The prescribed title you choose will end up shaping everything that follows in your Theory of Knowledge (TOK) essay: your examples, Areas Of Knowledge’s (AOKs), your argument, even how you will be able to hit the top mark bands. Spending real time on this decision before you start writing will save you lots of time in the long run.
Here is what is essential to consider before you lock in a decision:
Relevance to Strong Real Life Examples
Before committing to a title, brainstorm 3-4 potential real life situations for each of the 6 options.
In IB TOK, real life examples are specific, relevant situations, events or experiences from the real world that help to illustrate a knowledge claim in context, and they should contain enough detail to clearly show how and why they relate to the knowledge issue being discussed.
A teacher of mine reminded me that a title is only as good as the examples you can bring to it. So ask yourself these questions when considering examples for each title:
- Do these examples give me two very clear, unambiguous and different viewpoints?
A title only works well if it lets you stage a real disagreement, not a one-sided demonstration of a perspective.
- Can I think of examples with credible and genuine detail?
This is where you must be able to think of examples that are not cliches. Your examples should avoid being vague gestures at “history” or “science” in general.
- Can I honestly understand and articulate the counterargument/alternative perspectives- the view that is contrary to the one I may be naturally drawn to?
If you can only see one side to a potential essay response, that’s a warning sign, not just for balance, but also because examiners (as I’m told) reward genuine grappling with differing perspectives.
If you are struggling to find a second, alternative viewpoint for a title, move on to a different one. Titles that for you personally only present one obvious conclusion tend to produce shallow essays. Pick a title that will not only keep you enthused to write about, but that you can support your viewpoints with intentional examples.
Which AOKs to Use
Check the exact wording of the title carefully.
- Some titles prescribe the AOKs for you. For example, “with reference to two AOKs, one of which must be the Natural Sciences.” or “Discuss with reference to Human Sciences and another AOK.” When this happens, you don’t have a choice, as you must follow the instructions exactly, otherwise you risk being penalised for not answering the actual question. In this case, one of the AOK is already given and you will have to choose one more that is appropriate.
- Where you do have a choice, for instance, “Discuss with reference to two AOKs.”, ensure you pick AOKs that complement each other well and are appropriate to the prompt to work with.
This usually means:
- Choose AOKs where the same knowledge question plays out differently, so your comparison can be illuminating and concepts can function differently in different AOK contexts.
- Choose AOKs you know well enough to discuss their tools, methods and community of knowers in real depth, not just at surface level.
- Try to avoid pairing two AOKs that are too similar in their methodology in order to prevent your essay becoming repetitive instead of comparative.
Answer the Question
This sounds quite obvious, but it’s where many essays lose marks. You cannot alter the question so don’t try and reword it into something that is perhaps easier to answer and don’t answer a nearby question that might seem more comfortable.
Answering the question fully is the most important aspect of the essay. If the title has multiple parts or conditions, for instance “to what extent”, this means that every part needs to be addressed, so dropping clauses or sections of the title simply because it is easier is unfortunately not an option for success.
I would recommend keeping the full title at the top of your notes and your planning as you write, and continue to check your paragraphs alongside the title as you go. This also ensures your essay stays focused and perceptive.
Unpack the Key Words First
Before you outline any arguments, go through the title word by word and highlight the key terms- especially the ones with philosophical weight.
I would recommend doing a mindmap of each key word and begin with writing your own working definition of that word. Consider how that definition influences your view on the question. A different reasonable definition might lead to a different answer, and noticing this is often the seed of a strong, nuanced essay. Also be sure to check whether the word could be interpreted differently across your chosen AOKs. A term like “certainty” for example, doesn’t mean the same in mathematics as it does in history, and surfacing that tension between various perspectives is what your essay should champion.
Finally, I would recommend watching videos on YouTube about the TOK Essay Prompts, which will also provide a different perspective on interpretation, which may also make it easier for you to choose one.
Hopefully this guide helps and happy TOK Essay title-choosing and writing!
