Theory of Knowledge, or TOK, is a core requirement of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. If you intend to earn an IB diploma while in high school, you must complete TOK. Failure to do so successfully will prevent you from graduating with this distinction. However, if you are enrolled in a single IB course, you are not required to complete TOK.
The TOK requirement asks students to compose a 1,600-word essay and give an oral presentation based on this paper. Per the IB website, students must “reflect on the nature of knowledge, and on how we know what we claim to know.” If you are not yet sure how to tackle the TOK requirement, consider these three tips.
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1. Locate examples of TOK essays and presentations: One effective way to prepare for TOK is to read essays and watch presentations by former IB students. The four resources below can help you familiarize yourself with the TOK content and style .
The official IB website lists former and upcoming TOK prompts that students might encounter. Most prompts require students to explain “to what extent” they agree with a statement and to support their stance using two points of reference.
Some prompts allow students to choose their own reference points, while others are predetermined. For example, one prompt about the task of history to discover principles related to human nature asks, “To what extent are history and one other area of knowledge successful in this task?”
IB’s Online Curriculum Centre also contains materials that may help you prepare for TOK. However, access to the OCC requires login credentials that are generally reserved for school administrators and teachers. Ask your instructor if he or she would be willing to browse the OCC and share nonconfidential files or tips with you.
Another resource is the Mid-Atlantic Association of IB World Schools, which offers a PDF that consists of full-length sample essays that correspond to the following two prompts: “Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of reason as a way of knowing,” and “To understand something you need to rely on your own experience and culture. Does this mean that it is impossible to have objective knowledge?”
These essays are valuable study tools because the TOK instructor has made long, detailed comments using Microsoft Word’s Track Changes feature.
Finally, YouTube is a fantastic free resource for accessing former TOK presentations and how-to advice. This collection of YouTube videos comes from both former TOK students and current IB instructors. One benefit of using YouTube is that you can pose questions to the video creators, and they will sometimes mention other useful resources.
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2. Emphasize multiple disciplines and approaches when drafting the TOK essay: As students compose their TOK essays and oral presentations, they should consider the IB’s eight areas of knowledge: ethics, history, human sciences, indigenous knowledge systems, mathematics, natural sciences, religious knowledge systems and the arts.
Students should also review the eight ways of knowing: emotion, faith, imagination, intuition, language, memory, reason and sense perception.
Your essay and presentation should incorporate elements from both categories. One TOK instructor recommends exploring two areas of knowledge in the main body of the essay and then around the edges including a few insights into the ways of knowing . By incorporating a variety of disciplines into your work, you give the impression that you have a broad range of knowledge.
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3. Seek input from individuals familiar with TOK as make revisions: Once you have drafted your TOK essay and oral presentation, seek out advice from others. It is best to consult with individuals who are well-versed in the TOK requirement, rather than friends or family members who are unfamiliar with it.
Your TOK instructor is, of course, your primary resource for study and preparation. After school, ask your instructor for pointers. Your instructor may be willing to look over your essay or review your oral presentation slides.
The demanding nature of TOK merits careful planning. Viewing prior TOK presentations, aiming for a multidisciplinary approach in your essay and sharing your work with others can set you on the path to a stellar score.
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