title 1 tok essay 2023

Replicability: 2023 TOK Essay Title 1

In this episode, I sat down with Donna Gee (IB Design Technology Teacher) and Michael Stewart (IB Psychology and TOK Teacher) to unpack and wrestle with 2023 TOK Essay Title 1: Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge. We had a rich discussion which I hope you’ll find insightful into the role and relevance of replicability in different Areas of Knowledge. Links several examples discussed can be found on www.TOKTalk.org Guests: Donna Gee, Michael Stewart

Information

Show TOK Talk
Published October 25, 2022 at 3:56 AM UTC
Length 33 min
Rating Clean

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Africa, Middle East, and India

Brunei Darussalam
Burkina Faso
Côte d’Ivoire
Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The
Guinea-Bissau
Niger (English)
Congo, Republic of
Saudi Arabia
Sierra Leone
South Africa
Tanzania, United Republic Of
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates

Asia Pacific

Indonesia (English)
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Malaysia (English)
Micronesia, Federated States of
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Solomon Islands
Bosnia and Herzegovina
France (Français)
Deutschland
Luxembourg (English)
Moldova, Republic Of
North Macedonia
Portugal (Português)
Türkiye (English)
United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina (Español)
Bolivia (Español)
Virgin Islands, British
Cayman Islands
Chile (Español)
Colombia (Español)
Costa Rica (Español)
República Dominicana
Ecuador (Español)
El Salvador (Español)
Guatemala (Español)
Honduras (Español)
Nicaragua (Español)
Paraguay (Español)
St. Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
St. Vincent and The Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos
Uruguay (English)
Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

Canada (English)
Canada (Français)
United States
Estados Unidos (Español México)
الولايات المتحدة
États-Unis (Français France)
Estados Unidos (Português Brasil)
美國 (繁體中文台灣)

May 20, 2023

Unpacking the 2023 November TOK Titles: A Comprehensive IB Solved Guide

The November 2023 titles for the IB Theory of Knowledge Essay have been released! Let's face it – the TOK essay can be very intimidating. With so many topics to choose from and so many ideas bouncing around, it can be hard to know where to begin. That's where we come in. In this post, we'll take a closer look at each of the titles and give you some tips for approaching them.

General Tips to Unpacking a Title

Whenever we approach a prompt, we always want to think in terms of perspectives and counter-perspectives (for those who are familiar with the old syllabus, these were previously known as claims and counterclaims). This allows us to structure the essay within the two selected AOKs, creating four paragraphs directly addressing the title and with consideration of varying perspectives on the title. While the final conclusion that we draw will likely lie somewhere in the middle, or argue that each perspective is more/less correct in different circumstances, it is often helpful to think of the two extremes first before trying to come up with a more nuanced conclusion.

So let’s get into unpacking them – here is everything you need to know about each of the November 2023 TOK Essay titles:

Title 1: Are facts alone enough to prove a claim? Discuss with reference to any two areas of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: Natural Sciences, Human Sciences, History

For this title, the perspective and counter-perspective are straightforward – either facts alone are enough to prove a claim, or they are not.

Some ideas to think about which support the first perspective:

Facts are objective – By providing objective evidence for a claim, facts can be a highly reliable form of evidence to support claims made by knowers. This objectivity allows for the same claim to be proven across time, in different cultures and by unique knowers.

Facts allow for conclusions to be drawn through logic – By combining an array of established facts, deductive reasoning can be utilised to draw conclusions about the world and produce new knowledge. Often facts form the premises from which knowledge claims can be made, allowing a knower to prove a claim by first establishing a series of interconnected facts.

Facts can be tested – This is particularly important for science-based AOKs which rely upon falsification as an important method of producing new knowledge. Since facts can be tested, the veracity of a knower’s claim is always available to be disproven by empirical evidence.

For your counter-perspective, you have a far greater degree of freedom in your discussion. This is where you can really differentiate your essay from others, as it is your job to decide which other important elements beyond facts alone may be necessary to prove a claim. Some ideas from us:

Opinions – Whilst opinions lack the objectivity of facts, they are often important to proving knowledge claims, as these claims are often unable to be proven by facts alone. Rather inferences must be drawn to create meaning from facts. This can be illustrated through a very simple claim: Imagine for instance that we were trying to prove the claim that Germany were responsible for World War I. Whilst we could drawn upon facts, such as the fact that they issued a blank cheque to Austria-Hungary or the fact that they invaded Belgium in August 1914, ultimately we rely upon the opinions of historians in making a judgement on how important this was in the context of the war.

Personal Experience – Whilst personal experiences only provide anecdotal evidence and cannot allow us to draw broader conclusions, they may be necessary to prove a claim which involves emotion or personal beliefs.

Creativity – Creative thinking may be necessary to prove claims, particularly in the sciences, where facts alone are insufficient. For instance, scientific theories, whilst based in fact, are often dependent on analogies, comparisons and metaphor to explain abstract concepts for which there may not yet be any measurable or empirical evidence.

Title 2: If “the mathematician’s patterns, like the painter’s and the poet’s, must be beautiful” (G.H. Hardy), how might this impact the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to mathematics and the arts.

This title is far more intricate than the others, relying heavily upon the definitions you impose upon key terms. The concept of the “mathematician’s patterns” and the term “beautiful” must be defined in the opening of the essay, as this will restrict the scope of your knowledge exploration. The way in which we would recommend splitting up this topic would be to first discuss the impact upon the production of knowledge in mathematics and then within the Arts. Some ideas for the perspectives and counter-perspectives which you may explore include:

Beauty in Mathematics – You will want to consider the importance of beauty in Mathematics. This is not referring to beauty in the traditional sense but perhaps considering other ways in which Mathematics may be considered beautiful such as in its way of transforming complex real-world problems into simple symbols which can be solved. This can impact the production of knowledge as mathematicians may choose to ignore solutions which are complex and rough – in other words, ‘mathematically ugly’.

Beauty in Art – In discussing this AOK, you may consider the debate between aestheticism and purpose within the Arts – In other words, is Art merely supposed to ‘look good’ or does it have a greater purpose, and how does this relate to the production of knowledge in and through the Arts.

Title 3: In the acquisition of knowledge, is following experts unquestioningly as dangerous as ignoring them completely? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: Human Sciences and Natural Sciences/History/Math

This title presents a very contemporary issue which is the questioning of experts and trust in the knowledge produced by experts. Nonetheless, there is a clear perspective and counter-perspective presented by this title – it is either more dangerous to follow experts unquestioningly or more dangerous to ignore them completely.

Some ideas relevant to the first perspective:

Evidence over Experts – By following experts unquestioningly, rather than examining the quality of their evidence and research methods, we fall into the trap of making arguments from authority without confirming that their conclusions are actually correct.

Subjective Experiences – While experts are helpful in drawing general conclusions/findings about the world, they do not account for subjective, individual experiences. This is particularly relevant in the Human Sciences, as theories and claims of human behaviour may not apply to all people due to the uniqueness of humans.

Lack of Progress – It is only by questioning established paradigms and claims made by existing experts that we are able to progress and acquire new knowledge. If all experts are followed unquestioningly, there can be no overhaul of existing knowledge when necessary.

Some ideas relevant to the counter-perspective:

Established Research Systems – Experts are trained in effective research methodologies and have systems to maximise the reliability of the claims they make. By ignoring experts, we are instead relying upon knowledge of laypeople whose claims have not been rigorously assessed for their veracity.

Manipulation and Logical Fallacies – By ignoring the claims of experts and instead acquiring knowledge through prominent figures such as celebrities and the media, we expose ourselves to manipulation and the array of logical fallacies employed by these individuals who have their own agenda beyond the dissemination of knowledge.

Knowledge Framework – Experts develop knowledge frameworks which can guide the production of new knowledge. By ignoring experts, we are often left to deal with problems on a case-by-case basis which can lead to a lack of consistency and structure within the knowledge which is acquired.

Title 4: Is it problematic that knowledge is so often shaped by the values of those who produce it? Discuss with reference to any two areas of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: History, Arts, Human Sciences

This title has a focus on context and values, integral elements of the knowledge framework within the new syllabus. It also has two clear perspectives to be explored – the claim that it is problematic or the claim that it is not, keeping in mind that across both perspectives, it must be specified how knowledge is shaped by individual values.

Some ideas for the first perspective:

Bias – The shaping of knowledge by one’s individual values can create bias which may impede the reliability of knowledge produced through the lens of these values.

Subjectivity – If subjective beliefs founded in one’s values are imported into the production of knowledge which should be based on facts and evidence, this can be problematic for this knowledge.

Lack of Diversity/One-Sided Knowledge – When entire banks of knowledge are produced by individuals from the same background, culture, beliefs or school of thought, this can lead to the omission of other perspectives on an issue, which can limit the knowledge which is produced.

Individual Perspective are Important – It is often important for a knower to incorporate their own personal perspective in the production of knowledge as this is ultimately the only way in which interpretations and opinions beyond mere facts can be drawn.

Knowledge about the Knower – We can often learn more about a knower, their values and the social norms of their time when evaluating knowledge claims which are shaped by individual values, providing a second layer of ‘knowledge within knowledge’.

Specific Knowledge – Whilst not broadly applicable to people or contexts with different values, knowledge produced by those with particular individual values can be more specific and applicable to knowers within the same value system. This form of ‘insider knowledge’ may be shaped by the personal experiences of an individual, which is an asset to the production of knowledge rather than a hinderance.

Title 5: Is it always the case that “the world isn’t just the way it is, it is how we understand it – and in understanding something, we bring something to it” (adapted from Life of Pi by Yann Martel)? Discuss with reference to history and the natural sciences.

This title touches upon the debate between objective and relativistic views of knowledge and the world. The phrase ‘is it always the case’ allows us to derive two perspectives to explore – it either is always the case or it is not. The first perspective requires arguments which explain why this may always be the case, whereas the second only requires you to provide some exceptions/circumstances in which this would not be the case.

Interpretation creates Meaning – It may be argued that all elements of the world must be interpreted and doing so involves the unique lens of each individual knower. In this way, what we bring to the production of knowledge is our own distinct interpretation of the world around us.

Questioning creates Meaning – We could also consider how the questions which knowers ask are unique and based upon our own individual understanding of the world. This means that something new is created each time a new knower attempts to understand the world, as the questions asked and curiosity of each individual provides a distinct approach to knowledge.

Some ideas for the counter-perspective:

Objectivity Exists – It may be argued that there are some elements of the world which are fixed, unquestionable and objective. These components of knowledge are not dependent upon the interpretation of the individual, as there should be objective standards from which everyone should draw the same conclusion.

Repeatability – Particularly in the Natural Sciences, there are some elements of knowledge which are repeatable and not reliant upon the interpretation of the individual knower. This concept of repeatability is a foundational tenet of the sciences and the production of new knowledge of the world around us.

