Essay Writing

How to write the TOK Essay

Structure
• Introduction

•Main Body
• Conclusion
• Works Cited
 Deconstructing the Title
• Flow Chart: Deconstruction

What are the key concepts and

phrases? What assumptions are implicit or
explicit in the title?

Do you understand the whole title and

Concepts, ambiguities its possible implications?
present: theoretical
knowledge

Action phrases and

terms methodology Choose your title.
What is the key knowledge question
that you are going to address?
 

  Deconstruct more
thoroughly. Brainstorm
 
possible approaches
 Consider your knowledge question

• Flow Chart Continued

Concepts to Clarify: AOKs to use. Relation WOKs to use. Relation of key Place of personal and
What definitions of to the knowledge concepts within the WOKs.: shared knowledge: what
knowledge will you framework. Examples what roles do Reason, assumptions have you
use as related to the from historical Language, Sense Perception been taught with regard
title, WOKs and background? play, for instance? to knowledge in the
AOKs? Concepts/language? AOK?

What examples? What evaluations/judgements? What

different perspectives? What points to make? How to analyze?
What counter arguments/perspectives? What line of
argument?

PLAN
Develop your argument Work out essay structure

WRITE
Introduction
• Define key terms/assumptions in the question
using your own, not dictionary definitions

• Use the introduction as a signpost for the essay

• Explain how you are going to tackle the question

• State what and how you intend to explore the

the knowledge question through the prescribed
title and the question that you have developed.
Knowledge Questions
• The main Knowledge Question is the one(s) in the title itself
but other knowledge questions should emerge as you write
the essay. (Usually these have the “to what extent”
introduction to them)

• These KQs could relate to whether your arguments apply in

other areas of knowledge for example. Remember that “to
what extent” questions assume that there is a norm or
standard against which they can be “measured”

• Do not re-write the question to make a different Knowledge

Question if the KQ to be explored has already been given in
the title
Main Body
• This is made up of a number of paragraphs
• Each paragraph should deal with one idea only

• The paragraphs are like a layer cake (or a hamburger):

• What is the idea or concept?
• What evidence/example can you include to justify this idea?
• How does this relate to the question?

• You need to repeat this for each different idea

Main Body
• The focus of your TOK essay must always be knowledge –
otherwise your essay is simply a subject based essay on History or
Philosophy or the Arts etc.

• You should try to include a variety of examples which back up your

key ideas from the AOKs and ask: how are the WOKs operating in
these examples.
• You should be able to refer to things covered in class
• Use your own experiences – think CAS, studies & Project Week
• Use examples from your wider reading (EE, TOK texts, the news)

• Your examples should not be too long – be brief but show how
they exemplify the point you are trying to make.
• The danger here is to be descriptive
Main Body
• Your examples should not be hypothetical – the mark scheme
is very clear about using real-life examples
• Avoid trite and hackneyed examples – (Hitler, flat earth, trolley
car ethics etc.)

• Always relate each idea & example back to the question and
say if you think it supports the KQ or leads us to reject it and
why. Answer the Question

• Balance is crucial – you must look at your KQ from a variety of

perspectives
• Include counter claims from other AOKs or WOKs and evaluate
these counterclaims
Main Body
• Clarity is important: avoid long run-on sentences and long
descriptive passages.

• Brevity is key – you only have 1600 words

• Avoid “death by thesaurus”

• Use words where you actually know their meanings!

• Try to use the TOK vocabulary that has been covered in class.

• Draw out the implications of your ideas – if this is true what

does it mean for our understanding of knowledge in this area?
The Conclusion
• A summary of your main findings – it must be brief

• Related directly to your title

• Answer the question

• Make your opinion as a knower heard

• Note any anomalies or exceptions you have discovered

• Evaluate the scope of the essay – is there more to be known before

concluding with certainty?

• No new ideas please, but focus on the implications –e.g whether

existing assumptions about knowledge can still be held.
Works Cited
• Sources of all information used in the essay

• E.g In MLA Format or other recognized citation format

• In alphabetical order
The Basic Advice
• Answer the question that you have been set.
• Include counter arguments with evidence to provide balance,
but do evaluate these – do they refute your original
argument?
• Use subject specific language.
• Use accurate punctuation and grammar.
• Cite your sources
Final Words
• Answer the question

• No really, Answer THE QUESTION!

• Answer the #%$@^%* Question!!!!