Since TOK essays are so special, you should be definitely aware how to write a TOK essay if you want to succeed in academic writing. TOK essay topics are special and TOK essay structure is special, so you need to be aware of all their features. When you get TOK essay requirements, you need to be sure that you will have to deal with a specific scientific paper rather than an ordinary academic essay. Therefore, be prepared that the task of writing a TOK essay will not be easy. Make sure that you devote yourself sufficient time for the paper preparation, literature review, pre-writing stage, and the overall writing stage. Only with ample diligence and hard work will you be able to provide an outstanding piece of writing.
The introductory paragraph of the TOK essay has the same aim as an introduction of the other papers. The introduction should serve the purpose of attention-hook and maintain readers’ attention and focus throughout the whole paper. Moreover, it should focus on the topic explanation and discussion of the topic within a broader subject realm. To put it simply, an introductory paragraph is the very first contact that your readers get with your paper. Therefore, it is important to pinpoint to what you cover in the paper, what you write about, what you explore, what you aim to prove, etc. Sometimes, you should even state your opinion on the problem in the introductory paragraph as well. To hook the audience’s attention, it is recommended to start the paragraph with some surprising fact, some controversial idea, etc.
The main body of the TOK essay is, however, different from the rest of academic papers. The structure, as a result, differs as well. The main task is not merely to provide your opinions, viewpoints, and ideas but also to make the paper argumentative by providing arguments and counter-arguments. Moreover, all arguments provided should be also adequately supported and justified. By separately discussing arguments and counter-arguments and including them in separate paragraphs, you will maintain proper paper format. To ensure smooth flow of writing, you will need to use transitions between ideas and paragraphs. Moreover, when elaborating on the ideas discussed in the body paragraphs, keep in mind your target audience and adjust the content according to their interest.
- When you explore the TOK essay structure, you will find out that it resembles that of the other academic papers. Still, there are some important elements that you need to consider. Check out the following strategies on how to write a TOK essay that meets all paper requirements.
- Start with an introductory paragraph, where you provide background information as well as explain the topic and the scope of research in particular.
- Develop the main paper argument. Make sure it is strongly and clearly formulated. Having developed an argument, please remember to add sufficient supporting evidence and add some justification.
- Make sure you provide a counter-argument alongside with your main argument. Here you need to provide justification, too.
- Provide a conclusive paragraph, where you sum up the whole paper carefully.
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No, there is no specific word limit in TOK essays. The most important thing is to discuss the topic from A to Z and include all the important arguments, discussions, and conclusions. If you are writing a TOK essay as a separate assignment and if the topic has been chosen on your own, you are free to decide on the word count limit unless it properly discusses the information. However, if you have been assigned a TOK essay at university or college, you should definitely clarify the TOK essay word count from your professor or academic supervisor.
One of the reasons why it is hard and challenging to write a TOK essay is the complicated TOK essay format. It is important to stock to a specific mode of TOK essay organization. First, if you wonder how to write a good TOK essay, you need to formulate a good essay topic. It should reflect the areas you plan to cover in the essay. Make sure the topic is appealing – it needs to hook readers’ attention and make them maintain interest on the whole paper till its very last sentence. Second, you need to make sure you are interested in the topic. Only if you are passionate about what you write, you will be able to succeed in writing. However, apart from choosing a topic that is interesting merely for you, it is important to take into consideration the interests and preferences of your target audience.
As soon as you move closer to the writing process, you will find out that the process of TOK essay writing is time-consuming and tiresome. Particularly, if you have no idea how to write a TOK essay, the process will be really challenging. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the TOK essay structure, format, organization, and style. Check out the following guidelines on how to obtain proper TOK essay structure.
Yes, this is what you signed up for. It may sound a little intimidating but once you get the hang of it you will be able to see the matrix and understand this beautiful world a little better.
You need to consider the opinions of others who have devoted hours of research and a lifetime of dedicated studying the topic that surrounds your writing. Unravelling the realms of your mind palace is so Sherlock but let’s not deny the fact that at times, Watson is the one whose expertise helps Sherlock through pretty difficult times. I mean even Batman needs a Robin. In support of my awesome sauce examples, the point I am trying to make is that finding support for our claims and counterclaims through research is a good thing.
- The presentation is to assess a student’s ability to apply TOK thinking to a real-life situation whereas IB TOK essay is more conceptual.
- The essay is externally assessed by IB and must be on any one of the prescribed TOK essay titles issued by the IB for each examination session.
- Word limit of a TOK essay is 1600 words (excludes extended notes, footnotes, bibliography).
Theory of Knowledge is one of the most meta subjects that IB offers. Despite its complexity, TOK helps in providing a base for holistic learning and allows students to have a multidisciplinary experience.
