ToK Presentation Planning Document

Dear Alejandro, Devechin, D’Angelo, and Alyssa:

Your presentations have been selected for moderation! That means the IB examiner wants to know if I scored your presentations correctly. In order to determine this, the examiner would like your ToK planning document.

Please complete the TK PPD form for presentations. You may copy and paste your original text into this form. It’s important that the information you include reflects the presentation you gave in class, so please do not make drastic changes.

Once that is done, please save the form, using your name and candidate number as the file name. Then, email me the pdf form to

chris-coey@scusd.edu

Finally, return the hard copy of your presentation (including the rubric score with my comments and marks).

I’ll take care of the rest! Thank you!

Mr. Coey

May 2015 ToK Essay Prompts

Hey ToKers,

Welcome back to LBHS! As some of you have heard by now the ToK Essay “Prescribed Title” have been released, and I’m pleased to report that the prompts are fantastic! They are very accessible and relevant to our course of study together. A couple of quick reminders: the ToK essay is a requirement for diploma candidates only, and I believe the final draft will be due in late January.

The essay does need to be verified by your ToK teacher, however. And given that I am not teaching ToK this year with you, I’m not sure how this will be addressed. By the way, I have your final essay graded. I prefer to meet with you as a group when I hand them back.

Thanks so much, and here are your  May 2015 Prescribed Titles.

These resources are meant to support your development of the ToK essay.

ToK Essay Planning Template: essay_template_en

how to write a ToK essay cambridge

ToK Helper

Effective Citing and Referencing

Flipboard Magazine Articles

Instructions to candidates
Your theory of knowledge essay for examination must be submitted to your teacher for authentication. It must be written on one of the six titles (questions) provided overleaf. You may choose any title, but are recommended to consult with your teacher. Your essay will be marked
according to the assessment criteria published in the Theory of Knowledge guide. The focus of your essays should be on knowledge questions. Where appropriate, refer to other parts of your IB programme and to your experiences as a knower. Always justify your statements and provide relevant examples to illustrate your arguments. Pay attention to the implications of your arguments, and remember to consider what can be said against them. If you use external sources, cite them according to a recognized convention.

Note that statements in quotations in these titles are not necessarily authentic: they present a real point of view but may not be direct quotes. It is appropriate to analyse them but it is unnecessary, even unwise, to spend time on researching a context for them.

Examiners mark essays against the title as set. Respond to the title exactly as given; do not alter it in any way. Your essay must have a maximum of 1600 words, it must be double spaced and typed in size 12  font.

Kind Regards,

Mr. Coey

Sample ToK Essays!

Stephanie Nunes ToK essay provides RLS examples and detailed analysis of AoKs. She concludes with a discussion of the implications for what/how we can know.

yovanna-wge2ky Another former LBHS student who wrote a personal and analytical essay.

The following essay and examiner comments use the previous grading rubric; however, the essay does provide some valuable insights into the genre of a ‘critical thinking’ essay.

Senses Essay Examiner comments

Senses Essay

Final ToK Book Comment

Hey ToKers,

First of all, you are awesome, as always. Please review your last comment about “acquiring knowledge.” Then, reply with a thought-provoking comment.

Second, please respond to this question in a 50 -100 word response:

A) In your book, how do ‘language’ and ‘key concepts’ construct or shape knowledge?

B) Which metaphors are use to convey knowledge? How effect is this in shaping what we know, believe, or claim to know?

Thanks so much!

Regards,

Coey

ToK Summer Book and Movie List

Hey ToKers,

Given that we have some additional time to freely explore different perspectives, I am offering this book and film list to enrage, enlighten, and envelope your fragile egg-like minds with ToKness (yes, it’s now a noun)

ToK summer reading and viewing list!

Your first post is due Monday, May 26.

Please answer the following question in a 50-100 word response with at least one specific quote from the book to support your response.

1. Which approach to gaining knowledge is explored in your book? How is “acquiring knowledge” discussed?

p.s. I just read this fascinating article, Eight Pseudo-scientific Climate Claims Debunked by Real Scientists. Fabulous! Great information for anyone living in a republican controlled state, e.g., Texas or Florida.

p.p.s. If you are considering another ToK presentation, I would strongly encourage you to consider Bill Moyers’ website and journalism as fertile ToK ground. He has already planted and grown; it’s up to you to harvest!

ToK Presentation Resources

Hey ToKers,

Here are several resources we will use to develop our presentations.

ToK Presentation Proposal example

ToK-Presentation-Planner-Graphic

Presentation Planning Document 2015

Chris Coey Flipboard Magazines with Real Life Situations

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The following three documents are related to a ToK presentation, which scored 8/10 marks:

presentation 1 TKPPD_en

presentation 1 ppt_en

Examiner comments exemplar 1

ToK Presentation Assessment Rubric

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The following slide shows received high marks for their attention to the knowledge question, different perspectives, and explaining the process for gaining knowledge.

Jovina Vangs ToK Presentation

Linh and Josue

Theory of Plate Techtonics

Kind Regards,

Mr. Coey

Knowledge Questions — Religion

Dear ToKers,

1st–Select one of the following questions, and TRY to view it through at least two distinct religions perspectives. Perhaps you can view this one question through your religious perspective and the perspective you recently researched.

2nd–Post your comment with specific examples, reasons, or arguments from BOTH religious perspectives.

3rd–Then, respond to your classmates’ posts/ideas with questions or comments.

Knowledge Questions:

1. What is the difference between religious feelings, religious beliefs and religious faith?
2. Is it possible to know God?
3. Are religious beliefs reasonable?
4. Is faith irrational?
5. Where do religious beliefs come from?
6. Can you think of any evidence which would convince you that God does not exist?
7. What is the value of thinking about questions to which there are no
definite answers?
8. How do we decide between the competing claims of different
religious knowledge systems?

Religious Concepts and Language

Dear ToKers,

1. Research a religion unfamiliar to you. For a partial list of religions, please consult this list from the BBC.

2. Which key concepts are vital to understanding this religion?

3. How is language used to shape this particular view? Is this language metaphorical? Symbolic? Or is it meant to be understood as literal? Which words or phrases are central to this belief?

4. Raise two knowledge questions centered around the ways of knowing.

5. Post your observations, examples, and questions on this class website

Due Monday at the end of class.

Kind Regards,

Mr. Coey

What is art?

Thinking about art as an ‘area of knowledge’ can be both exciting and daunting depending on your comfort level. It might be appropriate to ask, “Is art knowledge?” This question might lead to us to think about the distinction between personal knowledge and shared knowledge.

For this assignment, research various works of art, which might be of use to your Art Presentation.

1. Try flipping through the art articles in my magazine:

Check out Arts by Chris Coey

 

2. Also, look at the links provided on this web page.

3. Post a comment about a work of art you found to be ‘knowledge’ and discuss whether you see this work of art as relating to personal or shared knowledge.

Posted in Art