Title 6: Faced with a vast amount of information, how do we select what is significant for the acquisition of knowledge? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: Natural Sciences and Human Sciences/History/Arts

This title questions the way in which we determine whether a piece of information is significant for knowledge. Since this is a ‘how’ question, there are many perspectives which can be explored, rather than a clear binary of perspectives. Some ideas from us:

Selection through Merit – This concept is particularly relevant to the Natural Sciences, as the theories which are ultimately deemed as significant are those which are not falsified. This merit-based approach pits scientific theories against each other to determine which are significant for the acquisition of knowledge.

Selection through Structure and Processes – By establishing set systems and procedures for filtering the vast amount of information available within an AOK, we can make selections as to which knowledge is significant.

Selection through Applicability – When judging what is significant for the acquisition of knowledge, a knower may have to consider the vast amount of information and decipher which piece of information is most applicable to their context, values or specific circumstances.

So there you have it! By now, you should have a better idea about which TOK essay title stands out the most to you and maybe even a few ideas about what to write. But where do you begin? Don't worry, we understand that writing a Theory of Knowledge essay can be a daunting task, but with the help of our expert IB tutors, you'll be on your way to success in no time. Plus, with online IB tutoring available, you can get the help you need from anywhere in the world. Don't let the TOK essay stress you out – contact us today to learn more about our IB tutoring services and how we can help you succeed in your IB studies.

IB Solved: Achieve Your IB Dreams and Secure Your Future!

Internal Assessment Guides

November 2023 TOK Essay Titles Explained with Examples

The prescribed titles for the November 2023 TOK Essay has been released! Here are all the titles with detailed explanation and examples to get you started:

Are facts alone enough to prove a claim? Discuss with reference to any two areas of knowledge.

If "the mathematician's patterns, like the painter's and the poet's, must be beautiful" (G.H. Hardy), how might this impact the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to mathematics and the arts.

In the acquisition of knowledge, is following experts unquestioningly as dangerous as ignoring them completely? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge.

Is it problematic that knowledge is so often shaped by the values of those who produce it? Discuss with reference to any two areas of knowledge.

Is it always the case that "the world isn't just the way I is, it is how we understand it - and in understanding something, we bring something to it" (adapted from Life of Pi by Yann Martel)? Discuss with reference to history and the natural sciences.

Faced with a vast amount of information, how do we select what is significant for the acquisition of knowledge? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.

Below are the explanations. If you need help with TOK concepts and how to write a good essay, check out the resources in the TOK subject page!

While an initially simple prompt, sometimes the simplest statements are also the hardest to prove. I definitely feel that this is the case here. This prompt hinges on how you would personally define facts. In the TOK course, we know that knowledge is produced when someone proposes a knowledge claim, which is subsequently justified or disproven by suitable evidence. This title essentially asks of you to decide whether "facts" by themselves are sufficient evidence for us to prove a claim to be true, and hence consider it knowledge.

You may think that you have a good understanding of what 'facts' are. You have seen quick facts, cold facts, fun facts, etc... all pointing to little nuggets of information which we consider true. The question is though, how did they become true in the first place? In some areas of knowledge, 'facts' are pretty obvious. 1 + 1 = 2 is a true fact within the area of Mathematics. A Helium atom has 2 protons is a fact within the Natural Sciences. However, what constitutes facts in the Arts, History or Human Sciences?

Every single AOK has a different way of producing and dealing with 'facts'. Mathematics has their foundational axioms, the most basic set of facts that sets out how the whole AOK itself works so that things like 1 + 2 = 2 + 1 is true without us having to prove it. From there, mathematical knowledge builds upon these axioms and into a variety of sub disciplines within the AOK, developing into things like the Pythagoras Theorem or the triangle inequality, etc. Natural Science research nowadays builds upon the research done in the past. So knowledge we know to be true from before is applied to further what is to be known within the AOK to verify new claims. So it seems that perhaps facts play an important role at least in some AOKs, but is it the only requirement to produce new knowledge and justify claims? We know that in natural sciences, we tend to experiment and observe to ultimately prove or disprove a hypothesis. Without experimentation, and only using the facts we already know, it seems a bit tricky to further what we know!

I encourage you to revisit the TOK 101 page and find out more about the different stages of knowledge. Consider how facts are important in each stage of knowledge, but focusing primarily on how knowledge is produced in each AOK. How does knowledge evolve in each AOK? Can it develop organically solely from the facts we have now or does it require some additional input from other types of evidence?

The title is very specific, requiring discussion of mathematics and arts inline with the quote. It seems to propose that mathematics shares similar artistic properties with the arts (with examples such as paintings and poetry). You may have heard of the saying that Mathematics is a beautiful language or something to that effect. There have been discussions on the internet that beyond high school mathematics, mathematics can develop into quite a creative and artistic discipline. Mathematics has been used to creatively construct art! One obvious example (thus one that you probably shouldn't use in your essay) is fractals :

You can read more about the mathematical patterns behind fractals, but it is one artistic representation of mathematics.

While this prompt seems quite abstract at first, it does raise a good question about the intentions of producing knowledge in each AOK. Is it the purpose of the Arts to 'look pretty' and make us go "WOW that's so beautiful"? Conversely, is mathematics meant to be function first, form second or vice versa?

There are plenty of examples where art isn't meant to be pretty. There is a famous photograph of the chaos and brutality of the Vietnam war that is pretty infamous (do a quick google search!). Even if it isn't beautiful in the traditional sense, can it be considered beautiful in another perspective, especially considering the intention of why this was produced and what knowledge this produced? Similarly, mathematics tends to have the association that it is practical to real life and helps us solve some problems. Does mathematics have value if mathematical knowledge is produced without an immediate benefit or application? This is the world that pure mathematicians live in. While applied mathematicians can directly show their relevance and practicality of produced knowledge, it might not always be 'beautiful' in the artistic sense, but it can be 'beautiful' in its ability to capture the complex world. At the same time, if mathematics is purely beautiful in a satisfying sense (think when you factorise a quadratic and how it simplifies down to something solvable), but with no immediate practicality, is it still worth producing?

The key to this prompt is not to dispute the notion of the given quote. Yes, I know it's probably not the best quote, but think about the variations of how you can interpret the quote, rather than being either for or against the quote.

This title might be very appealing to students. I'm sure we have all experienced the importance of good scientific communication from trusted experts during the pandemic. We based our behaviour on them. When they told us to stay home, we (mostly) did, and we followed advice to get vaccinated, etc. At the other end of the spectrum, there are some that are completely ignorant of expert advice, calling this pandemic a hoax, and the vaccine a conspiracy. While there is common consensus that this ignorance is very dangerous, this prompt is quite interesting in prompting us to think about whether we should be trusting these experts completely, especially when the stakes are so high!

Experts often get things wrong, and when they do, we hope they will admit it readily even if it hurts their credibility. Credibility is key for us to accept expert advice. So this raises an important point - what makes an expert? Is it truly a person with the most knowledge about a topic or who is PERCEIVED to be so? Ideally, experts fit both of those criteria, but sometimes it is one or the other. At the same time, are experts immune from bias and other common human failures? NO! Then again, even if they have their failings, we can think about what is our level of tolerance for expert opinions and 'going at it alone' by not trusting them at all.

The prescribed AOK of human sciences is quite interesting. As you know, we are some complex people. Economists are either praised or blasted for their predictions about the economy all the time! Do you listen to economists about their market predictions? There is a joke that there will always be an economist somewhere in the world saying a recession is imminent no matter how the actual economy is doing. Can we really capture something as complex as humanity and let some experts give us advice that we trust to be 100%, unfailingly true? That doesn't seem to be wise. At the same time, it also doesn't seem wise that when 99% of economists warn us that inflation is getting out of hand for us to do nothing about it. So is it a numbers game? As more 'experts' say the same thing, and corroborate each other, we have a confidence to trust them unquestionably?

Ultimately, the conclusion seems pretty clear from the get go for this prompt. It is almost always unwise to just trust something or someone 100% and also unwise to go to the other extreme. While we can be tempted to do so, it is important we maintain a critical lens. If you are tackling this title, focus on the nuance between these two extremes presented, and show that both share common flaws in their approach to how knowledge is considered and acquired.

This prompt starts with the assumption that knowledge is produced according to the values of the producers. To what extent this is a problem is the issue here at hand here. First think of how knowledge is influenced by values. There was once a time when slavery was considered acceptable, and if you look all literary works around that time, it wouldn't be unusual to see examples of such and the use of what we now consider inappropriate language when referring to African-Americans, for example. Social values do change over time, examples including gay marriage, sexualisation and nudity of the body, dealing with minorities and racism, and even climate change. In some AOKs, this may be more apparent (i.e. History and the Arts) but what of something like mathematics? Can societal values influence them too?

When discussing whether this is problematic, other than considering the extent that values influence knowledge, also consider the implications this has on the perspectives of knowledge that are made available. Who determines these values is also of contention. This brings to mind propaganda and the various ways the 'values' of some power behind knowledge creation can greatly distort the knowledge that is produced. You may have some ideas on the problems that arise when we bring our values into the knowledge we produce, but to some extent this is inevitable. After all, the knowledge we produce simply reflects what we are interested in learning about, and willing to discover more of. The question is, how does each AOK handle changing values over time?

Every AOK has a different way of handling changing values. Long ago, we believed that we were the centre of the earth. How did the Natural Sciences overcome this long held belief? Conversely, how do we ensure that history remains accurate and isolated from the potential bias that could be introduced due to the values of the people that first wrote it? In History, revisionism describes the process of how we reevaluate history consistently to ensure that we always have the most accurate depiction of the past according to our current lens. There will be a time when our lens becomes outdated in the future, so what is the role of the Historian? Remember, knowledge is rarely ever fixed or 'done'. There is always more to know and more to discover, so how WE view knowledge in the past, and how someone in the future views the knowledge we make now will have large implications on the approach we take when producing knowledge. How can you ensure that someone interpreting knowledge in the future won't misconstrue what we are trying to say now? Could having differing interpretations according to different values be a benefit?

For some AOKs, the issue of values isn't that prominent. Why is that the case? It is good to explore in this title, the reasoning behind why values often influence the knowledge we produce, how we decide to mitigate or deal with this reality and how these approaches to do so differ between AOKs according to the nature that the knowledge is initially produced and then now consumed.

Is it always the case that "the world isn't just the way it is, it is how we understand it - and in understanding something, we bring something to it" (adapted from Life of Pi by Yann Martel)? Discuss with reference to history and the natural sciences.

