Theory of Knowledge Essay Preparation

Theory of Knowledge Essay preparation

• Ways of Knowing (WOKs)
• language
• sense perception
• emotion
• reason
• imagination
• faith
• intuition
• memory
• (Study four in depth)
• Areas of Knowledge (AOKs)
• mathematics
• the natural sciences
• the human sciences
• the arts
• history
• ethics
• religious knowledge systems
• indigenous knowledge systems

Knowledge Frameworks, Claims and Questions

• Knowledge frameworks - apply to AOKs
• • scope, motivation and applications
• • specific terminology and concepts
• • methods used to produce knowledge
• • key historical developments
• • interaction with personal knowledge
• Knowledge Claims:
• Claims about (some aspect of ) the world - first order claims
• Claims about knowledge - second order claims
• Knowledge Questions:
• Questions about knowledge
• Open: there are many plausible answers
• General: not phrased in subject specific terms (although they may be answered with specifics)

Essay and Presentation

• The Essay
• Essay must not be over 1,600 words. Avoid extended notes, extensive footnotes or appendices - they may not be read and you may be penalized!
• The word count includes:
• • the main body of the essay
• • in text quotations
• The word count does not include:
• • any acknowledgments
• • the references (whether given in footnotes, endnotes or in-text) - but keep these short!
• • any maps, charts, diagrams, annotated illustrations or tables
• • the bibliography
• The Presentation
• May be in any live form: presentation debate etc, but must NOT be simply reading an essay
• May be done in a group (up to 3 people)
• You must submit a presentation planning document to your teacher
• Develop a knowledge question from a real life situation, develop the knowledge question, explore from various perspectives and apply to other real world situations

Using Mind Maps to develop your essay

• GoConqr Mind Maps are a great tool to plan and organise your essay.
• You could create a Mind Map for each AOK and each WOK, before bringing your ideas together in an essay plan Mind Map.
• See the video here for how to make your own Mind Maps and the next slide for some examples created by other GoConqr users.
• You can also use the search function to search for resources related to specific AOKs.
• Good luck with your essay planning!
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AY1SKHUkXE&feature=youtu.be (Enclavar)

TOK essay Mind Maps

• "Ways of knowing are a check on our instinctive judgements."
• "The whole point of knowledge is to produce both meaning and purpose in our personal lives".
• Theory of Knowledge essay mind map - Kieran Lambe
• “The knower’s perspective is essential in the pursuit of knowledge.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
• TOK mindmap “Without application in the world, the value of knowledge is greatly diminished.”
• “In gaining knowledge, each area of knowledge uses a network of ways of knowing.” Discuss this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge
• “In knowledge there is always a trade-off between accuracy and simplicity.” Evaluate this statement