It's officially TOK essay season! As an IB student, you know the struggle is real when it comes to writing these complex Theory of Knowledge essays. You want to score high, but the prompts are confusing, and constructing a thoughtful, organized, and convincing with a word limit of just 1600 words is tough.
So here's AceMinds' 7 Tips on How to Write A TOK Essay in 2023!
1. Read the prompts and break them down
I'm not joking - deeply analyzing the prompt is key. Read it forwards, then backward word for word, break down every relevant term from the prompt and possible areas of interest. This forces you to slow down and understand every nuance and implication of the title, keep in mind that there are more titles than the one you chose!
Here are this year's titles: (Highlighted are the ones we feel are the easiest to write on)
Is subjectivity overly celebrated in the arts but unfairly condemned in history? Discuss with reference to the arts and history.
How can we reconcile the opposing demands for specialization and generalization in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.
Nothing is more exciting than fresh ideas, so why are areas of knowledge often so slow to adopt them? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge.
Do we underestimate the challenges of taking knowledge out of its original context and transferring it to a different context? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
Do we need custodians of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
Are we too quick to assume that the most recent evidence is inevitably the strongest? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.
2. Write down ideas on multiple prompts before drafting.
Brainstorming is crucial to mapping out your argument, explore as many points as you can as quickly as you can! Remember, these points aren’t necessarily what's going on in your final essay, but they can help you better understand your prescribed titles even if they are a bit all over the place! During this phase, it is crucial that you do some research (make sure that the points you make are backed up with examples!) and we can help you here too!
3. Give opposing views a voice.
A mature TOK essay acknowledges counterarguments, remember even when you’re brainstorming you need to take time to consider a few opposing viewpoints, go beyond just being aware of the difference in perspectives and show your understanding! When preparing your draft, ensure that perspectives have space to be thoroughly explored and that ideas are not repeated, only by looking at both sides of the coin can you get a high score!
4. Get philosophical...but keep it focused.
TOK essays evaluate your ability to think philosophically, so show off your philosophical side, and use quotes and core TOK concepts to back up your claims! But remember, keep bringing it back to the prescribed title and connecting each of your claims, ensure that your writing is coherent, relevant, and has flow!
Remember the 12 TOK concepts and how they connect to one another, your goal is not to explore one but to explore them as a whole:
Certainty, objectivity, evidence, responsibility, culture, explanation, interpretation, justification, truth, values, perspective, and power.
5. Back up claims with real-life evidence.
Strengthen your analysis by interweaving a tapestry of diverse concrete evidence to illustrate points vividly. For example, cite a relevant personal experience about your music class followed by a statistic on the global rise of streaming services. Or describe an interview with your grandmother about post-war rationing to support a claim about 1940s scarcity, then tie it to a historical study of consumption rates. To achieve a high score, you must fluidly bend your ideas, grounding your essay authoritatively in the real world from various illuminating angles.
Here are some examples of categories of information you may use:
Personal stories
Current events
Cultural references
Case studies
Historical accounts
Literary excerpts
Scientific data
Surveys
Statistics
6. Save time for introspection.
TOK essays distinguish themselves through rich metacognitive reflection. Conclude by thoroughly tracing your mental journey in writing this piece, synthesize how the information from your research expanded your initial assumptions, and describe how considering antithetical perspectives shifted your position to integrate nuances. It is best to explain how struggling with ambiguity deepened your understanding of specific topics from your chosen title, adding more genuine substance to your writing and highlighting the self-aware critical thinking valued in TOK essays.
7. Mind your language, grammar, and structure.
As you know, the TOK essay should be written in a formal setting, but remember to double-check for errors! Eliminate informal language like idioms, contracted words, vague verbiage, and passive voice. Instead, use precise vocabulary, active voice, proper grammar, and solid transitions to guide the reader logically between ideas. Vary sentence structure to avoid monotony and ensure fluidity in your writing, do not have sentences too long or short! Check rigorously for even minor errors that undercut academic polish, your writing should mirror the ideas you are writing about, so keep it formal and sophisticated!
8. Ask for feedback.
Writing blossoms through collaboration! Seek mentorship by discussing structural and substantive elements with professors to gain insights from their expertise. You can always partner with peers to exchange constructive critique about the clarity, flow, and impact of your argumentation. Revise vigorously based on this collective wisdom, ensuring that the final essay optimally communicates your knowledge and perspective to readers, and recognize that a new perspective can more easily find flaws in your work!
There you have it - 10 tips to push your IB TOK essay skills to the next level. Implement this advice to outsmart the dreaded TOK monster and exceed exam expectations. You've got this! If you need further help, feel free to contact us at AceMinds Education for a free tutoring session for all your IB needs!
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