Arguments are clear, coherent, and effectively supported by specific examples. The implications of arguments are considered.
There is clear awareness and evaluation of different points of view.
Insightful
Convincing
Accomplished
Lucid
Pertinent
Relevant
Analytical
Organized
Acceptable
Mainstream
Adequate
Competent
Underdeveloped
Basic
Superficial
Limited
Ineffective
Descriptive
Incoherent
Formless
Refer to the offical IB guide P. 48 for more information
Table of Contents
A lengthy process is involved in composing a TOK essay, which starts long before the first word is written. Many authors utilize a TOK outline essay to arrange their thoughts before writing better.
A TOK essay outline is a two- to three-paragraph overview on the first page. It is a strategy that ensures an essay is well-organized and conveys its intended message.
This article provides an overview of the structure and outline of a TOK essay.
TOK means Theory of Knowledge Essay. It is usually an introduction to a complex, theoretical topic. To succeed in this essay, a writer must dig deep into particular areas of knowledge to build a case. The author would need to be intellectually motivated.
A TOK essay is a written inquiry and argumentative essay, not an essay on your knowledge or writing skills.
After the author briefly defines the TOK essay, they introduce each of the five areas that make up the essay. These are the thesis, the author’s role, the proof, the case, and the conclusion.
Let’s get into the TOK essay elements that every student should know without further ado.
Introduction (150 – 200 words).
The introduction describes the question the essay will answer and the desired outcome for the reader. Here is an outline to follow:
The body paragraph in a TOK essay is the central piece of your work. Here you can show your familiarity with the topic and cite important pieces of information while giving examples to back your claims. You should:
The author concludes the TOK paper by restating his thesis statement, summarizing the primary points.
The structure and format usually consist of the Introduction, Body paragraph, and conclusion. Here’s how to get started.
Your reader will gain a basic understanding of the subject at hand after reading this section. The introduction explains in depth what you plan to say and offers some context.
There are two main sections to this section in a theory of knowledge essay. It’s where you put your main argument or thesis statement, which lays out the overall goals of your paper.
Second, it has the knowledge problem, the key issue you’ll have to solve. Give some justification for why this subject matters and warrants investigation.
For the reader’s comprehension, you must define any unfamiliar terms used in your work.
The following paragraphs both argue for and against your position. They offer evidence to support the assertion you stated in your thesis statement.
Your claims are supported by the evidence presented in each paragraph. Paragraphs typically have a:
Keep the title and your thesis in mind at all times. What is your conclusion after analyzing the title? It’s usually not a good idea to take a firm stance on a contentious issue. Doing so may indicate a failure to appreciate the other side’s arguments.
Tell us which side you think is more plausible after reading your analysis and why. Also, justify the relevance of the response to this inquiry.
A TOK outline essay helps a writer draft content in the best possible, logical manner. This allows the essay to flow well and be coherent .
Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.
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TOK Home > Free TOK notes > TOK essay guidance > Writing & uploading the TOK essay
After you have grasped the essay rubric , chosen your title , and have a clear plan and structure , you can start writing your TOK essay. You’ll be doing this alongside the three interactions, so keep these in mind as you proceed.
Read the points below to get some advice on how to write your essay, and avoid common mistakes made by students.
Get started.
The most important part of writing your essay is getting started. You can procrastinate for ages, thinking about whether you’ve chosen the right title, which areas of knowledge to explore the question in, key thinker and ides to draw on, and so on. Obviously you need to choose the right title, and have an effective plan, but this means nothing until you have put your thoughts down on paper. You will find that many of your uncertainties start to resolve themselves when you start writing.
Your introduction should begin with a ‘hook’ to engage the reader, offer your interpretation of the key words or ideas from the title (don’t just copy a definition out of a dictionary – give your take on what the title means), outline the scope of the essay. Get your introduction right, and you will have set up the foundations for a great essay. If you rush it, or not view it with the importance it really requires, you’ll struggle to develop clear ideas in the main body of the essay.
