The standard calendar of the International Baccalaureate Organization is set to release the six Theory of Knowledge (TOK) essay titles twice a year- for the months of September and March.
The TOK essay titles for submission in May are released in the previous September, while the TOK essay titles for submission in November are released the previous March.
The publish of the upcoming TOK essay titles for the submission in May 2022 is creating a surge of excitement amongst the IBDP community.
amThe IB Diploma Programme students get to choose one essay prompt or title out of the six IBO prescribed TOK essay titles. As an IBDP student, you get to explore one essay prompt ‘as is given’ without any kind of tweaks in the suggested titles.
How to structure and format your TOK essay
The unpacking and demystifying the TOK titles focused on the areas of knowledge (AOKs) happen through open and contestable knowledge questions implicit in the titles. Of course, you would not invest all your six months in writing the TOK essay. At the same time, you need to remember that the 1200-1600-word document requires a very sustained research on knowledge construction through real life observations, which cannot happen overnight before the submission deadline. You should never be gullible to time constraint in exploring the prompt, for too many deadlines lose the charm of the successful learning outcomes which TOK essays are destined to produce.
It is momentous for you to personally reflect and engage with the chosen TOK essay title. Dissect your essay prompt with the reference to two AOKs looked at from different perspectives. Different perspectives relate to exploratory claims and counter claims pertinent to real life situations which require a critical evaluation. Your real life examples should not be trite or hypothetical, but very crisp and clear. The most profound learning outcome in drafting your TOK essay prompt shows how balanced you are in striking an equilibrium between the claims and counter claims, along with demonstrating a proficiency over them. The format of drafting the TOK essay requires a structured flow of thoughts in how you need to integrate your TOK concepts. While deconstructing your title, churn out the TOK concepts through which you can weave through the problems of knowledge. Also, analyse the implicit and explicit assumptions hidden in the title.
The most salient observation here is that the aim of the TOK essay is not just exposing you to research but involving into constructive research backed up by evidences. You need to be very open minded with respect to equilibrating your contestable perspectives through which you look into the title.
TOK essay assessment
The TOK essay is the personal engagement assessed externally on a global and holistic parameter. It weighs a 67% or two-third of your total TOK score and hence needs a lot of your attention. Though there are five levels of performance using assessment instruments, it is not a prerequisite for every single aspect of a level descriptor to be met for a mark in that level to be awarded; rather a holistic or overall impression is what sets the benchmark.
The ultimate learning aims and objectives of TOK essay lies in precisely analysing how clear, coherent, and critical you are in your thinking process in the ‘TOK way’. All the titles have a common objective of helping you understand how the TOK manifests in the real world through a critical and reflective thinking process
Is TOK a waste of time?
Many students often presume that amidst their rigorous IBDP coursework, TOK is an added pressure. This is where a robust hand holding matters in helping you analyse the true essence of TOK coursework. TOK is not a mere subject to cram through. It is a methodology and a process to look at how knowledge manifests in the real world. The study of TOK requires open-mindedness. You would have to reflect on your prior knowledge, unlearn and relearn the true meaning of knowledge through various contestable theories. Also, the study of the coursework can never be through monologue where your teacher is teaching you. TOK facilitates you through a student-led inquiry process to infuse certain precious attitudes in your learner profile-to be more logical, rational, balanced, and international minded in evaluating ideas in and beyond the classroom.