In some less convoluted English, this prompt essentially asks whether we colour the knowledge we acquire and bring our own perspectives and interpretation to knowledge. If you think this is quite abstract, think about this example: you have likely done a book report before. It will almost always ask you what you thought of the book and people will have different thoughts. This demonstrates the essence of this title! We all have our own thoughts and ideas about the knowledge we acquire. When we learn new things, we might put our own spin to it, and try and explain it to ourselves and our friends in our own unique way. So, it is likely that there are some cases where this idea of us bringing our own ideas into the knowledge we acquire is valid, but there maybe other times that this doesn't happen. As with most things in TOK, there is a spectrum of the extent in which we 'bring something' to the things we learn.

Some AOKs actively encourage this sort of self-inquisition. While artists probably created their art to have a specific meaning, you are often encouraged to come up with your own interpretation of the art, as it may mean something very personal to you according to your background and life experiences. No one person would interpret a work the same way as you, and that is how the AOK of Art intends it. So clearly, some AOKs encourage this sort of interpretation, why might they do so? On the other hand, some AOKs require some very exact and objective interpretation of evidence and knowledge, so it might be that this sort of malleability when we acquire it is undesired. What issues do you foresee might arise when we bring our own interpretation to knowledge acquired? How each AOK deals with the idea of bring our own perspectives into acquired knowledge speaks a lot about its intention and purpose.

The prompt also asks us to consider whether we are really getting the knowledge of the 'true world as it is' or just the way we perceive the world. This is most prominent in the natural sciences where we try to observe the natural world by attempting to minimise our effects on it. We are effective at doing so to various extents, but can we ever really observe something as they are? Similarly, and perhaps even more difficult for the Human Sciences, how can you observe a human being's behaviour knowing that they are being watched, or that they are participating in an experiment? Does this invalidate any findings within the human sciences because we know we might be involved in it? In most cases, knowledge is generated from the lens of humanity - individuals like us! And for the most part, it is consumed by individuals like us as well. Can we ever have knowledge that is independent of humanity so that we are really watching the world as it is, rather than having our own input on it?

Big data and data science is a hot field right now because of exactly this problem - we have too much data and we don't really know how to handle it! You might have experienced this personally during your studies in the IB. Out of a 500 page textbook, what will you choose to learn? You likely won't know every exact detail within that textbook for your exams, but you will understand the key points as it pertains to the syllabus and the key techniques that you need to answer exam problems. In a similar way, people select knowledge they wish to acquire all the time. With the advent of search engines and wikipedias, there are limitless amounts of knowledge to be known, but only so much that we want to know. So it makes sense to ask ourselves, what criteria do we use to select what information we choose to get, what knowledge to acquire? That is the essence of the title.

When we choose some knowledge and leave out others, does this create any risk? What if we were missing out on some important perspectives? We must all have experienced a familiar feeling of thinking we are prepared for an exam, but it turns out that we missed a crucial part of the topic and subsequently bombed the exam. Now imagine this effect magnified to more important applications - in the medical context, how can medical professionals make the most informed decision for their patients? It is not like they can consider all possible available scenarios and knowledge about their condition! Again, it goes to what we consider to be important for us to acquire and so let's think deeply about why we learn some things over other things. Is it interest that is driving us? Practicality?

Finally, one last thing to consider for this topic is what is the point of having more knowledge if most are going to be selected away?

So hopefully these explanations have helped you in deconstructing what initially might appear to be some intimidating prompts! Before you write your essay, make sure you plan it out and select good examples to back up your points. Check out some 10/10 TOK essay examples and identify their strengths will help a lot as well!

November 2024 TOK Essay Prescribed Titles with Examples and Detailed Explanation

How to learn TOK

TOK 101: Areas of Knowledge Explained

How To Write A ToK Essay - Updated 2023

Ace your ToK Essay with our expert tips & tricks! Get the latest and greatest techniques on "How To Write A ToK Essay" and impress the IB examiners.📝💡

Table of content

Introduction

Purpose Of ToK

Assessment of tok, the game plan, execution of the gameplan, planning for tok essay, structure of tok essay, conclusions, bibliography.

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, INTRODUCE your readers to what your essay is about. A strong introduction allows the reader to deduce what knowledge question(s) you are trying to answer.

So, in a nutshell

Write interesting things about the given TOK essay title .
Define key terms
Narrow in on the particularly interesting aspect
State your thesis statement . This will be your short answer to your given title if you don't know how to write a killer thesis statement check out this blog from SparkNotes .
State your Roadmap. This will help the readers in understanding the direction of your essay.

How to write a TOK Essay?

To answer that, you must familiarise yourself with what a TOK Essay is about.

Before you start reading this article, Amanda has some excellent TOK tips for you!

Theory of Knowledge is one of the most meta subjects that IB offers. Despite its complexity, TOK helps in providing a base for holistic learning and allows students to have a multidisciplinary experience.

To understand TOK is to understand the essence of IB, a task that most people consider unattainable.

But not for you!

Thank your lucky stars who made you land on Nail IB. How exactly will Nail IB help you?

Well, nailing International Baccalaureate is something we will discuss later.

Let's focus on cracking your TOK essay, shall we?

TOK demonstrates how students can apply their knowledge with greater awareness and credibility .

Big words, huh?

Now that we know that we cannot just slide through the Theory of Knowledge, let's understand how we can conquer this battle all guns blazing.

ToK essay’s primary objective is to answer the why behind our studies.

It makes one aware of the real-life implications of their subjects. The students gain greater awareness of their personal and ideological assumptions and appreciate the diversity of different perspectives. It helps the students find their unique perception, a prerequisite for excelling in the IB TOK essays.

Before we dive into our gameplan, let’s overview the rules of the game.

There are two assessment tasks in the TOK: an essay and a presentation . While a presentation encourages students to explore a real-life situation through the lens of TOK, an essay is written on the basis of the various questions provided by the International Baccalaureate Organisation.

The presentation is to assess a student’s ability to apply TOK thinking to a real-life situation whereas IB TOK essay is more conceptual.
The essay is externally assessed by IB and must be on any one of the prescribed TOK essay titles issued by the IB for each examination session.
Word limit of a TOK essay is 1600 words ( excludes extended notes, footnotes, bibliography).

Now that we have unleashed the game, let’s move ahead towards the gameplan of acing both, your presentation and your essay.

One of the fundamental tasks of TOK is to examine different areas of knowledge and find out their similarities and differences.

The TOK essay requires the students to investigate two Areas of Knowledge (AOK) and two Ways of Knowing (WOK) . AOKs and WOKs are investigated via questions such as:

How do we know what we know? (WOK)
What counts as evidence for X? (AOK)
How do we judge which is the best model of Y? (WOK)
What does theory Z mean in the real world? (AOK + WOK)

The aforementioned are Knowledge Questions which help combine the Areas of Knowledge and the Ways of Knowing that they are using. This eliminates the superficial way of learning and makes an individual sensitive to the nature of the information. Our acquisition of Knowledge can be broadly divided into Shared Knowledge and Personal Knowledge.

Shared knowledge: What WE know It is the product of more than one individual. Although individuals contribute to it, shared knowledge does not solely depend upon the contributions of a particular individual—there are possibilities for others to check and amend individual contributions and add to the body of knowledge that already exists.

Personal knowledge: What I know It is essentially dependent on the experiences of a particular individual. Also known as procedural knowledge, it is gained through experience, practice and personal involvement and is intimately bound up with the particular local circumstances of the individual such as biography, interests, values, and so on.

The best hack to ace TOK essay is to develop a habit of making connections between the construction of knowledge, its acquisition and its relevance in the real world.

After that one needs to develop an interest in understanding the difference between diversity and cultural perspectives and personal assumptions.

One also needs to critically reflect on their own beliefs and assumptions, leading to more thoughtful, responsible and purposeful lives.

Yes, this is what you signed up for. It may sound a little intimidating but once you get the hang of it you will be able to see the matrix and understand this beautiful world a little better.

Understand that to provide the best version of your writing, it will take you more than one or two drafts. First and foremost, you need to pick your essay topic diligently. Try to choose an essay topic that best interests you. The topic should also allow you to explore the Areas of Knowledge towards which you are naturally inclined. Here are a few sample questions:

a) 'Ways of knowing are a check on our instinctive judgments.' To what extend do you agree with this statement?

b) With reference to two areas of knowledge discuss the way in which shared knowledge can shape their personal knowledge.

c) How can we know if knowledge is produced more through 'Passive Observation' or 'Active-Experiment' within the Human and Natural-sciences under a Mathematical-Perspective?

d) "The whole point of knowledge is to produce both meaning and purpose in our personal lives". Assess the validity of this statement.

Great things take time. It took me more than a couple of weeks to finalize this TOK essay guide. It is completely okay if the first few drafts may not look pleasing or award-winning to you. You will require sharpening your perspective towards the topic each time you polish your draft. Your writing journey from a dull draft to a masterpiece will be a whole process that you will have to be patient with. Have faith in yourself and proceed stepwise.

You need to consider the opinions of others who have devoted hours of research and a lifetime of dedicated studying the topic that surrounds your writing. Unravelling the realms of your mind palace is so Sherlock but let’s not deny the fact that at times, Watson is the one whose expertise helps Sherlock through pretty difficult times. I mean even Batman needs a Robin. In support of my awesome sauce examples, the point I am trying to make is that finding support for our claims and counterclaims through research is a good thing .

Use real-life examples to support your claims and counterclaims. These examples need to be documented researched examples like studies, experiments, articles, presentations by well-known people, etc. Examples that stem from your diploma subjects are highly encouraged, but those will need to be supported by research as well.

It is suggested that you choose a title, stick to it, tackle it and not be afraid. Do not change your mind unless there is a good reason. Also, try choosing Areas of knowledge that you truly enjoy. You know slaying a known devil is much easier than an unknown one. Allot a TIMELINE to your essay. Start with creating an outline of your essay. This will help you to track your progress and accomplish your goals

You can use tools like Trello to organize your ideas and plan your TOK essay.

Areas of Knowledge (AOKs): TOK distinguishes between eight areas of knowledge. They are mathematics, the natural sciences, the human sciences, the arts, history, ethics, religious knowledge systems, and indigenous knowledge systems. It is suggested that students study and explore six of these eight.

Ways of knowing (WOKs): TOK identifies eight specific WOKs- language, sense perception, emotion, reason, imagination, faith, intuition, and memory. It is suggested that studying four of these eight in-depth would be appropriate. WOKs underlie the methodology of the areas of knowledge and provide a basis for personal knowledge.

Moving ahead, let us discuss the structure of your TOK essay.

