1. Why is it hard to distinguish between accepted and disputed knowledge within an academic discipline?
2. Knowledge gotten from direct experience is powerful but creates problems.
3. The obvious fact is deceiving to the eyes.
4. Areas of Knowledge depend on a systematic process of trial and error to provide more knowledge.
5. How confident can we be in what we claim to know?
6. We cannot be completely certain of facts or knowledge but we can be frequently certain enough.
7. For one to accept knowledge, there must be an involvement of the element of trust.
8. Does knowledge always bring about change or action?
9. Labels are essential to human knowledge but they also affect our judgment.
10. Statistics hide as much as they show.
11. Areas of knowledge need each other to be useful. Discuss this using two areas of knowledge.
12. Bias may be avoided but this downplays its positive role in the pursuit of knowledge.
13. We perceive knowledge differently. Why do some ask the why question and others ask the why not question?
14. The description of something and its explanation thereof are two different things. Explain what you understand by this.
15. Does personal experience contribute to your knowledge?
16. Comparing two theories is necessary to aid understanding and not just to make justification.
17. Because every theory is limited in nature, we must never stop creating theories to increase knowledge.
18. Knowledge today and tomorrow relies completely on the knowledge of yesterday.
19. To resolve arguments or disagreements about knowledge, one must listen to both sides of the argument. How is this good advice?
20. To understand a thing, the first step is to answer the “What if?” question.
21. Knowledge revolves around humans as though they were the most important part of the universe.
22. The way knowledge is gotten is more important than the end result.
23. We ask questions not because we don’t know, but because we already know.
24. The knowledge that we rely on may be uncertain.
25. The quality of knowledge is determined by how well people accept it.
26. Knowledge production is done by a team and an individual.
27. Not all good explanations are true.
28. A disinterested mind is required in the pursuit of knowledge.
29. Knowledge production goes beyond accepting conclusions despite presenting evidence for them.
30. To ensure the health of a discipline, there must be nurturing contrasting perspectives.
31. In the process of acquiring knowledge, the user and not the producer are responsible for its accuracy.
32. Humans are unique, unassuming, and unpredictable in their own way. Discuss how this challenges the production of knowledge.
33. Knowledge shared between people changes with time.
34. One effective way of gaining knowledge is by observing and documenting your observation. How true is this saying?
35. What similar values are present in both the successful production of knowledge and skepticism?
36. The process of knowledge is not just about discovering facts but also finding valuable facts.
37. What are the various ways that new knowledge can be classified?
38. What is the relevance of technology to personal knowledge?
39. Discuss how knowledge can be resolved within a discipline.
40. Can knowledge be predicted?
41. What hinders the production of knowledge?
42. Discuss knowledge, facts, and ambiguity.
43. How explanatory are the interdisciplinary approaches to knowledge?
44. The more we get knowledge, the more we doubt. How does this happen?
45. Knowledge but be universally questioned. Discuss this using two areas of knowledge.
46. In knowledge production, we must eliminate doubts. Do you agree with this saying?
47. Adequate knowledge must be accepted and rejected.
48. What are the historical time frames for the disciplines of knowledge?
49. Knowledge whose process is tedious is what we appreciate the most. How true is this statement?
50. Theories are relevant in order to make sense of facts. Do you agree?
51. Must the historical development of knowledge be measure by the same standards?
52. In knowledge production, old methods of areas of knowledge provide corrective ways of knowing. Do you agree with this statement?
53. If experts utilize the same process to get facts, how is the difference in arguments a possibility?
54. Humans are curious and continue to seek knowledge for certain things whether these exist or not.
55. What is the similarity in the access of knowledge to its value?
56. Theories confuse as well as give clarity to the way we view the world.
57. How accurate can knowledge be over time?
58. Explore how reliable methods can be in supporting and testing knowledge claims.
59. What do you understand by best explanations and simple explanations?
60. What do you understand by the production of knowledge and creativity?
61. Explain what you understand by Recognition and Judgement.
62. How relevant is data to Knowledge?
63. What conflicts are present in perspective and knowledge claims?
64. What is your understanding of accuracy abs error of knowledge?
65. Discuss Knowledge, Understanding, and Metaphor.
66. Explain Way of Knowing, Personal and Shared Knowledge.
67. What do you understand by the networks of knowledge?
68. What role does natural selection play in the metaphor of knowledge development?
69. In the pursuit of knowledge, what is the knower’s perspective?
70. How is knowledge generally applied in the world?
71. Explain the concepts of shaping knowledge.
72. Explain knowledge, simplicity, and accuracy.
73. The main purpose of knowledge is to solve problems. Do you agree with this statement?
74. What are the benefits and drawbacks of using models in knowledge production?
75. Knowledge needs a group and not just an individual to verify it before it can be accepted.
76. Knowledge has multiple channels. Explain what you understand by this.
77. Is explanation necessary to make predictions?

