational pattern.
Fails to articulate how
chosen model fits into
Christ and Culture
theme.
 shows some
command of essay
structure and chosen
organizational
pattern. Some
success in showing
how chosen model
fits into Christ and
Culture theme.
 shows considerable
command of essay
structure and chosen
organizational
pattern. Essay
articulates chosen
model of Christ and
Culture theme.
 shows extensive command
of essay structure and
chosen organizational
pattern. Thoroughly
articulates chosen model
from Niebuhr’s Christ and
Culture theme.
 uses appropriate
language and voice
with limited
effectiveness and
consistency
 uses appropriate
language and voice
with some
effectiveness and
consistency
 uses appropriate
language and voice
with considerable
effectiveness and
consistency
 uses appropriate language
and voice with a high
degree of effectiveness and
consistency
 applies grammar,
usage, spelling, and
punctuation with
limited accuracy and
effectiveness
 applies grammar,
usage, spelling, and
punctuation with
some accuracy and
effectiveness
 applies grammar,
usage, spelling, and
punctuation with
considerable
accuracy and
effectiveness
 applies grammar, usage,
spelling, and punctuation
with a high degree of
accuracy and effectiveness
 develops ideas with
limited logic,
objectivity, and
coherence
 develops ideas with
some logic,
objectivity, and
coherence
 develops arguments
carefully and
logically
 develops ideas with a high
degree of logic, objectivity,
and coherence
5
• use of evidence
10
Communication
• structure and
organization (e.g.,
induction,
deduction, cause–
effect)
5
• language and
voice
5
Application
• language
conventions
5
• develops ideas for
ISU essay
5
TOTAL _______
/50