1. Understand the Prompt
- TOK essay titles are phrased as knowledge questions, such as "To what extent is the knowledge we produce determined by the methodologies we use?"
- Deconstruct the prompt to identify the key terms, the scope of the essay, and the knowledge areas to explore.
- Avoid simply restating the prompt in your introduction. Show that you genuinely understand its implications and intend to deeply explore the topic.
If the prompt is "To what extent is the knowledge we produce determined by the methodologies we use?" key terms to consider would be "knowledge", "methodologies", and "determined". The scope is how methodology influences knowledge production, and potential areas to explore could be natural sciences (with experiments as a methodology) and history (with primary source analysis as a methodology).
2. Include Specific Real-Life Examples
- A good TOK essay uses concrete examples to support abstract ideas about the production of knowledge.
- Examples should be specific, detailed, and directly relevant to your argument. Avoid generic or overused examples.
- Use examples from a variety of disciplines, time periods, and cultures to demonstrate a well-rounded perspective.
- Personal examples can be effective but use them judiciously and always connect them back to the prompt.
If arguing that methodologies shape knowledge in the natural sciences, a specific example could be the development of telescopes allowing astronomers to collect data supporting heliocentrism, overturning previous geocentric models.
3. Develop a Clear Argument
- Your thesis should directly address the prompt, not just rephrase it. Take a nuanced position while still maintaining a clear argument.
- Acknowledge the complexity of the issue, but avoid simply saying "it depends." Commit to an argument while recognizing limitations.
- Make sure each paragraph clearly advances and supports your overall argument. Topic sentences are crucial for this.
"While research methodologies shape the kind of knowledge produced in fields like natural science and history, the researcher's own biases and the inherent limitations of any single method suggest methodology alone does not fully determine knowledge."
4. Analyze Knowledge Questions from Different Perspectives
- Consider how your thesis could be approached through various Ways of Knowing (WOKs) and Areas of Knowing (AOKs).
- Discussing how a claim might be seen through contrasting WOKs (e.g. reason vs. emotion) demonstrates depth of analysis.
- Connect your examples back to knowledge questions. How do they illustrate ways of producing, acquiring, and sharing knowledge?
- Don't be afraid to acknowledge limitations and counterarguments.
5. Use Terminology Effectively
- Demonstrate an understanding of TOK concepts and terminology (e.g. WOKs, AOKs, knowledge claims, knowledge questions).
- Use these terms meaningfully in your analysis, not just as buzzwords.
- Define key terms to establish the scope of your argument.
"Peer review, a key methodology in the natural sciences AOK, subjects individual researchers' knowledge claims to communal scrutiny. This represents a shared valuing of logical coherence and empirical evidence over subjective, emotionally-based belief."
6. Structure Your Essay Purposefully
- Introduction
- Clear thesis statement
- Overview of approach
- How Methodologies Shape Knowledge
- Natural sciences example
- History example
- The Role of Researcher Bias
- Methodological Limitations
- Conclusion
7. Cite Sources and Examples
- Clearly attribute ideas and examples to their sources
- Cite a variety of authoritative sources
- Make sure to cite any examples or evidence that isn't common knowledge
8. Revise, Edit and Proofread
- Leave time for putting your essay aside and returning with fresh eyes
- Edit for clarity, concision, and coherence
- Double check that your introduction and conclusion match
- Carefully proofread for spelling, grammar, and citation formatting
- Overusing jargon without engaging with ideas
- Making sweeping generalizations without examples
- Letting examples dominate at the expense of analysis
- Straying off-topic or including irrelevant tangents