TOK Essay Rubric

What is a TOK essay rubric? A TOK essay rubric is the process lecturers use to grade a student’s essay writing. They follow these specific guides to help them in marking. Using the TOK essay rubrics saves lecturers energy and time.

TOK Essay Introduction

As already introduced, a TOK essay is a mandatory one that IB students take to fulfil a part of their program. Also, this involves a presentation as well. The TOK mark scheme comprises 67% which is for the essay itself while 33% goes for the presentation. There is a standard TOK essay structure which you will find out as you read.

What Is the TOK Essay Minimum Word Count?

The standard TOK essay length is 1,600. For first-timers, this may seem like it’s too much and you may be wondering what you can write in 1,600 words. However, once you follow the guideline presented to you in this article, you will find out 1,600 may not even be enough. Also, this guideline will help you focus on the important things you should write about.

TOK Essay Guideline

To make it easier for you to write your essay, there must be a TOK essay format to follow. This format will help give a proper TOK essay structure to your essay.

TOK Essay Title Page

The first thing to do is pick a Prescribed Title (PT). Also, make sure that whatever PT you’re picking pushes you to think. Furthermore, try and scribble down any personal experience that you may have relating to this. This will help to boost your essay. In addition to this, you can make use of any of the eight Areas of Knowledge (AOK) that you know.

What Is Your Knowledge Question (KQ)?

A knowledge question is a question that you draw from your title. Ideally, your TOK essay questions should begin with: “To what extent…”. You should also use these questions to begin your introduction.

What Are Your WOK and AOK?

Your Way of Knowing should be at least one while your Area of Knowledge should be at least two. This is the standard. Selecting a WOK and two AOK relevant to your title will provide more than enough for you to explore.

TOK Essay Outline

The outline for your TOK basically consists of the introduction, body, and conclusion. Furthermore, the body of your TOK will be broken down into claims and counterclaims. Here’s what your introduction, body, and conclusion should look like:

1. Introduction

Here you should state your question(s), which must be relevant to your chosen topic. Also, you should state your Areas of Knowledge and Way of Knowing. In addition to this, you should clearly define any term you have used. Ideally, the TOK essay word count for the introduction should be between 150 – 200 words.

2. Body

Introducing the TOK essay may be easier for some students than writing the body. That is understandable. Still, writing your TOK essay body can become a very interesting thing for you to do if you follow our TOK essay guidelines. First of all, you can divide this into four paragraphs to help you. You can begin the first paragraph in the body of your essay with your claim or counterclaim. Next, you give an explanation for your claim or counterclaim so that the reader can understand. In addition to this, give an example to support it (preferably one from personal experience). After this, you should show why this example buttresses your claim or counterclaim.

The second paragraph should consist of a strong claim or counterclaim to your paragraph 1 argument. Also in this paragraph, you should give an explanation with an example, and show how this supports your stand.

In the third paragraph of your TOK essay body, focus on your second Area of Knowledge. Like the first and second paragraphs, you should give an explanation to support your claim or counterclaim. Also, give a real-life or personal example to support this. Lastly, show how all of them relate to each other.

In paragraph five, write about your claim or counterclaim to the one in paragraph four.

3. Conclusion

Unlike regular conclusions that require one paragraph, the TOK essay requirements for the conclusion is ideally two paragraphs. In the first paragraph of your conclusion, give a clear explanation of what you have gleaned from your discussion in the body. Also, prove why you think this is significant and what implications exist. In the second paragraph of your conclusion, show what your essay has uncovered. However, do not bring your argument to a close. Rather, explain that it is still open for debate and that one or two questions still require answers.

This is the standard TOK format that will help you organize your thoughts.

TOK Essay Prompts

Here is a couple of TOK essay prompts and how you can answer them.

Prompt 1: “Labels are essential to human knowledge but they also affect our judgment.” Using two areas of knowledge, discuss your understanding of this statement.

To answer this, it’s best to focus on the AOK of Art. Using certain popular musicians as examples, you can explain how all of their songs are easily classified as hit music. Even when the songs have immoral or damaging lyrics, people still tend to accept them because of the musician that sang them.

Prompt 2: “Does knowledge always bring about change or action?” Using two areas of knowledge, discuss your understanding of this statement.

The first thing you should do here is defined knowledge. Next, give real-life examples of how people have done nothing with the knowledge they acquired.

Bottomline

Your TOK essay can be an exciting experience for you if you follow the rules. Yes, sometimes you may get prompts that look difficult on the surface. However, choosing the relevant AOKs and following the guidelines provided will help make your essay easier.