TOK Essay TipsTOK Essay Tips

M. WilsonM. Wilson

Planning your essayPlanning your essay

First of all choose a First of all choose a title:: Where do your interests lie?Where do your interests lie? Can you link your cultural values to Can you link your cultural values to

any of the titles? This can add depth any of the titles? This can add depth to your discussion.to your discussion.

Choose 2 titles and analyse themChoose 2 titles and analyse them

TitlesTitles

NEVER change a word in the titleNEVER change a word in the title

You must write titles down and You must write titles down and discuss them word for word. Any discuss them word for word. Any change at all will affect your mark.change at all will affect your mark.

Analysing the titleAnalysing the title

Once you have chosen two titles, do Once you have chosen two titles, do a PMI (plus, minus,interest) and a PMI (plus, minus,interest) and decide which of the two titles you decide which of the two titles you can make the most claims and can make the most claims and counter claims for and which one you counter claims for and which one you can link to your experiences in HK.can link to your experiences in HK.

Well done, you have a Title!Well done, you have a Title!

Analysing your titleAnalysing your title

Look for the key words in your Look for the key words in your chosen title.chosen title.

Is it focusing specifically on one area Is it focusing specifically on one area of knowledge? e.g. Maths or Scienceof knowledge? e.g. Maths or Science

OROR Is it focusing on a way of knowing? Is it focusing on a way of knowing?

e.g. emotion or perceptione.g. emotion or perception

AOKAOK

If the title focuses on Science for If the title focuses on Science for example, you still have to link it to example, you still have to link it to WOK. In addition you may have to WOK. In addition you may have to link it to another AOK.link it to another AOK.

Which one best suits the argument Which one best suits the argument you are going to make? Analyse this; you are going to make? Analyse this; a weak or contrived link will weaken a weak or contrived link will weaken your argument.your argument.

Need a Link??Need a Link??

“ “Science is built of facts the way a Science is built of facts the way a house is built of bricks: but an house is built of bricks: but an accumulation of facts is no more accumulation of facts is no more science than a pile of bricks is a science than a pile of bricks is a house” (Henri Poincaré). Discuss in house” (Henri Poincaré). Discuss in relation to science and at least one relation to science and at least one other area of knowledge. other area of knowledge.

OHO! which other AOK?OHO! which other AOK?

AOKAOK

The title is looking at facts, so which The title is looking at facts, so which other AOK will link nicely with facts?other AOK will link nicely with facts?

(History, Maths?)(History, Maths?)

Alternatively, which other AOK will Alternatively, which other AOK will contrast and lend itself to your contrast and lend itself to your argument? (Art, Ethics?)argument? (Art, Ethics?)

Think about this carefully.Think about this carefully.

Ways of KnowingWays of Knowing

If knowledge is a filter or a lens, If knowledge is a filter or a lens, which of the WOK best suits your which of the WOK best suits your argument?argument?

Language?Language? Emotion?Emotion? Perception?Perception? Reason?Reason? WHY? Be clear on this before you WHY? Be clear on this before you

plan your argument.plan your argument.

Knowledge IssuesKnowledge Issues

What sort of knowledge issues do What sort of knowledge issues do you face in building up your you face in building up your argument?argument?

Remember you have 6-8 paragraphs Remember you have 6-8 paragraphs and you need to cover two AOK.and you need to cover two AOK.

Which knowledge issues will support Which knowledge issues will support your argument?your argument?

PlanningPlanning

You need at least 8-10 paragraphs in You need at least 8-10 paragraphs in total.total.

Use one for the introduction where Use one for the introduction where you write the full title word for word you write the full title word for word and introduce your perspective. and introduce your perspective.

You need 6-8 paragraphs to discuss You need 6-8 paragraphs to discuss your WOK and AOK.your WOK and AOK.

Use one paragraph for the Use one paragraph for the conclusion.conclusion.

FocusFocus

The instructions on the title page clearly The instructions on the title page clearly state that you must justify your argument state that you must justify your argument and provide examples.and provide examples.

Avoid boring, overused clichés such as Avoid boring, overused clichés such as Nasty Nazis, the Bible, Darwin etc.Nasty Nazis, the Bible, Darwin etc.

Consider your culture, East vs West,Consider your culture, East vs West, What could you personally include? (Have What could you personally include? (Have

a look in your journals!)a look in your journals!)

Remember you are writing an Remember you are writing an ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY!!ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY!!

Having decided on your title and some Having decided on your title and some supporting claims for your 6-8 point supporting claims for your 6-8 point argument, what now?argument, what now?

Now you focus on the implications of your Now you focus on the implications of your claims and possible counter claims that claims and possible counter claims that might arise. What should you include? might arise. What should you include? How should you set it out? How should you set it out?

Claim and Counter Claim? Claim and Counter Claim? OROR Claim, claim, claim ,counter claim???Claim, claim, claim ,counter claim???

Who cares what you think?Who cares what you think?

This is important, you must include This is important, you must include references for all your sources. references for all your sources.