Your essay will consist of 4 broad segregations

Before breaking down further on the pillars, keep the following in mind

Please note what the TOK essay title is asking you. (Read it a couple of times. We highly recommend that you brainstorm ideas with your TOK coordinator)
Make sure you understand the command term and the question it is asking.
What kind of knowledge is being elicited?
When choosing your areas of knowledge (AoK) and ways of knowing (WoK) make sure that you are able to draw contrasts and comparisons, that is, you are able to find evidence that supports as well as challenges your claims.
Identify key terms in your TOK essay title. Make sure you define them. Your essay will gravitate around them. Key terms/words in your titles are your essay anchors. Your response should be built around them.
Your writing skills come in handy while you work on your IB TOK essay. Like any other essay make sure you have proper thesis statements and topic sentences to guide the evaluator through your work.
Respect the TOK essay title. Rephrasing the topic is not encouraged . Your main job is to address the title.

The body can be mainly divided into 3 segments.

Body (1st Segment)

AoK Claim: Here you investigate your first Area of Knowledge and draw parallels between your AoK and the question. This is done by stating your claim. Claims can be general in nature and need not reference a particular area of knowledge. They help you shape your essay and investigate the question further.
Evidence: Example of a real-life situation, describe thoroughly and accurately, which supports your stated claim. (AoK)
Counter-Claim: State your counter-claim: like claims, those can be general and need not reference a particular area of knowledge. Counterclaim helps you show the other side the coin and gives your essay a holistic nature.
Evidence: A referenced real-life situation/example. Describe thoroughly and accurately, show how this supports your counterclaim (AoK ).
Don’t forget to weave in your WoKs: You need to take into account the source of your knowledge. Here you can also investigate if your nature of acquiring the knowledge has, in any way, affected it. It is good practice to question if your knowledge would be different had it been acquired through a different source/method
Mini-conclusion: Here you analyze your examples in reference to your claims and counterclaims. You must connect to your thesis statement and the prescribed title. How does your proposed argument, in this particular part of the body, connect to the prescribed title and the knowledge questions you are trying to answer?

Body (2): Follow the above process for your second AOK.

Use this part of your essay to compare and contrast your varying AoKs. You need to connect them to your thesis and your prescribed title clearly showing how your arguments respond to the PT.

Your conclusion section will make your essay come together. It is the glue that will make your essay stick together. Herein, you need to

Reiterate your thesis (initial response).
Use your mini conclusions to write a final conclusion.
Tell the reader what the significance is for knowing what we know in this particular PT.
Discuss implications as well.
Offer another perspective, how will the perspective of a different person affect the claims/counterclaims you make in the essay?
Don’t forget to make the end strong.

We recommend all the ib students use the citation machine (It's FREE) to organize or generate a bibliography for your TOK essay. Please go through this extensive guide provided by the IB before you start working on your citations.

If you are still struggling heaps with your TOK essay feel free to subscribe to our tok notes bundles or get access to more than 500+ IBDP notes and past papers here .

Nail IB is your virtual companion that helps you hustle through your diploma and provide you with the right resources at the right time. To know more about acing IB, click here .

I hope this article will become the foundation for figuring out how to write a TOK Essay.

Remember to have faith in yourself.

I hope you NAIL your TOK essay!

Quoting the great Napolean Hill

"Whatever the mind of a man can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

IB Resources you will love!

[email protected]

+919878797000.

THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 2023

A comprehensive guide.

THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE

Tok curriculum.

Discover the TOK curriculum and its components, including knowledge questions, areas of knowledge, and ways of knowing.

TOK Essay Tips

Learn essential tips and techniques for writing an impressive TOK essay that effectively addresses knowledge issues and receives high marks.

TOK Presentation

Get guidance on how to deliver an engaging TOK presentation that effectively communicates.

TOK Resources

Resources to explore TOK concepts and expand your knowledge: books, articles, and websites.

Lorem Porem

Lorem porem ipsum, 25 years of experience.

Successfully Project Finished.

Years of experience with proud

Colleagues & counting more daily

TOK ESSAY TITLES 2024

Tok essay title 1 may 2024.

Is subjectivity overly celebrated in the arts but unfairly condemned in history? Discuss with reference to the arts and history.

TOK ESSAY TITLE 2 MAY 2024

How can we reconcile the opposing demands for specialization and generalization in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.

TOK ESSAY TITLE 3 MAY 2024

Nothing is more exciting than fresh ideas, so why are areas of knowledge often so slow to adopt them? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge.

TOK ESSAY TITLE 4 MAY 2024

Do we underestimate the challenges of taking knowledge out of its original context and transferring it to a different context? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

TOK ESSAY TITLE 5 MAY 2024

Do we need custodians of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

TOK ESSAY TITLE 6 MAY 2024

Are we too quick to assume that the most recent evidence is inevitably the strongest? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.

Choose from three different TOK course structures

Big Question Framework

Classic TOK Lessons

Disruptive Ideas

Take advantage of three classroom-ready courses for TOK, exclusively available to faculty members. Each course provides meticulously designed and structured lessons, supported by clear and measurable learning objectives. Packed with media-rich resources and inspired by current real-world situations and ideas, these courses will save you considerable time. Begin downloading and delivering them now.

Apply TOK ideas and concepts to the real world

Monthly Newsletter

Investigating Issues

12 Key TOK Concepts

Our resources aim to assist students in exploring and comprehending the most significant current events while understanding how TOK concepts manifest in the real world. Our exclusive monthly TOK newsletter, Investigating Issues, along with the 12 Key Concepts, will aid you and your entire DP faculty in developing critical thinking skills and connecting learning to news issues, debates, and controversies. Subscribe to our complimentary newsletter here to stay updated.

Master the TOK assessment tasks

TOK Essay Support Pack

Exhibition Support Pack

TOK Assessment Lessons

Our assessment packs, available in both English and Spanish, are specifically designed for student use. They provide a clear understanding of the assessment criteria for the TOK essay and exhibition, assisting students in creating exceptional final assessment products. With the TOK assessment lessons, teachers can effectively target and enhance the necessary skills, enabling students to approach the assessment tasks with confidence and achieve success.

Get your whole DP faculty onboard

DP Integration Tool

TOK Mini Lessons

Knowledge Heros

What distinguishes us from other sites and textbooks for TOK is our commitment to catering to ALL faculty members. Our resources are designed with this in mind. The Integration Tool facilitates seamless connections between subjects and TOK concepts, while incorporating real-world events. Mini-lessons offer concise and ready-to-use classroom materials, and Knowledge Heroes empower teachers to draw inspiration from influential figures across various academic disciplines.

Prepare your pre-DP students for TOK

Thinking for Yourself

Middle Year Newsletter

We provide two pre-DP courses, namely “Thinking for Yourself” and “Worldviews,” which aim to foster critical thinking, stimulate debates, and introduce students to the concepts they will encounter in TOK. Additionally, our middle years newsletter assists students in going beyond surface-level understanding by encouraging them to delve deeper into the latest events and real-world issues.

Get trained-up for TOK

Our training programs in TOK and critical thinking are tailored to meet the needs of both specialized teachers and regular faculty members. We have collaborated with schools worldwide, assisting them in incorporating engaging, relevant, and effective TOK and critical thinking practices throughout their curriculum. Additionally, we provide free and premium webinars on TOK, along with a comprehensive collection of videos available on our YouTube channel for you to explore.

Explore the course

The Core Theme

Optional Theme

Areas of Knowledge

Explore our extensive range of free course materials covering every aspect of the TOK course. Delve into the core theme, “knowledge & the knower,” as well as the optional themes like indigenous societies, language, politics, religion, and technology. Additionally, explore the various areas of knowledge such as the arts, history, human sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences. As a faculty member of our site, you’ll have exclusive access to our exploration point documents, providing in-depth insights into each component of TOK.

Download free samples

Classroom Ready TOK Lessons

TOK World Resources

Real World Resources

Gain access to a wide array of free sample materials that showcase our approach and the type of resources available to site members for delivering the TOK course. Explore our comprehensive selection of classroom-ready lessons, organized into three distinct courses. Take a look at our TOK-world resources, designed to empower students to take ownership of their TOK journey. Additionally, discover how our real-world resources establish meaningful connections between learning and current events and issues. Download these samples to get a firsthand experience of our offerings.

Testimonials

Rahul kapoor.

Studying TOK has been an enlightening journey. It has challenged my perspectives, sharpened my critical thinking skills, and expanded my understanding of knowledge. I highly recommend this course to all IB students.

United States

Emily johnson.

TOK has been an incredibly thought-provoking course for me. It has pushed me to question everything and explore different ways of knowing. This course has truly transformed the way I approach learning and understanding the world.

María Santos

Studying TOK has opened my mind to the diverse ways in which knowledge is constructed and evaluated. It has challenged my preconceived notions and deepened my appreciation for the complexity of knowledge.

Ishita Sharma

TOK has made me realise the power of questioning and the importance of having an open mind. It has encouraged me to explore different viewpoints and engage in meaningful discussions.

Request a Callback?

Learn more from, frequently asked questions.

Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is an interdisciplinary course offered as part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. It delves into the nature of knowledge, how it is acquired, and the ways in which it is justified. TOK fosters critical thinking, reflection, and exploration of different ways of knowing and areas of knowledge.

TOK offers invaluable skills for intellectual and personal growth. It enhances critical thinking, nurtures an appreciation for diverse perspectives, and encourages curiosity. By engaging with TOK, students develop abilities that are highly beneficial for higher education, such as analyzing arguments, evaluating evidence, and constructing well-reasoned viewpoints.

TOK is assessed through an externally moderated essay and an oral presentation. The TOK essay requires students to critically analyze a prescribed title or develop a self-chosen title related to TOK. The oral presentation provides an opportunity for students to explore a real-life situation from a TOK perspective and engage in a thoughtful discussion.

TOK equips students with critical thinking skills that can be applied to everyday life. It enables individuals to navigate complex issues, evaluate sources of information, and make informed decisions. The skills and perspectives cultivated in TOK are highly transferable, benefiting students in university studies, career paths, and active engagement with the world.

Absolutely! TOK emphasizes the importance of effective communication in conveying ideas and arguments. It encourages students to express themselves clearly, develop coherent arguments, and support them with evidence. Through the oral presentation component and essay writing, TOK hones students’ communication skills, enabling them to articulate their thoughts with precision and clarity.

May 2023 TOK essay prescribed title #1 – key terms

Published by author on september 21, 2022 september 21, 2022.

Once you get the set of prescribed titles for your cohort, the first step is going through each one and analyzing the key terms.

1. Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

“ Is replicability necessary…?” Make sure that your essay clearly answers this question. Your investigation of different AOKs and different specific examples throughout your answer may lead to multiple answers to the question which is perfectly fine. Your essay does not have to have one definitive answer to this question – in fact an essay that has only one definitive answer to this question may be simplistic and flawed.

“ Replicability ” – clearly replicability is a critical part of research in the sciences where getting consistent results is important. A lab experiment, for example, should be able to be run multiple times by multiple people and the results should be consistent. Replicability has an important role in other areas such as the arts. There are occasions where different artists need to produce a similar end result (e.g. musicians playing from sheet music). Replicability is not always necessary though, even in the sciences.

