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ToK Essays

ToK Essays. Writing about knowledge issues. What are knowledge Issues?. IB Definition: ‘Knowledge issues are questions that directly refer to our understanding of the world, ourselves and others, in connection with the acquisition, search for, production, shaping and acceptance of knowledge.’

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ToK Essays

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  1. ToK Essays Writing about knowledge issues

  2. What are knowledge Issues? • IB Definition: • ‘Knowledge issues are questions that directly refer to our understanding of the world, ourselves and others, in connection with the acquisition, search for, production, shaping and acceptance of knowledge.’ • In simple terms, questions that: • Question what we believe, our reasons for believing it and whether these are good reasons

  3. For example: • Of the four ways of knowing: Emotion, Language, Reason and Sense Perception, which do you think are more reliable and which are less reliable? Illustrate your answer with examples from at least two areas of knowledge.

  4. Characteristics of a Good Knowledge Issue: • Open question • Asks explicitly about knowledge • Uses concepts from ToK (specific ways of knowing/areas of knowledge etc) • Is precise in terms of the relationship between the ToK concepts mentioned

  5. Some More Examples • Questions not about what we know but how we know it TASK • For each knowledge issue, see if it meets the criteria mentioned on the previous page. • Try to develop your own knowledge issues and see if they meet these criteria.

  6. Some fall-back knowledge issues • What role does ‘x’ play in ‘y’? • How does ‘x’ affect the certainty of ‘y’? • To what extent does ‘x’ apply to ‘y’? • What is the value of ‘x’ (to ‘y’)? • Is there a difference between ‘x’ and ‘y’?

  7. Task: • In groups of 4 (ish) • Select one of the essay titles from the exam paper that no one in the group has done • Try to identify some of the knowledge issues that need to be addressed • These must be written down as this will help to clarify and shape them • Attempt another question if you finish early

  8. Writing about knowledge issues • Stay focussed on answering the knowledge issue (do not let yourself get side tracked) • Describe the issue then explore it…this means talk about the implications, look at how it applies in different situations. • Apply the idea in relation to your experience as a learner • Bring in relevant examples, some from your own learning • Give (and justify) your own opinion

  9. Key lessons from examiner’s report • Spend considerable time thinking about and unpacking the question • Bring in knowledge issues naturally – don’t just say ‘my knowledge issues are….’ • Focus discussing ways of knowing within the context of an area of knowledge • Choose concrete, real examples rather than complicated abstract ones • Make sure you answer the question • Avoid cliches…. ‘maths is totally based on reason’ etc • Avoid bald assertions (make qualified claims) • Use any definitions you give

  10. Example: Knowledge is generated through the interaction of critical and creative thinking. Evaluate this statement in two areas of knowledge.

  11. Structuring the Essay • Your essay must be structured in such as way as you make sure you answer the whole question • You should structure your essay in such a way as it helps you to analyse. • Use your knowledge issues to help provide some structure

  12. For example: • In this case ‘X’ and ‘Y’ would be the two areas of knowledge I was looking at. It can be useful to choose ones that you think will clash in some way or provide interesting/instructive comparisons.

  13. Task: • For whichever title(s) you chose previously • Draw out structure that would help you to answer it (doesn’t have to be a table, could be a mind-map etc – visual generally better) • Try to flesh-out some of the points you might try to make

  14. How did you do? • Grade boundaries are as follows:

  15. What would this mean in terms of bonus points?

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