Ways of Knowing (WOKs)
Assignment
Objective: students are to work with a partner(S) and complete a
poster which demonstrates their understanding of one way of knowing.
Each poster will contain:




The Way of Knowing
The definition of the way of knowing
Diagrams, cartoons, characters etc. to demonstrate their knowledge
How a knowledge claim is understood through their way of knowing
In Theory of Knowledge there are eight different ways of knowing
1. Emotion: Although many people think of emotion as an unreliable WOK which is somehow less useful
than reason, it is also often the case that we know things emotionally with more certainty than by any
other WOK. Are emotions universal? Can/should we control our emotions? Are emotions the enemy of,
or necessary for, good reasoning? Are emotions always linked to belief?
2. Memory: Most of what we think we know, we remember. Memory is also vital to our sense of who we
are. In other words, it’s one of the most important WOK. However, memory of past experience can also
influence how we gain new knowledge using the other WOK. Can we know things which are beyond our
personal present experience? Is eyewitness testimony a reliable source of evidence? Can our beliefs
contaminate our memory?
3. Reason: Working things out logically, using reason lets us go beyond what we’ve discovered using sense
perception. It’s very important WOK but has lots of different meanings depending on who you ask. A
Mathematician for example might see the definition of reason in their subject very differently from a
historian. What is the difference between reason and logic? How reliable is inductive reasoning? Are we
predictably irrational?
4. Intuition: This is sometimes seen as the opposite to reason the idea that we know something
instinctively strikes some people as illogical or unreliable. However, intuition can be extremely useful to
us if we need to make very quick judgements. Why are some people considered more intuitive than
others? Are there certain things that you have to know prior to being able to learn anything at all?
Should you trust your intuition?
5. Faith: This is probably the most loudly argued over WOK. Religious people often believe that faith is the
most certain, useful, and important WOK there is while non-religious people claim the exact opposite
that faith is completely useless. However we all have faith (or trust) in things we can’t know using other
WOK for instance, that the chair you’re sitting on won’t collapse under you? Should humanism or
atheism be described as faith? Can theistic beliefs be considered knowledge because they are produced
by a special cognitive faculty or “divine sense”? Deos faith meat a psychological need?
6. Language: Language, whether written or spoken, is vitally important way of communicating knowledge.
If it wasn’t, then why would you be reading this? But some people would argue that language is even
more important than this: that the process of putting our thoughts into words actually shapes what we
know- in other words, that we know can be defined by our ability to put it into words. How does
language shape knowledge? Does the importance of language in an area of knowledge ground it in a
particular culture? How are metaphors used in the construction of knowledge?
7. Imagination: It’s difficult to define what imagination is precisely but it’s still very important way we
know things. People whose imaginations works in unusual ways are often diagnosed with conditions
such as autism, or synaesthesia. Imagination is also the key to being creative and solving problems.
What is the role of imagination in producing knowledge about a real world? Can imagination reveal
truths that reality hides? What is the role of the imagination in understanding others?
8. Sense Perception: Without the evidence of our senses we would not even know that the outside world
exists. So, sense perception is an absolutely vital WOK. Covering what we can see, hear, touch, smell
and taste. Although it’s vital, people disagree about whether our senses give an accurate picture of the
outside world or not. How can we know if our senses are reliable? What is the role of expectations or
theory in sense perception? What is the role of language in sense perception?
Presentation:
Each group will hand in one 11 by 17 poster and prepare a one or two slide power point to further illustrate
their presentation.
Criteria
WOK Definition
Fully Meets A/B
WOK is clear and visible,
the definition is easily
understood.
Knowledge claim example
is an excellent real life
example and the
explanation shows a clear
link to the WOK
Meets C+/ CWOK is clear and visible,
the definition is
understood.
Knowledge claim example
is a good real life example
and the explanation
shows a somewhat clear
link to the WOK
Presentation
Group creates an excellent
PowerPoint or other type
of presentation. All group
members present their
WOK. Ideas are presented
clearly and are within the 5
to 10 minute time frame
Group creates a Good
PowerPoint or other type
of presentation. Most
group members present
their WOK. Ideas are
presented clearly and are
within the 5 to 10 minute
time frame
Overall Product and
Presentation
The assignment is on an 11
by 17 sheet of paper.
Excellent creative risk
taking ideas are
demonstrated. Student (s)
use excellent colour,
diagrams, etc.
The assignment is on an
11 by 17 sheet of paper.
Good creativity, some risk
taking ideas are
demonstrated. Student
(s) use good colour,
diagrams, etc.
Knowledge Claim and
connection to WOK
Does Not Meet C-/I
WOK is clear and visible,
the definition is not
understood.
Knowledge claim example
is poor. No connection to
real life and the
explanation does not
demonstrate an
understanding of the WOK
Group creates a poor or
adequate PowerPoint or
other type of presentation.
All group members are not
present or do not partake
in the presentation Ideas
are presented clearly but
do not fall within the 5 to
10 minute time frame
The assignment is on an 11
by 17 sheet of paper. Little
or no creativity
demonstrated. Student (s)
does not use colour,
diagrams, etc. to
demonstrate their WOK
example.
WOK Presentation
Names:
Date:
Day:
1
2
WOK: :
Criteria
WOK Definition
Fully Meets A/B
WOK is clear and visible,
the definition is easily
understood.
Knowledge claim example
is an excellent real life
example and the
explanation shows a clear
link to the WOK
Meets C+/ CWOK is clear and visible,
the definition is
understood.
Knowledge claim example
is a good real life example
and the explanation
shows a somewhat clear
link to the WOK
Presentation
Group creates an excellent
PowerPoint or other type
of presentation. All group
members present their
WOK. Ideas are presented
clearly and are within the 5
to 10 minute time frame
Group creates a Good
PowerPoint or other type
of presentation. Most
group members present
their WOK. Ideas are
presented clearly and are
within the 5 to 10 minute
time frame
Overall Product and
Presentation
The assignment is on an 11
by 17 sheet of paper.
Excellent creative risk
taking ideas are
demonstrated. Student (s)
use excellent colour,
diagrams, etc.
The assignment is on an
11 by 17 sheet of paper.
Good creativity, some risk
taking ideas are
demonstrated. Student
(s) use good colour,
diagrams, etc.
Knowledge Claim and
connection to WOK
Does Not Meet C-/I
WOK is clear and visible,
the definition is not
understood.
Knowledge claim example
is poor. No connection to
real life and the
explanation does not
demonstrate an
understanding of the WOK
Group creates a poor or
adequate PowerPoint or
other type of presentation.
All group members are not
present or do not partake
in the presentation Ideas
are presented clearly but
do not fall within the 5 to
10 minute time frame
The assignment is on an 11
by 17 sheet of paper. Little
or no creativity
demonstrated. Student (s)
does not use colour,
diagrams, etc. to
demonstrate their WOK
example.
Comments:
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