By two, you should have formulated a clear essay plan. This means knowing which AOKs you are using as the context of the essay, the arguments and counterarguments you’ll be presenting, the real-life examples you’ll be drawing on to justify discussion points, how you’ll indicate the implications of your arguments, and the way in which you’ll challenge assumptions in the question. Agree with your teacher on this plan, and let them know if you are deviating significantly from it.
Each of the discussion points you make should be supported by a real-life example. These can come from your own experiences as a knower (inside, and outside of the school), or from events, issues, and topics you’ve read about or encountered from the news and other media sources.
A common mistake made by students is to move straight onto real-life examples without offering a proper discussion about knowledge. Discuss your own take on the question, perhaps referring to a key thinker or theory, before relating this to a real-life situation.
You need to offer a consideration of different points of view, and the way to do this is via counterarguments. For each of your claims or arguments, you should offer a counterclaim or counterargument, weighing up how the issue could be considered from another point of view. Make sure you evaluate these counterarguments, and don’t just mention them.
Make sure that you offer your own opinions, give your own interpretation of the title, and offer your own experiences to support your arguments. This will demonstrate your skills as a critical thinker, and distinguish your essay from those that rely on generic and cliched discussions.
In order to develop your ideas, and ensure that you’re on the right track with your essay, make sure you make full use of the with your teacher. It’s during these one-to-one sessions that you can discuss your arguments, evaluate your examples, and consider which key thinkers and concepts work in your essay.
Make sure that you format your essay in the right way, offer a decent bibliography, hit the word limit (without going over it), and follow all the other protocols for submitting your TOK essay. This will present a great impression to examiners, and show that you are ready and willing to follow the IB requirements for the assessment task.
Click on the buttons below to take you to the four steps of creating a great TOK essay. Don’t forget that we have plenty of videos on this and other aspects of the course, and members of the site have access to a huge amount of other resources to help you master the course and assessment tasks.
Check out our three-minute explainer video on the TOK essay here . The video goes over the basics of the TOK essay, such as how it’s assessed, the word count and other practical details, terms such as ‘perspectives’ and ‘implications’, and the role of real-world examples in justifying claims and arguments.
You’ll find more videos on this and other aspects of TOK here , and you can dive into much more depth via our free and premium webinars, here .
Click on the images below to access these premium webinars on how to create the essay and exhibition. Access more webinars here , and watch our videos on the assessment tasks on this page .
How do i choose my tok essay title.
You choose your essay from six prescribed essay titles, that are released at the beginning of your second DP year. We give a few tips on how to choose a PT that will work for you here . But briefly, choose one that links to your pre-existing knowledge, and that you find personally engaging.
You’ll be answering your prescribed title, within the context of two areas of knowledge, considering how different perspectives might affect our response to the question, and what the implications of your arguments are.
You can use ChatGPT to help you gather materials for your essay, but you should definitely not be using it to write the essay. Be very careful with ChatGPT. It bases its answers on online material, and much of this is inaccurate or out-of-date. For example, depending on what you ask it, it may tell you that you have to explore multiple areas of knowledge (rather than the two stipulated by the titles), and that you have to identify a separate knowledge question to the title (which is absolutely not the case).
Your teacher should run through the PTs when they are first released, and then meet you for three interactions, during which you’ll discuss your progress. They are allowed to give you one set of written feedback. But you can consult them at other times with specific questions.
Yes, real-life examples help illustrate your points and make your arguments more tangible. They can be drawn from personal experiences, historical events, scientific discoveries, etc.
While the TOK essay is not about your personal opinion per se, it’s important to reflect on your perspective and how it shapes the way you understand the title. However, you should avoid using the essay as a platform for rants or unsubstantiated claims.
Yes, including counter-arguments shows a deeper understanding of the complexity of the topic and demonstrates your critical thinking skills. It also enables you to consider different perspectives, and evaluate the implications of arguments.