Structure of TOK essay
(Feel free to skip to the topic of your interest by clicking on the hyperlink
TOK demonstrates the ways in which students can apply their knowledge with greater awareness and credibility.
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Areas of Knowledge (AOKs): TOK distinguishes between eight areas of knowledge. They are mathematics, the natural sciences, the human sciences, the arts, history, ethics, religious knowledge systems, and indigenous knowledge systems. It is suggested that students study and explore six of these eight.
Explain the different insights you have gained or have come out of this essay.
“The problem with doubt as the key to knowledge is that doubt isn’t a way of knowing. Doubt is an emotion we feel that motivates us to seek knowledge.”
“Furthermore, in areas like religion where we do not yet have the tools to prove it one way or the other simply doubting something by itself is a step towards acquiring knowledge because by suggesting that certain view is not absolute it makes room for new knowledge.”
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Conclusion
- Emotion
- Faith
- Sense Perception
- Reason
- Imagination
- Intuition
- Language
- Memory
Am I confident to write an essay about this? Is the question asking what I am thinking? Do I understand the keywords or concepts in the title?
Question: “Doubt is the key to knowledge (Persian Proverb). To what extent is this true in two areas of knowledge?
Give the readers an idea of what you will be going through in your body paragraphs , a sentence that gives the readers a preview. Let the readers know which AOKs you will be exploring, making it easier for the examiner to know what to look for.
b.What to Cover: Theories are ideally based in fact, however many people using correlation rather than causation to draw conclusions. The result is faulty theories. Then there is the problem with poorly vetted facts. Explain how outdated or incorrect information impacts the development of theories.
Mostly, you should pick a question that speaks to you, and apply the areas of knowledge that you can best show your academic and personal development.
b.What to Cover: The idea here is that the harder you have to work to obtain knowledge the more you will value it. Do you agree or disagree? You might address the topic of privilege here.
b.What to Cover: When building their own knowledge, people turn to experts. How do they discern what to believe when the experts themselves disagree on important matters? Can external influences change the way that experts view or spin the truth? Climate change would be a great topic to use as an example for this question.
How to Know Which TOK Essay Topics Are Best For You
Unlike other essays, you cannot simply choose from an unlimited number of topics. Your essay must be selected from one of the prescribed titles created by the International Baccalaureate Organization for 2020. Then, your essay must meet additional criteria. Specifically, it must be related to one of the eight areas of knowledge that have been defined by the IB.
- History
- Mathematics
- The Arts
- Ethics
- Religious Knowledge Systems
- Human Science
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems
- Natural Science
Each year, a new set of questions are created for students to cover in their essays. These can be easily found online as the IB makes these public. What’s more important is to understand exactly what you need to do when writing about these topics. These aren’t the same as your standard custom writings.
While writing the theory of knowledge essay, there are several important tips that a writer needs to know.
- Give your topic sentence
- Provide your main reasoning why your thesis is true
- Provide real life examples and evidence to back up your claims
- Write a conclusion that is emphatic on the relevance of the KI
- Transition to the next paragraph
These paragraphs provide arguments and counterarguments to support your point of view. They provide reasoning as to why your claim that you made with the thesis statement is true. Each paragraph is backed by evidence to justify your claims. Simply put, these paragraphs have topic sentences (the main idea in support of the thesis), evidence to justify, a counterclaim against the thesis, evidence for the counterclaim, a rebuttal (why the counterclaim is insufficient) and a conclusion.
- Provide a counter-claim to KI Point #1
- Support your counter claims’ validity against the thesis statement
- Provide examples to support your claims
- Rebut the counterclaim and drill holes into the evidence you have provided
- Give credence to your main thesis
- Provide a conclusion.
Topic
- Topic sentence
- Second reason why the thesis is true
- Provide examples and evidence to support your claims
- Conclude your paragraph
Writing a TOK essay involves several aspects that begin even before the pen meets the paper. The writer needs to understand the topic he/she intends to cover in a theory of knowledge essay, the audience and how to deliver what they intend to say. When dealing with the subject, the author comes up with suitable ideas that present their point of view and relevant evidence to justify their claims. Once a writer has these, they formulate a blueprint that they can use to ensure that the writer effectively organizes all the major points they want to deliver. This blueprint is the outline.
- Provide a topic sentence
- Third reason why the thesis is true
- Provide examples and evidence to support your claims
- Conclude your paragraph
Theory of knowledge essays encompass a lot of evidence and data. It is important to note down all your sources and cite them appropriately. Completely eliminate the likelihood of plagiarism in your work. Within the TOK paper outline, list various sources against your major points.