“ Necessary ” – in some AOKs and specific examples replicability may be more important than others. In some situations though it may not be important at all. With May 2023 prescribed title #1 it may be important to consider a variety of specific examples within an AOK that demonstrate different degrees of necessity.

“ the production of knowledge ” – this is a phrase that shows up quite often in TOK prescribed titles. Consider what is required to “produce” knowledge in an AOK. When looking at possible specific examples for this prescribed title make sure you can clearly identify where and how knowledge is being produced. It is also important to gauge how important replicability is in the production of knowledge.

May 2023 TOK Prescribed Titles #1 and #3 are the only two where students have freedom to choose any two areas of knowledge.

May 2023 tok essay prescribed title #3 specific example – indigenous people of northern japan.

Article: “Japan’s forgotten indigenous people” http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20200519-japans-forgotten-indigenous-people In the Japanese school curriculum (set by the central government in Tokyo) there is very little time and space spent on the Ainu, an indigenous group that has almost Read more…

May 2023 Prescribed Title #1

May 2023 tok essay prescribed title #1 specific example – japanese myth on the birth of japan..

The extract below is a translated Japanese creation myth in an ancient text named Kojiki. The original text is written in an type of writing that the vast majority of modern Japanese people cannot read. Read more…

May 2023 TOK essay prescribed title #4 specific example – photo of an execution during the Vietnam War.

Eddie Adams’ iconic Vietnam War photo: What happened next https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42864421 Consider the different aspects where is there “a little knowledge” regarding the photo and the actual incident. Then look into the larger question that is Read more…

Privacy Overview

IB TOK Essay Titles

The International Baccalaureate Organization releases six TOK essay titles, twice a year for submission either in May or November. So you need to know which cohort you're submitting with. The essay titles for submission in May are released in the previous September. The essay titles for submission in November are released the previous March.

November 2023 topics
May 2023 topics
November 2022 topics
May 2022 topics
November 2021 topics
May 2021 topics
November 2020 topics
May 2020 topics
November 2019 topics
May 2019 topics
November 2018 topics
May 2018 topics
November 2017 topics

About Dr Phil Joyce
Standard of Service
Terms of Engagement

Philosophy Degrees by Distance Learning
Critical Thinking Tutor
Oxbridge Application Tutor
Logic Tutor
University Philosophy Application Advice

May 2023 TOK Essay Prescribed Titles Explained with Examples

What happened to this post? HackIB has been acquired by MyIBTutor . All content is now available on the MyIBTutor Blog with more exciting IB content to come! Click here to see it for yourself!

The TOK Essay prescribed titles for the May 2023 session has been released. The six prescribed titles are:

Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

For artists and natural scientists, which is more important: what can be explained or what cannot be explained? Discuss with reference to the arts and the natural sciences.

Does it matter if our acquisition of knowledge happens in “bubbles” where some information and voices are excluded? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

Do you agree that it is “astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power” (Bertrand Russell)? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.

Are visual representations always helpful in the communication of knowledge? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and mathematics.

To what extent is the knowledge we produce determined by the methodologies we use? Discuss with reference to history and one other area of knowledge.

Some general thoughts before I go on to elaborate on each of the prompts:

Prompts 2 to 4 require some work in interpreting the title correctly. I would advise that weaker TOK students choose one of the other, more straightforward titles if you are not willing to put in the time to put some thought into the title itself.
Prompts 2 and 5 have both AOKs prescribed and I think the pairings given promote excellent discussion. While some might be put off by Prompt 5, I think it is one of the most interesting prompts this session, and especially in the world of big data and data visualisation, the importance of understanding the role of visual representations in our lives is paramount.
The other prompts are relatively straightforward. From the exhibition task, students should be familiar with the theme of “Knowledge and the Knower” which most prompts can relate to. This means students can apply their understanding from the exhibition to the essay as well.
As is the case with TOK Essays in the past, the broadness of many of these prompts mean it is very important for students to suitably and precisely define their understanding of the TOK concepts. With many prompts featuring at least one and more often, two concepts, that require students to carefully consider before selecting examples.

First, consider the key concepts that are introduced in the prompt. Replicability and necessary are the key concepts here and students should come up with a suitably narrow definition for this that you can keep referring back to in your essay. The trap for students is to take very black-and-white stances when answering the prompt. A good way to show a depth of understanding and lucidity is to approach it as a degree of necessity and not a binary decision. Finally, you must focus on the production of knowledge. Many students often tangentially refer to the sharing of knowledge or transfer of knowledge, but this prompt is concerned with the initial stages when knowledge becomes knowledge. Thus, it should be focused on the methodologies that are used to do so and provides ample opportunities to refer to the knowledge framework, particularly under “Methods and Tools”. Theses tips are all outlined in my how to plan a TOK Essay article.

The prompt doesn’t prescribe any specific AOKs but a likely entry point for students would be the Natural Sciences. As you may have already learned, the scientific method does place heavy emphasis on the replicability of results.

Perhaps the greatest characteristic of the Natural Sciences is the ability to make observations, devise experiments and have these experiments inform the creation or falsification of knowledge. This is not the case with other Areas of Knowledge and provides a prominent point of contrast with other AOKs. The methodology of knowledge production in the Sciences (Natural and Human) fundamentally revolves around replicability through experimentation. However, other areas of knowledge such as the Arts may not value the qualities of similarity and replicability quite to the same extent. For some, like History, having alternative perspectives and thus a lack of sameness that would be suggested by replicability could even be preferred. Therefore, the importance of replicability can be approached by examining the methodologies in which each AOK produces and verifies knowledge.

It is likely expected that students who attempt this prompt will have the Natural Sciences as one of their AOKs. So, it is even more important that you choose examples that are unique and facilitates an original, convincing argument. You can check if your examples are original by reading my list of overused examples that you should avoid.

On a related note, AOKs should be selected to promote comparison as is implied by the prompt. Thus, make sure that you select your AOKs with the ability to list pros and cons, similarities and differences in the methods in which they produce knowledge. By listing them out and selecting the ones which relate to replicability will ensure you address the requirements of the prompt and avoid being overly generic. Good pairings are generally intuitively found based on students’ understanding of the subjects they have studied during their time in the IB. AOKs such as Natural Sciences and Mathematics contrast well with History or the Arts. Human Sciences could also be considered but the limitations or possible advantages in the nuances of replicability compared to the Natural Sciences needs to be considered.

Overall, this is not an especially challenging prompt and shares overlaps with the Exhibition task which students already completed. You may already have an intuitive answer to the prompt. Examples can generally be found in each AOK when you consider unique discoveries or impactful products of each subject.

The prompt already prescribes the two AOKs you must consider and is overall a good one if you are indecisive. The two AOKs provides good contrast with respect to the approach to uncertainties in knowledge between disciplines. This prompt provides solid discussion with respect to the “Scope” of the knowledge framework, considering the unique issues or challenges faced by different AOKs and how they differ in setting clear boundaries and guidelines in addressing them. Alternatively, “perspectives” and “methods and tools” are good options as well.

Initially, the prompt can be tricky as there are some points of confusion. Firstly, this title asks for an evaluation of the importance between what can be and cannot be explained. So do not dwell on the importance of the explanation itself or how it is created but think about the merits of having or not having explanations. Secondly, the title is phrased from the perspective of ‘artists and natural scientists’ implying that students should focus on how producers of knowledge in these AOKs think about explanations, not how students themselves do.

The key concept in the prompt is explanation . Students must clearly define this concept and this will naturally lend itself to the discussion of the importance of knowing the presence of explanation or the lack thereof. Explanations can often give us certainty and so this concept of certainty can also be introduced to facilitate meaningful discussion. Discussion then, should be focused on how knowing or not knowing something in each AOK contributes to either how we produce, accept or share knowledge.

The points of contrast between the two AOKs is relatively subjective and you may have your own arguments between the two. One interpretation could be that the Arts live in ambiguity and that plays a big role in allowing the freedom to interpret produced knowledge while Natural Sciences is more black-and-white. So in the arts, it may be advantageous and thus more important to be able to understand what can be explained, while Natural Sciences pursue further knowledge by chasing what is not yet explained.

When you think of “bubbles”, what do you think about? There is a common saying of “living in your own bubble” that suggest the isolated way in which we surround ourselves with a false reality. This TOK prompt extends this concept of a bubble to the way we learn, and how we often acquire knowledge such that we filter out things that don’t ‘fit’ within our own ‘bubble’.

Having a read of this article and watching the below video gives you some insight around the idea of ‘bubbles’ and how it can limit your perspectives. Although it is related to the idea of social media, you can extrapolate this to how we learn and acquire knowledge in a range of AOKs and mediums.

The biggest challenge with this prompt is that learning in ‘bubbles’ is unlikely to be a concept you have engaged with before in the TOK course. However, broken down simply, it is essentially how we ignore certain perspectives to fit a sort of preconceived notion of what the knowledge we acquire ‘should look like’ in our minds. So the key concept in this prompt can be perspective . When defining this, make sure you link back to the idea of bubbles. A good way to start the essay is to briefly explain ‘bubbles’ and then introduce the concept. You can see how a 10/10 introduction effectively explains the key concepts in the title here . Ultimately, the goal is not to explain how this happens, but consider the implications this has on our understanding of the world.

You may already have some idea of examples that could fit with this idea of ‘bubbles’. From the prominent political divisions in America, pro and anti-vaccination camps to abortion debates, people tend to consume and thus, acquire knowledge that fit their own narratives while ignoring the merits of alternative perspectives. Of course, politics is not an AOK. However, they do lend themselves to discussions for example around the Natural Sciences. While anti-vaccination research is an overused example , the different health guidelines, vaccination requirements, and even the type of mask that best prevents infection has been debated heavily as our understanding of the virus evolved. It is easy for us to hold firm to a certain belief of pre-existing knowledge rather than accept new perspectives that come along as researchers produce new findings on the pandemic. Indeed, we see that many criticised the u-turns that governments made around the world to adapt to new research.

Other AOKs with more fluid methodologies such as Arts and History could provide interesting contrasts. Particularly, the concept of having different schools of thought in the Human Sciences and History could provide interesting points of discussion, as often different schools have radically different believes and ideologies and thus the knowledge produced in each can be contradictory.

Remember that you are not required to make a judgement on whether this approach to acquiring knowledge is good or bad, but rather comment on how significant this is to the process of knowledge acquisition. So, each argument you form must relate to significance.

The original quote that this prompt is inspired from is actually:

We know very little, and yet it is astonishing that we know so much, and still more astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power. Bertrand Russell

There are a couple of traps within this prompt. Remember that you are not critiquing or commenting on the quote itself or pointing out the flaws within it. Rather, you are giving a personal response to the prompt. This is supposed to be opinionated and you must specifically agree or disagree, or preferably, give a nuanced response that elaborates on the degree which you agree with the statement. In addition, students might already know about Russell and his believes. Do not let them colour your own TOK Essay. The IB is not interested in hearing about what you think about Russell’s ideologies but rather what you personally receive from the title.