Yes, as much as you can, draw on the key concepts such as justification, evidence, perspective, bias, certainty, and objectivity within your arguments linking them to the title, and to the real-world examples you draw on.
Clearly attribute ideas and sources that are not your own, and strive to present original insights and interpretations supported by evidence and reasoning. See our point above on using ChatGPT – never view this as more than a tool to help you gather material for your essay, rather than a tool to write it for you.
Avoid oversimplifying complex issues, relying solely on personal opinion without justification, neglecting counter-arguments, veering off the question, and failing to include a consideration of different perspectives.
You’ll have 6 months from the time the prescribed titles are released, to the deadline date for uploading your essay to the IB. However, most schools will set their own deadline for completing the essay, so that everyone has plenty of time to complete your PPF, and upload it on time. Follow what your school tells you about this.
The PPF (‘Planning and Progress Form’) is the document that you fill in to outline your discussions during the three essay. Although this is not directly assessed, it is an important part of demonstrating that you have approached the TOK essay in an ethical way, which is now particularly important in the era of ChatGPT.
Take breaks between revisions, seek feedback from peers or teachers, and carefully proofread for grammar, punctuation, and coherence.
While not required, referencing sources appropriately adds credibility to your essay; use footnotes or endnotes for citations.
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by Antony W
January 9, 2024
This is the complete guide on how to write a ToK essay in one night.
Whether you still have time left or you’re in the last minute race, this guide shows you exactly how to complete the assignment in the shortest time possible.
If you already understand the fundamentals of writing a ToK essay but you’re already running late, Help for Assessment can get the paper done for you. Get our ToK essay writing service and benefit from the convenience of our custom writing.
Otherwise, continue reading this guide to learn how to develop a comprehensive essay from start to finish, even if you have only 24 hours left.
The Theory of Knowledge essay is a 1,600 words assignment based on an already pre-determined title.
It requires you to compare and contrast the different ways of knowing with the different areas of knowledge.
Furthermore, your work must reflect on the nature of knowledge and clearly demonstrate why you know what you claim to know.
So here's what you need to do:
Choose a title from one of the prescribed essay titles provided by IB.
You shouldn’t just pick a topic because it appears simple. We recommend that you read each title and make a careful consideration of your topic selection.
Look at the title you’ve select and try to understand the command terms and the underlying knowledge question .
Ask yourself the following:
Keep in mind that Theory of Knowledge is comparative in nature.
Thus, when choosing your areas of knowledge , ensure you can easily draw relevant comparisons and contrasts to the WoKs you write.
Take note on whether the title requires you to handle two disciplines or AOK before you start writing.
And except for Math and History, you should be clear about the -discipline of the AOK that you choose.
Note the keywords in the essay’s instructions.
The question might ask you to “assess” or “evaluate” a perspective, which implies that you should consider for or against the title.
Also, factor in any grey area or ambiguity linked to the title.
IB assesses Theory of Knowledge essays based on four criteria, and each carries equal weight:
The Theory of Knowledge essay is inherently reflective. It requires you to demonstrate your thoughtful consideration of the title and your readiness to analyze and reflect upon it.
So brainstorm the title you’ve selected. Write all the thoughts that come to mind, and allow your ideas to flow freely.
Next, review your notes, making sure you identify interconnected ideas, as well as those that present conflicting viewpoints.
If the title presents a perspective to assess or evaluate, create two columns, one for supporting the perspective and another for opposing it, and allocate the ideas you have generated into the respective columns.
Additionally, create a third column to capture ambiguities or areas where the answer is not clear, and assign relevant ideas to this column.
Look at instances where you can use concrete examples to support the ideas you recorded. These examples will serve to enhance your arguments and add depth to your essay.
We’ve written quite a lot about TOK essay outline already, and we strongly recommend that you check out that guide for an in-depth teardown of the structure.
