A. Understanding knowledge issues
You essay is focused on knowledge issues
You have made links and comparisons
You have only relevant information
Your understanding of the prescribed topic is sophisticated
B. Knower’s perspective
Your thinking and reasoning is independent
You demonstrate self-awareness
You mention different perspectives about specific issues
Your examples are varied, well-explained and relevant
C. Analysis of knowledge issues
Your writing style and organization demonstrates insight and depth
Your main points have been justified
You essay contains both arguments and counter-arguments
Your essay clarifies assumptions and implications mentioned
The essay is well-structured
The key concepts are explained
Your facts mentioned are accurate
Your essay contains a Reference Page
Remembering the each criteria throughout the writing process may be difficult; therefore, another method of keeping the basics in your mind while writing is by using the "4 Cs" explained below:
CONTENT (criterion A)- incorporation of Knowledge Issues
CREATIVITY (criterion B)- incorporation of Personal Thought
CRITICAL THINKING (criterion C)- incorporation of arguments and counter-arguments
CLARITY (criterion D)- well-structured essay
Choosing a Question from the Prescribed Titles and Brainstorming
When choosing a question for your essay from the IBO Prescribed Titles, make sure the question you choose can fulfill the following:
You understand the question
If you don't understand the question, than don't try to figure out what it means. Just don't choose that question! Choose something easier! You should be clear about what the question means, what knowledge issues it raises and what is and is not relevant to it.
You are interested in the question
How can you write about something you are not interested in? You will encounter many difficulties and also become very bored. Remember, one goal in writing an essay it to keep it interesting for the reader!
You have something to say about the question
Can you come up with knowledge issues, possible examples and explanations for the question? You need to display confidence in your essay, if you cannot identify it's features, you cannot display that confidence. Try not to choose a question that covers a topic you did not study in your TOK class.
Now it is time to Brainstorm your ideas:
Keep in mind the TOK diagram (if you have trouble remembering it, print it out and have it in front of you at all times)
Keep in mind the Assessment Criteria or the "4 Cs"
Jot down ideas that come to mind when thinking about the question
Compare and contrast the ideas, than get rid of unimportant ideas.
Think about how your ideas are related to each other
Create a mind map to visualize your ideas, and connect them
Start giving your main ideas sub-points
Don't start writing by using a textbook with information. The essay is all about your ideas, and your reflection on the question.
Writing and Organizing the Essay
Now that you have brainstormed your ideas and have a good idea about what you want to write. Begin writing.
Tell the reader what you are going to do in the body paragraphs of your essay
There are three steps to a solid introduction:
In order to explain yourself, you should:
impose your own limits on the question (you can never cover everything, so choose the main fields you wish to work work with)
have an attention grabber at the beginning of the introduction to hold the reader's attention
explain what you understand by the question
outline how you will approach the question and undertake the issues
write the question you are undertaking in your own words
explain key terms/give definitions for key terms (in order to avoid ambiguity throughout your essay)
state why the question is important
the fundamental claim you are making in your essay
write a rough Thesis Statement before you start writing
your Thesis Statement will most likely need to be changed a the end of your writing
Purpose of the paragraphs (i.e. the body) of your essay- break down, and set apart major new points in your arguments
Organization of the paragraphs of your essay- a group of arguments and evidence that have to do specifically with the point of the main argument being discussed in that specific paragraph
How long should each paragraph be and how should they be or set-up?
Make sure your paragraphs don't have any irrelevant information
Major points will, obviously, be longer paragraphs; meanwhile, minor points will be shorter, possibly only 4-5 sentences
Transition smoothly from paragraph to paragraph (i.e. from point to point). Use appropriate transition words and concluding sentences in your paragraphs to achieve this smooth transition
Since it is a long essay, you may want to occasionally recap on what you have written, as to not lose the reader in many points, examples and information.
Wrap up your essay; do not end abruptly.
Do not briefly restate what you have already said in your body paragraphs
Formulate a new way to state your major insight/argument
Mention unresolved issues
Have a striking concluding sentence, giving the reader a positive view on your essays argument.
