IB1 TOK : Semester 2 Assessment
As a part of your TOK assessment you are expected to do one essay and one
TOK presentation as a part of the grading
criteria for this subject.
This time, the essay will be marked according to
all four of the IB criteria.
A: Understanding and links to WOK and AOK
B: Knowers’ Perspective: use of examples that
indicate clearly your point of view
C. Analysis: This includes your understanding of the topic as well as your
attempts to challenge the assumptions in the essay topic
D. Quality of Writing: Essay format, Word count and citation.
Before you choose your essay, please read the basic comments and guidelines
below, to help you write a better essay.
One thing that most of you did not do in your practice essay was link the WOK
e.g Euthanasia. In translation it means mercy killing, so it’s a language issue.
For family and friends it’s an emotional issue, for doctors and hospitals it an
economic issues, need for more hospital beds, no wastage of resources so they
use logic to justify it and finally the words and the reasoning create a
perspective that its acceptable.
Another thing in your essay always be sure to challenge the statement (that
helps to develop the counter claim). You should always define the key terms of
the essay. Many of you did not do this too well. If you define it, you will find
that you will automatically find ways to challenge or question it.
Anytime you refer to some information, if you have read it somewhere , always
acknowledge your sources.
WORD COUNT must be stated directly below the title. If not it will cost you
marks
TOK ESSAYS :
It must be written on one of the Eight titles (questions) provided below. You
may choose any title. Your essay will be marked according to the assessment
criteria published in the Theory of Knowledge guide. ( a copy of this is on
Wikispaces).
Remember to centre your essay on knowledge issues and, 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 these titles
are not necessarily authentic: they present a real point of view but may not have
been spoken or written by an actual person. It is appropriate to analyse them
but it is unnecessary, even unwise, to spend time on researching a context for
them.
Examiners mark essays against the title as set. Respond to the title exactly as
given; do not alter it in any way.
Your essay must be between 1000 and 1600 words in length.
1. A model is a simplified representation of some aspect of the world. In
what ways may models help or hinder the search for knowledge?
2. How important are the opinions of experts in the search for knowledge?
3. One definition of knowledge is true belief based on strong evidence.
What makes evidence “strong” enough and how can this limit be
established?
4. Some experts (athletes, dancers, musicians, visual artists, cabinet
makers, lab technicians, mechanics, surgeons, etc.) may have acquired
knowledge that is difficult to describe in words. Does this mean that
other Ways of Knowing play a more important role than language in
knowing how to do something?
5. Can a machine know?
6. When should we trust our senses to give us truth?
7. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of reason as a way of knowing.
8. “The knowledge that we value the most is the knowledge for which we can
provide the strongest justifications.” To what extent would you agree
with this claim?