Theory of Knowledge - Course Companion for Students Marija Uzunova Dang Arvin Singh Uzunov Dang
not let the internet be the first place youdoto start thinking about your essay. Theregoa lot of material online specific to the TOKisdesigned to “help” with the task, and theessay,you find there can be poor, misleading oradviceSome websites even prey on students’outdated.and charge for their “service”. Ifinsecuritieshave worked through this book, you knowyouyou need to know to tackle the essay.whatconfidence in that knowledge and in yourHavewe dive in, here is an overview of theBeforeof the task.requirementsThe essay has to be written on a single PT•the examination session that you arefromin. You may not write your ownregisteredor alter a PT in any way. Your essaytitlebe a full and direct response to theshouldwhich should be clearly stated at thePT,The word limit for the essay is 1600words.•examiner is not required to readTheover this word limit. An essayanythingis significantly under the word limitthatself-penalizing and unlikely to be a fullyisresponse to the PT.developedThere is no prescribed structure for•theessay.you first see the list of PTs, much like theWhenexhibition prompts, they might strike youTOKvery abstract and conceptual. Unpackingasthe TOK concepts and keythem—identifyingsomething you will want to do for allwords—isto some extent. This process will help youPTsyour understanding of what each PT isclarifyand how you might approach answeringaskingalso, which is the one you wish to exploreit;However, endlessly unpacking PTs canfurther.you that confidence. In fact, the modelgivetemplates and suggested examplesresponses,something away from you that is far moretakeyour unique, individual approachimportant:the questions. Teachers have been warningtoabout this for years and we hope thatstudentswill trust us, and trust yourself. Provideyouwith time and space to think andyourselfcritically, honour your knowledge andreflectis enough—and let the essay be aexperience—itThe TOK essay is not primarily a research•You are not expected to do a reviewtask.the literature or find out what everyoneofyou has said on the topic. That said,beforeyou refer to someone else’swheneveror ideas, you must cite the source.wordsyou have questions or need furtherIfabout what and how to cite, askguidanceThe essay should be formatted in a•font (such as Arial) in 12 pt, andstandardspaced throughout. No cover pagedoubleother special formatting is necessary.orNo identifying information, such as your•or candidate number, should appearnamethe essay document. The script shouldinanonymous in order to support thebeemphasize unpacking PTs here becauseWeis the first step in ensuring a sustainedthisof knowledge in your essay.discussionhelps you identify what it is that youItmaintain focus on as you begin toshouldFailure to do this can mean that youwrite.into your essay with an inaccuratelaunchof the demands of the question.interpretationconnection of your essay to the PT is oneThethe aspects that is assessed, and this needsofbe clear to you in order to be clear in yourtoLet’s practise unpacking one of thewriting.II. THE ESSAY12ability to think independently. No website cancelebration of what you have learned in TOK.your teacher.top of your essay.impartiality of the marking.II.1 Unpacking the PTturn into a form of procrastination.prescribed PTs.369
II. THE ESSAYwhat extent do the concepts that we use“Tothe conclusions that we reach?”shapegood place to start is to pay attentionAthe requirements in the PT. Some PTstospecify an AOK to be discussed, or thewillof AOKs you must explore in thenumberFollow these requirements closely; youressay.must address the PT fully in orderresponsebe effective. If the PT calls for two AOKs,toa third and a fourth is seen as takingincludingand words away from offering aattentionanalysis of the two that were required.deeperparticular PT leaves that open—you canThisdiscuss any number of AOKs, astechnicallykey terms that stand out are “concepts”The“conclusions”. Having an understandingandthese terms, and offering a discussion aroundofwill be crucial to an effective response.themis where students sometimes turn toThisdefinitions. This is ineffective anddictionarydiscouraged for a reason—unless youstronglyspecifically discussing the formation ofareas a knowledge issue, it is mostlydefinitionsto rely on and include dictionaryunhelpfulof key terms in your TOK essay.definitionsconsider what concepts look like inInsteadAOKs, starting perhaps with thedifferentyou have encountered in your subjects.conceptsthese concepts generally accepted, orAreamong practitioners in the AOK theydisputedto? What are the relationships betweenbelongand theories, schools of thought orconceptsAnd what kind of conclusions doideologies?different AOKs seek to reach? Are conceptstheand useful for being able to reachnecessaryin these AOKs? Think aboutconclusionslike these early and you will be wellquestionsto develop a strong essay.placedalso that this PT asks a question ofNotethis type of question is common in PTs.extent;can be given a statement or quote andYouabout the extent to which you agreeaskedit, or the extent to which this is the casewitha number of AOKs. This specific PT asksinthe extent of the influence of conceptsaboutconclusions, and offers the term “shape” toonthat influence. You should evaluatedescribeextent of the shaping influence of conceptsthethen there is the word “we”—very