The premise of the prompt is that we do not have a lot of knowledge in our respective AOKs. Do not debate this premise, but if needed, simply explain why this could be the case as a starting point to your essay.

Additionally, pay attention to the requirements of the prompt for you to debate whether we should be shocked or not by this. You are not debating whether little knowledge gives us much power. In fact, this is again, the premise of the essay.

It is intuitive that power is the key concept within this prompt. By defining this, you should have a good framework to approach the rest of the essay and discuss the shock value of how manifestations of power appear in each AOK.

The prompt prescribes the AOK of the Natural Sciences providing interesting discussion based on how power is achieved through produced knowledge rather than, say, an individual’s identity. In fact, it is probably useful to think about how someone or something is given power within the natural sciences compared to another AOK such as Arts or History. This will allow for the comparison of how ‘shocked’ we are by the influence of knowledge on power. In essence, while we always thought about power as being a determinant of knowledge, it is time to flip the script, and think about how knowledge can in turn provide us power.

Another very prescribed title that can be beneficial to those who are indecisive. It is interesting that the IB has chosen the two AOKs where you might not expect “visual representations” to be the most fundamental elements of knowledge within them. However, this provides for provocative discussion that prompts you to think about how things that we take for granted like diagrams and charts can aid or detract from knowledge communication.

Representation is a key concept here and communication of knowledge is the stage that you should be focused on. While communication of knowledge lends itself to enabling us to acquire knowledge, do not be tempted to go on a tangent about how visual representations help us to acquire knowledge or ‘learn’, because that would be beyond the prompt. However, a mention of the effects on communicating knowledge with respect to ease of learning can be made.

In the AOK of human sciences, there is a vast range of visual representations depending on the specific discipline. Students should consider the Group 3 subject they are studying and flick through their textbook for any notable visuals that really helped their learning. For example, as an Economics student, you may encounter the diagrams of your Supply and Demand models. This is a rudimentary example, but considering similar models and representations of such can lead to fruitful discussion especially when thinking about the alternatives of not using such mediums.

In Mathematics, students in HL benefit from a greater understanding of Topic 3 Geometry where the concept of Vectors, planes and lines intersecting provide interesting discussion as it would be hard to wrap your head around such a topic without visual representations. Complex numbers represented on an Argand diagram promotes discussion of when visual representations can allow us to understand the intangibles. For all mathematics students, functions and other graphical representations when applied to statistics, geometry and calculus can generate really interesting discussions when considering how we interpret said representations.

Overall, a quite interesting topic and my favourite out of the six. It may be a bit unconventional but does make many students realise how they have been influenced by the presence of visual representations in their learnings over the past couple years in the IB.

This prompt is, in my opinion, the most straightforward out of the 6. It reads as a simple knowledge question from the old TOK syllabus and directly hits at the syllabus points of the TOK course under the “Methods and Tools” segment of the knowledge framework. It is almost identical to the prompts given for the TOK exhibition, so students who did something similar for that assessment, should consider this prompt as well.

Students should focus their discussion on how each AOK has different methods in producing knowledge. The prompt does not require much interpretation or many definitions of concepts. To write this essay effectively, students should first revise the methodologies of each AOK, for example the historical method as explained in the below video.

The AOK of History is selected because it is perhaps the most obvious entry point to this prompt. You may already have some ideas about the subjectivity and biases that could be introduced in the historical method that colour the perspectives of knowledge that is produced. This is likely to be a common theme amongst TOK essays using this prompt. As such, it is even more important that you think deeply about this line of argument and use effective examples that tease out a specific instance which relates to how biases manifest and the implications it has on what knowledge is produced.

A contrast with an AOK that has a radically different methodology is beneficial. The Natural Sciences (and Human Sciences, to a lesser extent) or Mathematics provides interesting comparisons with, at first glance, methodologies that avoids the flaws of that of History. However, is it possible that these methodologies also carry disadvantages of their own? Is History necessarily producing ‘worse’ knowledge? Is there merits to the ambiguity of methods used in History or the Arts compared to the Sciences?

If you could answer some of these questions in your essay, you should be reasonably accomplished.

I hope this helped you in choosing your prescribed title, and gave you some ideas to kick start your TOK essay. You might want to start writing right away, but make sure you check out how to actually start your TOK essay , and plan your ideas before jumping in. After that, find out how to structure an effective TOK essay . Check out a whole range of other TOK resources here on Hack IB. You might find my series on deconstructing 10/10 scoring TOK Essays helpful as well!

May 2023 TOK Essay Prompts + SAMPLES and Suggestions

Table of contents

Writing Metier

Every year, students anxiously wait for the IB to announce the TOK essay topics. So this year is not an exception; IBO has also announced 2023 May titles for IB TOK essay. The TOK essay can be quite a challenging one to write for most students. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a TOK essay topic that suits you better.

UPD! November 2024 TOK essay prompts released!

Most students struggle with the idea of writing a TOK essay since it can indeed be very tough owing to its different structure. Most students plan for days on end so that they can see just the proper structure in mind, with suitable examples so that they can give their best to what they are doing.

Btw… ⏩ We can write a ToK essay for you ⏪

To be able to score well, you need to plan accordingly. The idea is to make sure to do a great job and that can only happen when you know what exactly is expected of you and how you get through that. To better understand the TOK essay and have ample considerations, here is the list of TOK essay titles for May 2023 explained by professional IB writers.

You can get a few ideas from here about how you’re supposed to work on these. With these ideas, you are sure to do a sound job with your TOK essay . Furthermore, you will find links for 2 different May 2023 TOK essay samples that were written by our IB experts. Feel free to use them for inspiration.

TOK essay titles and questions for May 2023

Below you will find an updated list of TOK essay prompts for the May 2023. We have also added some suggestions from our expert TOK essay writers for your ease. Enjoy reading 😉

Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

In this essay, it is important to focus on the world’s replicability. Next, the distinction between necessary and sufficient requirements need to be made. After that, the focus should be on how objectivity is related to replicability. You can give examples of several experiments that have been done and whether or not they have been replicated.

In line with your thought process, you can further work towards explaining that in further detail and making your point much clearer this way. Based on the examples you give, you can also talk about the different ways of knowing, which can help you explain this in a much better way, in line with the requirements of IB.

For artists and natural scientists, which is more important: what can be explained or what cannot be explained? Discuss with reference to the arts and the natural sciences.

With this title, you can see that there are two areas of knowledge already given. This means that you don’t have a free hand to choose topics yourself. You essentially have to differentiate between what can be explained and what cannot. Some things are easier to explain, whereas others aren’t. Using examples from art and natural sciences, you can offer your explanation here.

The examples you choose need to be as such that it makes it much easier for you to make that distinction. Once you do that, select your ways of knowing as well so that you can comply with the IB requirements .

Does it matter if our acquisition of knowledge happens in “bubbles” where some information and voices are excluded? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

In this essay, the main focus is on bubbles. The idea is to explore what bubbles mean in this context. We can see that “bubbles” here refers to knowledge that is subjective in all ways. The idea is to explore whether or not knowledge can be subjective in all ways or whether it can be objective as well. This is important to understand in all contexts first. Subjective and objective knowledge can be explored using different areas of knowledge.

However, the areas of knowledge should be selected based on the fact that it should be very easy to make that switch and understand how these two differ in context. Additionally, you can also shed light on what is required to share another person’s perspective on the situation. It is only once you know you can make that distinction as clear as ever.

Do you agree that it is “astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power” (Bertrand Russell)? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.

In this essay, the main focus has to be on this quote given. The idea is to see how knowledge can give us power. We have always heard how knowledge can make us powerful. Here, the idea is to see how that can happen using several different examples.

One area of knowledge is already given. The other area of knowledge is up to your choice. So based on that, you need to choose examples that will help you understand this better. You can talk about how these two areas of knowledge have allowed us to make the most of our lives, which is how we have become so powerful.

Below you will find a May 2023 TOK essay sample completed by our IB experts at WritingMetier.com

TOK essay example - APA - Do you agree that it is “astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power” (Bertrand Russell)

Are visual representations always helpful in the communication of knowledge? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and mathematics.

Here, the main focus needs to be on visual representation and how they represent the truth in most situations. The idea is to see what these visual representations are and how they allow for the communication of knowledge to happen in the best way possible. You also have to make the distinction between practical and theoretical knowledge here.

As you can see, two areas of knowledge are already given here: human sciences and mathematics. So you have to make use of these only and use relevant examples to explain this.

To what extent is the knowledge we produce determined by the methodologies we use? Discuss with reference to history and one other area of knowledge.

The main keyword here that you need to focus on is methodologies. You have to speak about what methodologies are and how they allow you to understand things in the best possible way. You need to use history as one area of knowledge, and you can choose the other area of knowledge yourself.

The idea is to help you understand this in the best way possible so that you can make a clear point about how the methodologies employed helped you get to this conclusion.

And again, sharing an example of an APA format IB TOK essay on title #6 that can be used as a guide. Yes, it’s also written by one of our expert IB TOK writers, and if you want, you can get assistance from these writers no matter the urgency of your task.

TOK essay SAMPLE - To what extent is the knowledge we produce determined by the methodologies we use?

If you might have missed some of the previous TOK essay titles with samples or topics for previous years, below I’m sharing the links.

The year 2022:

November 2022 TOK essay prompts
May 2022 ToK essay titles

Previous years’ prompts:

November 2021 ToK Essay titles
May 2021 Theory of Knowledge essay prompts

Choose IB TOK essay topic wisely, my friend 😉

With these suggestions and explanations for each May 2023 TOK essay topic, you can write a good TOK essay! If you are facing tough deadlines and want someone to lend you a hand – WritingMetier.com is here to help.

You can always buy a custom TOK essay that will be written under your instructions and following one of the May 2023 prompts. Not forgetting about the latest changes in the IB criteria.

We can guarantee this because we have been in the IB writing services business for 4+ years now and have already completed hundreds of different IB papers. Order your essay now and get a 5% discount.

Need a Dope Paper Written? We've Got Your Back!

Free topic suggestions

Vasy kafidoff.

Vasyl Kafidoff is a co-founder and CEO at WritingMetier. He is interested in education and how modern technology makes it more accessible. He wants to bring awareness about new learning possibilities as an educational specialist. When Vasy is not working, he’s found behind a drum kit.

IB ToK Essay Prompts for November 2024

Every year, students who started IBDP are waiting for IB to share the list of specific prescribed titles for Theory of Knowledge essays. Like in all the previous years, IB opened a list of six topics for TOK essays for the next semester.