NEVER fall into the trap of thinking NEVER fall into the trap of thinking that your opinion alone is sufficient. that your opinion alone is sufficient.

Therefore, if you feel strongly about Therefore, if you feel strongly about a topic, your input is valid BUT a topic, your input is valid BUT support your claim with a specific support your claim with a specific example to justify it.example to justify it.

Assessing your essayAssessing your essay Criterion A: Understanding Criterion A: Understanding

Knowledge IssuesKnowledge Issues Ask yourself these two questions:Ask yourself these two questions: 1. Does my essay demonstrate my 1. Does my essay demonstrate my

understanding of knowledge issues understanding of knowledge issues which are RELEVANT to my title?which are RELEVANT to my title?

2. Does my essay demonstrate 2. Does my essay demonstrate connections between relevant AOK connections between relevant AOK and WOK?and WOK?

Understanding Knowledge IssuesUnderstanding Knowledge Issues Criterion A:Criterion A:

Have you been consistent using depth and Have you been consistent using depth and breadth or have you just mentioned one or breadth or have you just mentioned one or two knowledge issues with no analysis or two knowledge issues with no analysis or links to the title?links to the title?

Have you elaborated on the links between Have you elaborated on the links between AOK and WOK?AOK and WOK?

Does it sound sophisticated or boring?Does it sound sophisticated or boring?

Knower’s Perspective: All about Knower’s Perspective: All about you!you!

Criterion B:Criterion B: Have you made Have you made your responseyour response to this to this

title title explicitexplicit? Does it sound like ? Does it sound like youyou??

Have you Have you reflected on the knowledge reflected on the knowledge issuesissues and considered other and considered other perspectives, using varied examples perspectives, using varied examples from a from a range of culturesrange of cultures??

Quality of analysisQuality of analysis Criterion C:Criterion C: Have you addressed knowledge issues which are Have you addressed knowledge issues which are

directly relevantdirectly relevant to your title? to your title?

Have you gone off on a tangent discussing Have you gone off on a tangent discussing irrelevant knowledge issuesirrelevant knowledge issues??

Have you Have you justified, argued, been compelling and justified, argued, been compelling and cohesive? OR waffled?cohesive? OR waffled?

Have you used Have you used counterclaimscounterclaims and evaluated and evaluated them and their them and their implicationsimplications for your title? for your title?

Organisation of IdeasOrganisation of Ideas Criterion D:Criterion D: Have you kept within the word count Have you kept within the word count

1200-16001200-1600 words? You must include your words? You must include your word count in your essay.word count in your essay.

Have you Have you referencedreferenced your sources? your sources?

Have you planned your essay so that each Have you planned your essay so that each point supports and elaborates on the point supports and elaborates on the previous point? Have you previous point? Have you argued or just argued or just waffled?waffled?

Vitally important pointsVitally important points Criterion A:Criterion A: Develop links and Develop links and

comparisons through analysis of examplescomparisons through analysis of examples Criterion B:Criterion B: Examples may prove your Examples may prove your

awareness and support that of othersawareness and support that of others Criterion C:Criterion C: Counterclaims can be Counterclaims can be

provided by explicit examplesprovided by explicit examples Criterion D:Criterion D: Factual information is more Factual information is more

than must your personal opinion or than must your personal opinion or experience, you need some examples. Do experience, you need some examples. Do not rely on “class handout” as a major not rely on “class handout” as a major source. You need a variety.source. You need a variety.

What to doWhat to do Analyse and Plan around the key Analyse and Plan around the key

words and key concepts in your titlewords and key concepts in your title

Choose explicit examples which you Choose explicit examples which you can referencecan reference

Include your personal context and Include your personal context and cultural experiences cultural experiences

Analyse and argue your claims and Analyse and argue your claims and counterclaims explicitly, don’t waffle!counterclaims explicitly, don’t waffle!

A Claim is….A Claim is….

When you make a point and support When you make a point and support it with a realistic example, not a it with a realistic example, not a hypothetical one. (avoid Nazis etc)hypothetical one. (avoid Nazis etc)

OR OR When you make a point and use a When you make a point and use a

reference from a reliable source to reference from a reliable source to support your argument.support your argument.

CounterclaimsCounterclaims When you consider more than one When you consider more than one

possible answer to a specific question, possible answer to a specific question, counterclaims will emerge.counterclaims will emerge.

These are usually discussed in one These are usually discussed in one paragraph and tend to contrast or paragraph and tend to contrast or challenge the claims made.challenge the claims made.

They should reflect the They should reflect the depth of your depth of your thinking and breadth of your research or thinking and breadth of your research or discussion.discussion.

PerspectivesPerspectives These are the views of other people whose These are the views of other people whose

backgrounds and life experiences are backgrounds and life experiences are different from yours.different from yours.

You need to show sensitivity to cultural You need to show sensitivity to cultural perspectives, yet be prepared to challenge perspectives, yet be prepared to challenge them if necessary.them if necessary.

Remember, just because someone else Remember, just because someone else thinks something is right, doesn’t make it thinks something is right, doesn’t make it right! Argue your points.right! Argue your points.