easyAndoverlook, and yet critical to an effectivetoIn a PT, always look for the knowerresponse.community of knowers that is beingorto. Is it mathematicians, historians,referredscientists, or is it—as is the case inexperts,PT— an unspecified “we”? “We” shouldthisbe taken as an invitation to write an essaynota general group of unspecific knowers,aboutif such a group even existed. Instead, itasbe seen as an opportunity to exploreshouldknowers. For instance, does thedifferentof concepts on conclusions differinfluenceexperts versus non-experts? Is it moreforis important to flag that you must make sureItto alter the PT in the process of unpacking it,notto respond to it exactly as it was presented.anda few questions in relation to theBrainstormingcan be helpful to identify in which directionsPTtake your response, but these questionstonot displace the PT. In the case of this PTmustmight consider whether it is possible toyoudifferent conclusions by using the samereachor the same conclusion by usingconcepts,concepts. As you begin writing, alwaysdifferentthat your discussion is related to what thecheckis asking for and that you are giving adequatePTto all the key terms in the PT.attentionthis sequence, try unpacking aFollowingall—of the PTs in your session. If youfew—ordoing this for practice before they becomearetry one of the PTs in the sectionsavailable,or a different one provided by yourbelow,teacher.12Consider this PT from May 2016.on conclusions throughout your essay.long as you consider different perspectives.significant in one AOK as opposed to another?370
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II. THE ESSAY
what extent do the concepts that we use
“To
the conclusions that we reach?”
shape
good place to start is to pay attention
A
the requirements in the PT. Some PTs
to
specify an AOK to be discussed, or the
will
of AOKs you must explore in the
number
Follow these requirements closely; your
essay.
must address the PT fully in order
response
be effective. If the PT calls for two AOKs,
to
a third and a fourth is seen as taking
including
and words away from offering a
attention
analysis of the two that were required.
deeper
particular PT leaves that open—you can
This
discuss any number of AOKs, as
technically
key terms that stand out are “concepts”
The
“conclusions”. Having an understanding
and
these terms, and offering a discussion around
of
will be crucial to an effective response.
them
is where students sometimes turn to
This
definitions. This is ineffective and
dictionary
discouraged for a reason—unless you
strongly
specifically discussing the formation of
are
as a knowledge issue, it is mostly
definitions
to rely on and include dictionary
unhelpful
of key terms in your TOK essay.
definitions
consider what concepts look like in
Instead
AOKs, starting perhaps with the
different
you have encountered in your subjects.
concepts
these concepts generally accepted, or
Are
among practitioners in the AOK they
disputed
to? What are the relationships between
belong
and theories, schools of thought or
concepts
And what kind of conclusions do
ideologies?
different AOKs seek to reach? Are concepts
the
and useful for being able to reach
necessary
in these AOKs? Think about
conclusions
like these early and you will be well
questions
to develop a strong essay.
placed
also that this PT asks a question of
Note
this type of question is common in PTs.
extent;
can be given a statement or quote and
You
about the extent to which you agree
asked
it, or the extent to which this is the case
with
a number of AOKs. This specific PT asks
in
the extent of the influence of concepts
about
conclusions, and offers the term “shape” to
on
that influence. You should evaluate
describe
extent of the shaping influence of concepts
the
then there is the word “we”—very easy
And
overlook, and yet critical to an effective
to
In a PT, always look for the knower
response.
community of knowers that is being
or
to. Is it mathematicians, historians,
referred
scientists, or is it—as is the case in
experts,
PT— an unspecified “we”? “We” should
this
be taken as an invitation to write an essay
not
a general group of unspecific knowers,
about
if such a group even existed. Instead, it
as
be seen as an opportunity to explore
should
knowers. For instance, does the
different
of concepts on conclusions differ
influence
experts versus non-experts? Is it more
for
is important to flag that you must make sure
It
to alter the PT in the process of unpacking it,
not
to respond to it exactly as it was presented.
and
a few questions in relation to the
Brainstorming
can be helpful to identify in which directions
PT
take your response, but these questions
to
not displace the PT. In the case of this PT
must
might consider whether it is possible to
you
different conclusions by using the same
reach
or the same conclusion by using
concepts,
concepts. As you begin writing, always
different
that your discussion is related to what the
check
is asking for and that you are giving adequate
PT
to all the key terms in the PT.
attention
this sequence, try unpacking a
Following
all—of the PTs in your session. If you
few—or
doing this for practice before they become
are
try one of the PTs in the sections
available,
or a different one provided by your
below,
teacher.
12
Consider this PT from May 2016.
on conclusions throughout your essay.
long as you consider different perspectives.
significant in one AOK as opposed to another?
370