ToK Essay Titles November 2024 | Explained + SAMPLES

In this article, we will be talking about the six Theory of knowledge essay topics students enrolled in the IB diploma need to be aware of. Just like every year, this TOK November’s topics vary in different elements, and in this article, we will share descriptions about each topic which the students need to keep in their minds when selecting the essay topic for their diplomas.

30 Different TOK Presentation Topic Ideas to Succeed in IB

Given that the TOK essay's structure and the presentation are unlike others, students can find it challenging to proceed with it. You can only do well on the TOK presentation if you have an excellent idea.

AOK and WOK in TOK Essays | Detailed Guide

Areas of knowledge and ways of knowing are two essential concepts that you need first to understand before you begin working on these. To find out more about areas of knowledge and ways of knowing, continue reading!

How to Write a Good TOK Essay | Steps & Tips

What is a TOK essay? A TOK essay is also known as a theory of knowledge essay. It is usually written when doing an IB diploma. The essay is a comparative one that discusses problems using various different sources of knowledge. If you’re wondering how to write a TOK essay, then there are a few things that you need to keep in mind for it.

We rely on cookies to give you the best experince on our website. By browsing, you agree to it. Read more

Theory of Knowledge
Teachers/Schools

Knowledge and the knower Total 1,521 Words
What is knowledge? Total 1,227 Words
What is bias? Total 1,072 Words
What is truth? Total 3,461 Words
What is perspective? Total 1,291 Words
TOK Concepts Total 1,291 Words
Knowledge and language Total 1,008 Words
Knowledge and technology Total 1,727 Words
Knowledge and politics Total 1,103 Words
Knowledge and religion Total 1,195 Words
Knowledge and indigenous societies Total 1,625 Words
The Arts Total 500 Words
History Total 865 Words
The Human Sciences Total 405 Words
Mathematics
Natural Sciences Total 1,043 Words
TOK Exhibition Total 688 Words
TOK exhibition sample Total 653 Words
100 Classroom Activities Total 21,142 Words
100 TOK Exhibition Object Ideas
35 IA Prompts Total 656 Words
TOK essay examples Total 3,409 Words
How to write a TOK essay Total 451 Words
TOK essay may 2024 title 1 Total 802 Words
TOK essay may 2024 title 2 Total 693 Words
TOK essay may 2024 title 3 Total 488 Words
TOK essay may 2024 title 4 Total 507 Words
TOK essay may 2024 title 5 Total 505 Words
TOK essay may 2024 title 6 Total 413 Words
TOK essay title 1 - Scorecard Total 324 words
TOK essay title 2 - Scorecard Total 337 words
TOK essay title 3 - Scorecard Total 396 words
TOK essay title 4 - Scorecard Total 337 words
TOK essay title 5 - Scorecard Total 333 words
TOK essay title 6 - Scorecard Total 328 words
TOK yearly lesson plan - Week wise Total 1,289 Words
TOK Lesson Plan 1 – How to Teach TOK Concepts Total 5,230 Words
TOK Lesson Plan 2 – How to Teach the TOK Concept – Evidence Total 6,995 Words
TOK Lesson Plan 3 – How to Teach TOK Concept – Certainty Total 4,854 Words
TOK Lesson Plan 4-How to Teach TOK Concept-Truth Total 3906 Words
TOK Lesson Plan 5 - Introduction of TOK concept - Interpretation Total 4,308 Words
TOK Lesson Plan 6 - The introduction of TOK concept - Power Total 4,333 Words
TOK Lesson Plan 7 - The introduction of TOK concept - Justification Total 6,540 Words
TOK Lesson Plan 8 - The introduction of TOK concept - Explanation Total 6,773 Words
TOK Lesson Plan 9 - The introduction of TOK concept - Objectivity Totle 7,205 Words
TOK Lesson Plan 10 - The introduction of TOK concept - Perspectives Totle 7,863 Words
TOK Lesson Plan 11 - The introduction of TOK concept - Cultures Totle 8,172 Words
TOK Lesson Plan 12 - The introduction of TOK concept - Values Totle 8,661 Words
TOK Lesson Plan 13 - The introduction of TOK concept - Responsibility Totle 8,937 Words
Tok Essay Example 1
Tok Essay Example 2
Tok Essay Example 3
Tok Essay Example 4
Tok Essay Example 5
Tok Essay Example 6
Tok Essay Example 7
Tok Essay Example 8
Tok Essay Example 9
Tok Essay Example 10
Tok Essay Example 11
Tok Essay Example 12
Tok Exhibition Prompt 1 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 2 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 3 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 4 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 5 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 6 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 7 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 8 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 9 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 10 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 11 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 12 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 13 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 14 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 15 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 16 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 17 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 18 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 19 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 20 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 21 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 22 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 23 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 24 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 25 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 26 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 27 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 28 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 29 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 30 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 31 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 32 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 33 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 34 - 5 objects
Tok Exhibition Prompt 35 - 5 objects

Tok essay titles May 2023

September 14, 2023

Book a demo class

TOK Essay titles May 2023

Here are the TOK essay titles May 2023 and our best help to students.

IB TOK essay titles May 2023 have been released and there is a big buzz in the air on how to work on these 2023 TOK essay prompts. The six prescribed titles for the May 2023 are:

1. Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

2. for artists and natural scientists, which is more important: what can be explained or what cannot be explained discuss with reference to the arts and the natural sciences..

3. Does it matter if our acquisition of knowledge happens in “bubbles” where some information and voices are excluded? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

4. Do you agree that it is “astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power” (Bertrand Russell)? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.

5. Are visual representations always helpful in the communication of knowledge? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and mathematics.

6. to what extent is the knowledge we produce determined by the methodologies we use discuss with reference to history and one other area of knowledge., tok essay titles may 2023, tok essay may 2023 title 1.

Among Tok essay titles May 2023, tok essay May 2023 title 1 focuses on the key concept of ‘replicability’. Does replicability ensure how good knowledge is? You get to explore the idea on the significance of reproducing the same knowledge in a same setup every time.

Explore the natural sciences and its knowledge reproduction. Many a cases such knowledge pieces ensure credibility in building up the confidence that you would get the same results repeatedly. However, evaluate and see whether this act of reproducibility is necessary in the knowledge production.

Is it the same in other areas of knowledge? How can replicability be separated from not being plagiarized?

Walk through a creative domain like the arts and imagine that it might be possible to replicate an artwork in the form of indistinguishable pieces. But what about the knowledge each replicated art piece produces?

TOK essay May 2023 title 2

Among TOK essay titles May 2023, TOK essay May 2023 title 2 has played a twist here with the wordings in the title. Note carefully that you are not asked to explain what ideas can be explained and what not.

Your task is to evaluate perspectives on ‘which is more important’-ideas which can be explained or those which cannot be.

In natural sciences, there is a huge scope of research as natural science may not be able to prove all facts but theoretically describe them.

In the arts, there are contextual artworks like history arts which may look for explanation on evolving traditions.

TOK essay May 2023 title 3

3. does it matter if our acquisition of knowledge happens in “bubbles” where some information and voices are excluded discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge..

Among TOK essay titles May 2023, Tok essay May 2023 title 3 is pretty fascinating and gives an immense flexibility to you in sharing your opinions. ‘Knowledge bubbles’ are those silos where some knowledge pieces keep echoing.

In the field of human sciences, the question remains whether knowledge bubbles impede us from bearing the responsibility of exploring new knowledge?

On one hand knowledge in natural sciences get to be solidified gaining certainty through long years of beliefs.

Questions arise on whether it matters for you to acquire knowledge from a known knowledge zone where a proposition fits in with the overall set of beliefs for people in that zone.

TOK essay May 2023 title 4

4. do you agree that it is “astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power” (bertrand russell) discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge..

Among TOK essay titles May 2023, Tok essay May 2023 title 4 comes with a hilarious touch-reminds me of ‘little knowledge may be dangerous’.

The question is if you are surprised or not by the observation that little knowledge can give much power or command over the knowledge. It is in fact pretty usual to see such attitude in people with little knowledge entrapped in an illusory web of overestimating their knowledge.

In the area of the natural sciences, you may find such overestimation of capabilities in asserting knowledge claims.

In the human sciences, it is quite common scenario for people to go overwhelmed in overrating their calibre.

TOK essay May 2023 title 5

Among TOK essay titles May 2023, Tok essay May 2023 title 5 may be exciting to visual learners, for they would find a strong personal connection with themselves.

Be precise with certain key words in the title as ‘always’. Knowledge is produced, received unidirectionally. However, communication is a bidirectional concept.

You would get to unpack some of the areas where statistical data have different purpose of production than that of interpretation. Questions may arise on the reliability of such data in predictive analysis.

TOK essay May 2023 title 6

Among TOK essay titles May 2023, Tok essay May 2023 title 6 reminds of the methods and tools in the TOK knowledge framework.

To what extent the observations collected and evaluated in the knowledge production through the use of methodologies, impact the nature of the new knowledge produced-is the focal point.

The contestability is with regards to the influence of varied methodologies in the production of new knowledge. Do appropriateness of research methodologies affect the accuracy of knowledge produced- is the area of reflection.

In history, there might be evidences from primary resources in interpreting the past.

It is equally exciting to inspect the nature of knowledge produced in the natural sciences through empiricism.