Clarity- make sure the reader can understand what you are saying. Do not feel the need to use complicated words, which would brake the flow of your essay.
Economy- make your essay flow, but also eliminate irrelevant adjectives and other words that are unnecessary and take up your limited word count
avoid clarifying too many words; people will get overwhelmed by definitions
make sure to use language that is correct. Some words have subtle differences, others sometimes are inadequately used
Key Features that Should Appear in Your Essay
Content- Key Question: could your essay have been written by someone who has never taken a TOK class? If yes, than you have a problem: there is not enough TOK content (vocabulary, arguments, areas of knowledge, issues of knowledge, etc.)
display TOK-type critical thinking abilities
the central question: How do you know
tell about the subject, not just facts
compare and contrast difference sources, knowledge issues and areas of knowledge
Personal Thought- Key Question: does the accumulation of your examples and personal thoughts to justify your arguments give your essay a distinctive voice? If your essay sounds bland and boring, you have a problem: go back, be creative and thoughtful.
Demonstrate your personal thoughts through:
specific positions you take and the points you make for the positions
your well-organize, structured essay
Definitions- Key Question: Does your essay begin with explanations/definitions of possible contested concepts you will be utilizing throughout your essay? If someone was to highlight the definitions in your essay, would they be in the introduction, before the reflection?
Define the contested concepts
Definitions should be at the beginning of the essay, and a reflection should end the essay
Explain why the definition is important and what hangs on it.
You may need to refine your definitions after you finish writing your essay.
Steps for a good definition:
look into typical examples
find common characteristics
Arguments- Key Question: Are your arguments a connected series of statements? Do your arguments gives premises to support your claim (your conclusion paragraph)
"Therefore" test- put therefore in front of your statements, and the series makes sense, then it is an argument.
Evidence- Key Question: Do you have examples for your arguments that give your reader a typical, real-lie event to identify with?
As a rough guide, you should give supporting evidence if what you are saying is:
The more that hangs on an assertion and the more disputable it is, the more evidence you should give in support of it.
Approach your sources critically:
disputable or surprising.
Do they have the relevant expertise?
Do they have a vested interest?
Do they use emotive language? Do other experts agree?
Counter-arguments- Key Question: Did you give substantial counter-arguments and refute them successfully?
Pretend like your essay is a dialogue: someone is trying to contradict your argument, and you are refuting them
Once you have given a counter-argument, you will need to decide how it affects your original argument. There are two main types of response you can make:
Refutation- reject the counter-argument, proving its mistakes, unlikeliness or unimportance
Concession- You allow that there is some truth in the counter-argument and qualify your original argument to take account of it.
Sound Reasoning- Key Question: Go through your essay and identify all of the arguments. Have they been properly justified?
To have a well-justified argument, be careful for:
Hasty generalization- generalizing from insufficient
Black-and-white thinking- fallacy of going from one extreme to the other.
Inconsistency- Check the overall consistency of your essay and ensure that your various points do not contradict one another.
Depth- taking your analysis to an upper level; giving the essay weight
Think about 5 main factors:
Depth of dialogue try to not go back-and-forth between arguments and counter-arguments, and think of a response to the counter-argument and a counter-response to that. Think about: the quality as well as the quantity of such exchanges, at what point to bring them to a close.
Weight of evidence The more supporting evidence you can give for your arguments the more conviction they will be.
Relevant distinctions Introducing relevant distinctions will add subtlety and finesse to your argument.
Key implications By exploring the implications of your argument, you show that you are thinking around the issue. Ask yourself what follows from the point you are considering.
Background assumptions What assumptions am I making? Be willing to question them. Try not to confuse what is cultural and what is natural
consider both similarities and differences
consider different perspectives
think beyond your own assumptions
bring in hidden assumptions in your own thinking
use varied and effective examples
Keep in mind when giving examples:
Examples vs statistics- use both if you want
refer to any quotations written in your essay.Â
