Theory of Knowledge - Course Companion for Students Marija Uzunova Dang Arvin Singh Uzunov Dang

not let the internet be the first place you
do
to start thinking about your essay. There
go
a lot of material online specific to the TOK
is
designed to “help” with the task, and the
essay,
you find there can be poor, misleading or
advice
Some websites even prey on students’
outdated.
and charge for their “service”. If
insecurities
have worked through this book, you know
you
you need to know to tackle the essay.
what
confidence in that knowledge and in your
Have
we dive in, here is an overview of the
Before
of the task.
requirements
The essay has to be written on a single PT
•
the examination session that you are
from
in. You may not write your own
registered
or alter a PT in any way. Your essay
title
be a full and direct response to the
should
which should be clearly stated at the
PT,
The word limit for the essay is 1600words.
•
examiner is not required to read
The
over this word limit. An essay
anything
is significantly under the word limit
that
self-penalizing and unlikely to be a fully
is
response to the PT.
developed
There is no prescribed structure for
•
theessay.
you first see the list of PTs, much like the
When
exhibition prompts, they might strike you
TOK
very abstract and conceptual. Unpacking
as
the TOK concepts and key
them—identifying
something you will want to do for all
words—is
to some extent. This process will help you
PTs
your understanding of what each PT is
clarify
and how you might approach answering
asking
also, which is the one you wish to explore
it;
However, endlessly unpacking PTs can
further.
you that confidence. In fact, the model
give
templates and suggested examples
responses,
something away from you that is far more
take
your unique, individual approach
important:
the questions. Teachers have been warning
to
about this for years and we hope that
students
will trust us, and trust yourself. Provide
you
with time and space to think and
yourself
critically, honour your knowledge and
reflect
is enough—and let the essay be a
experience—it
The TOK essay is not primarily a research
•
You are not expected to do a review
task.
the literature or find out what everyone
of
you has said on the topic. That said,
before
you refer to someone else’s
whenever
or ideas, you must cite the source.
words
you have questions or need further
If
about what and how to cite, ask
guidance
The essay should be formatted in a
•
font (such as Arial) in 12 pt, and
standard
spaced throughout. No cover page
double
other special formatting is necessary.
or
No identifying information, such as your
•
or candidate number, should appear
name
the essay document. The script should
in
anonymous in order to support the
be
emphasize unpacking PTs here because
We
is the first step in ensuring a sustained
this
of knowledge in your essay.
discussion
helps you identify what it is that you
It
maintain focus on as you begin to
should
Failure to do this can mean that you
write.
into your essay with an inaccurate
launch
of the demands of the question.
interpretation
connection of your essay to the PT is one
The
the aspects that is assessed, and this needs
of
be clear to you in order to be clear in your
to
Let’s practise unpacking one of the
writing.
II. THE ESSAY
12
ability to think independently. No website can
celebration of what you have learned in TOK.
your teacher.
top of your essay.
impartiality of the marking.
II.1 Unpacking the PT
turn into a form of procrastination.
prescribed PTs.
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