If you like what you read, then you may consider reading How to write TOK essay

Also, more details on TOK ESSAY TITLES MAY 2023 can be found at TOK ESSAY TITLES MAY 2023

Stakeholders from schools who use TOK2022

Knowledge and the knower
What is knowledge?
What is bias?
What is truth?
What is perspective?
TOK Concepts
Knowledge and indigenous societies
Knowledge and language
Knowledge and politics
Knowledge and religion
Knowledge and technology
The Human Sciences
Natural Sciences
TOK Exhibition
TOK exhibition sample
100 Classroom Activities
35 IA Prompts
TOK Essay Examples
How to write a TOK essay
TOK Essay May 2024 Title 1
TOK Essay May 2024 Title 2
TOK Essay May 2024 Title 3
TOK Essay May 2024 Title 4
TOK Essay May 2024 Title 5
TOK Essay May 2024 Title 6
TOK Essay Title 1 – Scorecard
TOK Essay Title 2 – Scorecard
TOK Essay Title 3 – Scorecard
TOK Essay Title 4 – Scorecard
TOK Essay Title 5 – Scorecard
TOK Essay Title 6 – Scorecard
TOK Lesson Plan 1 – How to Teach TOK Concepts
TOK Lesson Plan 2 – How to Teach the TOK Concept – Evidence
TOK Lesson Plan 3 – How to Teach TOK Concept – Certainty
TOK Lesson Plan 4 – How to Teach TOK Concept – Truth
TOK Lesson Plan 5 – Introduction of TOK concept – Interpretation
TOK Lesson Plan 6 – The introduction of TOK concept – Power
TOK Lesson Plan 7 – The introduction of TOK concept – Justification
TOK Lesson Plan 8 – The introduction of TOK concept – Explanation
TOK Lesson Plan 9 – The introduction of TOK concept – Objectivity
TOK Lesson Plan 10 – The introduction of TOK concept – Perspectives
TOK Lesson Plan 11 – The introduction of TOK concept – Cultures
TOK Lesson Plan 12 – The introduction of TOK concept – Values
TOK Lesson Plan 13 – The introduction of TOK concept – Responsibility
TOK essay examples 1
TOK essay examples 2
TOK essay examples 3
TOK essay examples 4
TOK essay examples 5
TOK essay examples 6
TOK essay examples 7
TOK essay examples 8
TOK essay examples 9
TOK essay examples 10
TOK essay examples 11
TOK essay examples 12
Tok Exhibition Prompt 1
Tok Exhibition Prompt 2
Tok Exhibition Prompt 3
Tok Exhibition Prompt 4
Tok Exhibition Prompt 5
Tok Exhibition Prompt 6
Tok Exhibition Prompt 7
Tok Exhibition Prompt 8
Tok Exhibition Prompt 9
Tok Exhibition Prompt 10
Tok Exhibition Prompt 11
Tok Exhibition Prompt 12
Tok Exhibition Prompt 13
Tok Exhibition Prompt 14
Tok Exhibition Prompt 15
Tok Exhibition Prompt 16
Tok Exhibition Prompt 17
Tok Exhibition Prompt 18
Tok Exhibition Prompt 19
Tok Exhibition Prompt 20
Tok Exhibition Prompt 21
Tok Exhibition Prompt 22
Tok Exhibition Prompt 23
Tok Exhibition Prompt 24
Tok Exhibition Prompt 25
Tok Exhibition Prompt 26
Tok Exhibition Prompt 27
Tok Exhibition Prompt 28
Tok Exhibition Prompt 29
Tok Exhibition Prompt 30
Tok Exhibition Prompt 31
Tok Exhibition Prompt 32
Tok Exhibition Prompt 33
Tok Exhibition Prompt 34
Tok Exhibition Prompt 35
Teachers Schools

SEV7N IB TUITIONS IB & Cambridge Courses

IMAGES

ToK Essay Prompts November 2023 + Samples & Explanations
TOK Essay 2023 Title 1
May 2023 TOK Essay Prompts
TOK
TOK
May 2023 TOK Essay Prompts

VIDEO

How to Write an Excellent ToK Essay Pt. 3
The ToK Essay: Top Do's & Don'ts
TOK
HSC 2023 English 1st Paper Suggestion
ОБЗОР НА ИТОГОВОЕ СОЧИНЕНИЕ 2023-2024 / РАЗДЕЛЫ, ЛИТРА, ПОДГОТОВКА
ISC 2023

COMMENTS

2023 Essay Title 1: Replicability
TOK Talk · Replicability: 2023 TOK Essay Title 1. In this episode, I sat down with Donna Gee (IB Design Technology Teacher) and Michael Stewart (IB Psychology and TOK Teacher) to unpack and wrestle with 2023 TOK Essay Title 1: Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
Example essays
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:
IB ToK Essay Titles and Topics: May 2023
IB ToK Essay Titles and Topics: May 2023. Here are links to ideas and suggestions relating to the the six May 2023 IB ToK Essay topics: Topic 1. Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge. Topic 2.
The May 2023 TOK Essay Titles
The May 2023 TOK Essay Prescribed Titles. 1. Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge. 2. For artists and natural scientists, which is more important: what can be explained or what cannot be explained? Discuss with reference to the arts and the natural sciences.
Replicability: 2023 TOK Essay
TOK Talk. In this episode, I sat down with Donna Gee (IB Design Technology Teacher) and Michael Stewart (IB Psychology and TOK Teacher) to unpack and wrestle with 2023 TOK Essay Title 1: Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge. We had a rich discussion which I hope you'll ...
Unpacking the 2023 November TOK Titles: A Comprehensive IB ...
So let's get into unpacking them - here is everything you need to know about each of the November 2023 TOK Essay titles: Title 1: Are facts alone enough to prove a claim? Discuss with reference to any two areas of knowledge. Recommended AOKs: Natural Sciences, Human Sciences, History.
November 2023 TOK Essay Titles Explained with Examples
The prescribed titles for the November 2023 TOK Essay has been released! Here are all the titles with detailed explanation and examples to get you started: 1. Are facts alone enough to prove a claim? Discuss with reference to any two areas of knowledge. 2. If "the mathematician's patterns, like the painter's and the poet's, must be beautiful" (G.H. Hardy), how might this impact the production ...
TOK
Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
November 2023 ToK Essay Titles
Therefore, I can only post 'attenuated' versions of the titles here. If you're a student writing an essay for November 2023 ensure that you get the exact title from your teacher rather than use my 'version' of the essay title . More on November 2023 ToK Essay Titles: If you need help writing your ToK Essay see our student support ...
ToK Essay #1 May 23: Replicability
This is an overview guide for Theory of Knowledge Essay #1 May 2023 on Replicability - is it necessary ?The video briefly explains some of the possible key i...
Tok Essay Title 1
TOK ESSAY TITLE MAY 2023 TOK ESSAY TITLE 1 Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge. Title 1 of the May 2023 TOK essay prompt centers around the concept of "replicability" and its role in determining the quality of knowledge. The essay explores the significance of
How To Write A ToK Essay
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 ...
Theory of knowledge
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.
Home
THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 2023 A Comprehensive Guide CONTACT US THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE TOK Curriculum Discover the TOK curriculum and its components, including knowledge questions, areas of knowledge, and ways of knowing. ... TOK ESSAY TITLE 1. TOK ESSAY TITLE 2 MAY 2024 How can we reconcile the opposing demands for specialization and generalization in ...
May 2023 TOK essay prescribed title #1
May 2023 Prescribed Title #1 May 2023 TOK essay prescribed title #1 specific example - Japanese myth on the birth of Japan. The extract below is a translated Japanese creation myth in an ancient text named Kojiki. The original text is written in an type of writing that the vast majority of modern Japanese people cannot read. Read more…
IB TOK Essay Titles
The essay titles for submission in November are released the previous March. The IB owns the copyright for the precise titles. The following social media will post immediate news of each set of titles, when they become available. They also provide regular links to free TOK study resources with discussions on WoKs, AoKs and real-life examples.
The November 2023 TOK Essay Titles
The November 2023 TOK Essay Titles. Here you'll find the Theory of Knowledge Essay prescribed titles for the November 2023 session. The video analysis of these titles is also available already in the member's area .--which you can watch using a free trial. (Just click the "subscribe" tab at the top of this page.
May 2023 TOK Essay Prescribed Titles Explained with Examples
The TOK Essay prescribed titles for the May 2023 session has been released. The six prescribed titles are: Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge. For artists and natural scientists, which is more important: what can be explained or what cannot be explained? Discuss with reference…
May 2023 TOK Essay Prompts + SAMPLES and Suggestions
May 2023 TOK Essay Prompts + SAMPLES and Suggestions. Vasy Kafidoff. September 3rd, 2023. IB Topics. Every year, students anxiously wait for the IB to announce the TOK essay topics. So this year is not an exception; IBO has also announced 2023 May titles for IB TOK essay. The TOK essay can be quite a challenging one to write for most students.
TOK Essay Title #1 (May 2023)
TOK Essay May 2024. TOK Exhibition Samples & Examples. Tutoring, Feedback & Help! More. TOK Essay Title #1. Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge. This Theory of Knowledge Essay prompt is just fantastic. ...
TOK Essay Title #1 (REPLICABILITY)
Let me help you with Theory of Knowledge Essay Prompt and Title #1! It is: Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference ...
Tok essay titles May 2023
Here are the TOK essay titles May 2023 and our best help to students. IB TOK essay titles May 2023 have been released and there is a big buzz in the air on how to work on these 2023 TOK essay prompts. The six prescribed titles for the May 2023 are: 1. Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas.
TOK Essay November 2023 Titles 1, 2 & 3
Some quick thoughts on the first three TOK essay questions for November 2023. More detailed videos for each one on the way! For tutoring and written essay gu...

Replicability: 2023 TOK Essay Title 1

Information

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada

Unpacking the 2023 November TOK Titles: A Comprehensive IB Solved Guide

Recent Posts

November 2023 TOK Essay Titles Explained with Examples

Related Posts

How To Write A ToK Essay - Updated 2023

Table of content

Purpose Of ToK

IB Resources you will love!

[email protected]

THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 2023

THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE

TOK Essay Tips

TOK Presentation

TOK Resources

Lorem Porem

TOK ESSAY TITLES 2024

TOK ESSAY TITLE 2 MAY 2024

TOK ESSAY TITLE 3 MAY 2024

TOK ESSAY TITLE 4 MAY 2024

TOK ESSAY TITLE 5 MAY 2024

TOK ESSAY TITLE 6 MAY 2024

Choose from three different TOK course structures

Big Question Framework

Classic TOK Lessons

Disruptive Ideas

Apply TOK ideas and concepts to the real world

Monthly Newsletter

Investigating Issues

12 Key TOK Concepts

Master the TOK assessment tasks

TOK Essay Support Pack

Exhibition Support Pack

TOK Assessment Lessons

Get your whole DP faculty onboard

DP Integration Tool

TOK Mini Lessons

Knowledge Heros

Prepare your pre-DP students for TOK

Thinking for Yourself

Middle Year Newsletter

Get trained-up for TOK

Explore the course

The Core Theme

Optional Theme

Areas of Knowledge

Download free samples

Classroom Ready TOK Lessons

TOK World Resources

Real World Resources

Testimonials

United States

María Santos

Ishita Sharma

Request a Callback?

May 2023 TOK essay prescribed title #1 – key terms

Related Posts

May 2023 Prescribed Title #1

May 2023 TOK essay prescribed title #4 specific example – photo of an execution during the Vietnam War.

Privacy Overview

IB TOK Essay Titles

May 2023 TOK Essay Prescribed Titles Explained with Examples

Share this:

Leave a comment Cancel reply

May 2023 TOK Essay Prompts + SAMPLES and Suggestions

TOK essay titles and questions for May 2023

Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

For artists and natural scientists, which is more important: what can be explained or what cannot be explained? Discuss with reference to the arts and the natural sciences.

Does it matter if our acquisition of knowledge happens in “bubbles” where some information and voices are excluded? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

Do you agree that it is “astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power” (Bertrand Russell)? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.

Are visual representations always helpful in the communication of knowledge? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and mathematics.

To what extent is the knowledge we produce determined by the methodologies we use? Discuss with reference to history and one other area of knowledge.

Choose IB TOK essay topic wisely, my friend 😉

Free topic suggestions

Similar posts