However, for the sake of this guide, here’s the summary of the format that you should follow:
First, understand that the purpose of the outline is to guide your essay, so you can easily organize your points to achieve a logical flow of information.
If you can follow this specific outline to a tee, you’ll end up with a more comprehensive essay based purely on the selected prescribed title.
Here’s the outline to use:
The introduction of your Theory of Knowledge essay sets the stage for the paper. It should be between 100 and 150 words long.
Your introduction goes here, usually in 100 to 150 words. Your description should show at most two things about the prescribed title and a few words to show that you understand the knowledge question.
Give a clear definition of one or two key terms from the prescribed title. The definitions are usually important, especially because they can give you some clues for perspectives and evidence.
Complete the paragraph by giving your readers a clear roadmap for the essay. By doing this, you make it easy for the reader to know exactly what to look for in your work.
The second and third paragraph will cover your first area of knowledge. This area should be no more than 600 words.
This is the section where you develop your second area of knowledge. Again, this part should be no more than 600 words.
The conclusion is the final paragraph of the ToK essay. In terms of length, it should be between 200 and 250 words long.
Note that the Theory of Knowledge essay has changed a bit. So as to the number of paragraphs in a TOK essay , the maximum you should have now is 6, not 9.
The TOK is often assessed through a 1200-1600-word essay and an oral presentation.
The essay asks you to reflect on the nature of knowledge, as well as how you know what you claim to know. It is usually a part of the International Baccalaureate Diploma and is compulsory for all students.
Every TOK essay is different. To pass your essay, you will need to prepare thoroughly.
Treat it as you would any type of research and take some time to create an outline and write your thesis statement. After writing, make sure you cite your work properly and proofread it.
About the author
Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.
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In short, I can’t recommend this article enough. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in topic above. Good work to the writer, you have truly outsmart yourself! Keep the good content coming.
Dear Sir, I would like you to check my TOK essay. Kindly let me know where can i improve my essay.
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IMAGES
COMMENTS
Paragraph 1. - Say one or two interesting things about the prescribed title question. This shows us, right away that you know what the question is asking. - Define one or two of the key terms in the title. Get definitions for all of the main words in your title. You don't need to include all of them in your essay, but it's useful to see how ...
Introduce your topic accurately and state your thesis statement for the essay carefully. A thesis statement is like a teaser to your entire essay wherein you define your key terms and introduce your interpretation of the question. Make sure that you do not reword the prescribed title in your thesis. Instead, it needs to, as the word says ...
Once you've grasped the essay rubric, and chosen your title, you can start planning and structuring your TOK essay. You base this around the 3 interactions with your teacher, which are one-on-one meetings discussing your progress, and receiving feedback. As well as the interactions, you can also ask your teacher specific questions about your ...
Theory of knowledge (TOK) is assessed through an exhibition and a 1,600 word essay. It asks students to reflect on the nature of knowledge, and on how we know what we claim to know. TOK is part of the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) core, and is mandatory for all students. Learn more about theory of knowledge.
Outline of the TOK Essay Structure. The International Baccalaureate Theory of Knowledge essay is a 750 to 1600 word requirement on the student's knowledge of the world, and how they analyze and evaluate it. The TOK essay structure is designed to help students express their ideas in an organized, concise and effective way. ...
TOK Essay Outline. As with most essays, the Theory of Knowledge essay outline is quite simple in theory. It consists of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. However, the logical distinctions made between the parts are very different, so that is what we shall focus on. The recommended TOK format is designed to inspire your thinking, give ...
Our animated video explainer outlines the key aspects of the TOK essay, and how to write it. Find out about theoryofknowledge.net membership: http://theoryof...
This part of the TOK essay is where you develop your ideas, present evidence, and conduct a thorough analysis. Here's a comprehensive guide to writing the body of your TOK essay. Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence related to your thesis. This sentence should introduce the paragraph's main idea, clearly linking your argument.
