May 2014 TOK essay titles
Your theory of knowledge essay for examination must be submitted to your
teacher for authentication. It must be written on one of the six titles
(questions) provided below. You may choose any title, but are
recommended to consult with your teacher. Your essay will be marked
according to the assessment criteria published in the Theory of
Knowledge guide. The focus of your essays should be on knowledge issues.
Where appropriate, refer to other parts of your IB programme and to
your experiences as a knower. Always justify your statements and provide
relevant examples to illustrate your arguments. Pay attention to the
implications of your arguments, and remember to consider what can be
said against them. If you use external sources, cite them according to a
recognized convention. Note that statements in quotations in these
titles are not necessarily authentic: they present a real point of view
but may not be direct quotes. It is appropriate to analyse them but it
is unnecessary, even unwise, to spend time on researching a context for
them.
Your essay must be between 1200 and 1600 words in length, double spaced and typed in
size 12 font. Use MLA referencing.
1. Ethical judgements limit the methods available
in the production of knowledge in both the arts and the natural sciences.
Discuss.
2. “When the only tool you have is a hammer, all
problems begin to resemble nails” (Abraham Maslow). How might this apply to
ways of knowing, as tools, in the pursuit of knowledge?
3. “Knowledge is nothing more than the systematic
organisation of facts.” Discuss this statement in relation to two areas of
knowledge.
4. “That which is accepted as knowledge today is
sometimes discarded tomorrow.”
5. “The historian’s task is to understand the past;
the human scientist, by contrast, is looking to change the future.” To what
extent is this true in these areas of knowledge?
6. “A skeptic is one who is willing to question any
knowledge claim, asking for clarity in definition, consistency in logic and
adequacy of evidence” (adapted from Paul Kurtz, 1994). Evaluate this approach
in two areas of knowledge.
Fantastic Online Resources - How to ace the essay!
http://amyscott.com/theory_of_knowledge.htm
I am indebted to the teachers who have shared these ideas generously on their blogs. I hope my blog is occasionally helpful to teachers and students across the globe in the IB Learning Community. We all share this marvellous journey in Theory of Knowledge.
Our students in BD Somani International School have each been issued with a planning package in May and with a second planning package in October 2013.
Classroom focus for Grade 12 TOK November - December - Students will present their TOK Oral Presentation and finalise the title of their essay in November and first draft before December Break.
I am indebted to the teachers who have shared these ideas generously on their blogs. I hope my blog is occasionally helpful to teachers and students across the globe in the IB Learning Community. We all share this marvellous journey in Theory of Knowledge.
Our students in BD Somani International School have each been issued with a planning package in May and with a second planning package in October 2013.
Classroom focus for Grade 12 TOK November - December - Students will present their TOK Oral Presentation and finalise the title of their essay in November and first draft before December Break.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.