ToK Prescribed Essay Titles May 2018

Here are the May 2018 TOK Essay prompts courtesy of Larry Ferlazzo and IB TOK Essay Tutor:

1. “The fields of study of academic disciplines can overlap, but adopting interdisciplinary approaches to the production of knowledge leads only to confusion.” Discuss this claim.

2. “We know with confidence only when we know little; with knowledge doubt increases” (adapted from JW von Goethe). Discuss this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge.

3. “Without the assumption of the existence of uniformities there can be no knowledge.” Discuss this claim with reference to two areas of knowledge.

4. “Suspension of disbelief” is an essential feature of theatre. Is it essential in other areas of knowledge? Develop your answer with reference to two areas of knowledge.

5. “The quality of knowledge produced by an academic discipline is directly proportional to the duration of historical development of that discipline.” Explore this claim with reference to two disciplines.

6. “Robust knowledge requires both consensus and disagreement.” Discuss this claim with reference to two areas of knowledge.

Some of them are not easy to decode, so all the best with them!

TOK Prescribed Essay TItles (November 2017)

Here are the TOK titles for the November 2017 exam session courtesy of tok.net:

1. Is the value of knowledge related to how easy it is to access? Develop your answer with reference to two areas of knowledge.

2. “Every theory destabilizes as much as it solidifies our view of the world” (Nathan Jurgenson). Discuss.

3. “Over time, knowledge has become more accurate.” Discuss this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge.

4. Areas of knowledge have methods for testing and supporting knowledge claims. How can we know that these methods themselves are reliable? Develop your answer with reference to two areas of knowledge.

5. “The simplest explanation is the best explanation.” Discuss this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge.

6. “The production of knowledge seems to require creativity at every stage of the process.” Discuss this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge.

All the best with your work on these!