A Beginners Guide to Acing the TOK Essay Here is a complete guide to help you understand - and ace - the TOK essay. TOK - The Theory of Knowledge Essay The Theory of Knowledge is a theoretical knowledge based essay. Students are required to demonstrate their ability to compare and contrast eight areas of […]
Example essays. Last updated: 06 June 2023. As part of theory of knowledge (TOK), each student chooses one essay title from six issued by International Baccalaureate® (IB). The titles change in each examination session. Upcoming and past questions include:
TOK - The Theory of Knowledge Essay. The Theory of Knowledge is a theoretical knowledge based essay. ... Once you have the information and are ready to write, you can outline the essay. The structure normally consists of at least five sections and a limit of around 1200 - 1600 words in total. 6. Write the body of the essay
Writing the Essay. 1. Use your essay outline as a guide. Focus on expanding each section of your outline, keeping in mind the 1200-1600 word limit for the essay. Your introduction and your conclusion should be the shortest paragraphs in your essay, and the body paragraphs should be the longer sections of your essay.
1. Understand the prompt: Before diving into the creation of your thesis, it is crucial to fully grasp the prompt or essay question. Take the time to analyze the wording and identify the key concepts and ideas being presented. This will give you a solid foundation from which to build your thesis. 2.
The TOK essay makes up a significant part of the overall mark for TOK. Additionally, the bonus points available can make an important difference in your overall IB results. Every point counts. The TOK essay process is an excellent way to develop open-ended and creative analytical skills. The Extended Essay is similar in some respects but the EE ...
Students are required to complete two assessment tasks for TOK. • Theory of knowledge exhibition • Theory of knowledge essay on a prescribed title Assessment objectives Having completed the TOK course, students should be able to: • demonstrate TOK thinking through the critical examination of knowledge questions
10 TOK essay starting points. 1 The TOK essay is an individual task. 2 It represents two thirds of the overall mark for TOK. 3 It is externally marked. 4 You choose your title from a list of six prescribed titles, which change every exam session. 5 The word count for the essay is 1600 words.
Essay Guidelines - Word Count. The TOK Essay must be written in standard 12 type size and be double spaced. The maximum length of the essay is 1,600 words. Extended footnotes or appendices are not appropriate for the TOK essay. • any quotations. • any maps, charts, diagrams, annotated illustrations or tables.
In Theory of Knowledge classes, you will explore knowledge questions related to a range of themes . You will also look at a 5 compulsory areas of knowledge: History, Human Sciences, Mathematics, Natural Sciences and The Arts. You will make links between various areas of knowledge whilst evaluating the boundaries that confine them.
Here are my top tips for getting to top marks on your Theory of Knowledge essay. 1. All ToK essays are about the prescribed title, but also about how we know in general. Make sure to keep your essay linking back to the knowledge aspect, rather than to 'how society is' for example. 2. But be careful about which AoK's you include.
A TOK outline essay helps a writer draft content in the best possible, logical manner. This allows the essay to flow well and be coherent. Abir Ghenaiet. Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports ...
Writing a TOK essay is a challenging task. We offer some tips on planning, structuring, and writing it, and what characterizes a great TOK essay. Search for: Search. ... The PPF ('Planning and Progress Form') is the document that you fill in to outline your discussions during the three essay. Although this is not directly assessed, it is an ...
Key Takeaways. Read the essay prompt carefully to understand what the assignment requires. Choose a prescribed title. Select two of the most appropriate areas of knowledge. Develop an outline relevant to the Theory of Knowledge essay. Write the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Proofread your work.
Diploma Programme Theory of Knowledge for years and have found ways to have fun while scoring well. Use my Exhibition samples, TOK Essay models and assignment breakdowns to raise your TOK score! If you want help, editing, or one-on-one assistance, contact me below! The IB considers TOK a "Core" course, which means that a passing grade is ...