may 2022 tok essay titles reddit

TOK DISCUSSIONS

Theory of knowledge prescribed titles

May 2022 examination session

Can there be knowledge that is independent of culture? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.

To what extent do you agree with the claim that “there’s a world of difference between truth and facts” (Maya Angelou)? Answer with reference to two areas of knowledge.

Is there solid justification for regarding knowledge in the natural sciences more highly than knowledge in another area of knowledge? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.

How do historians and human scientists give knowledge meaning through the telling of stories? Discuss with reference to history and the human sciences.

How can we distinguish between good and bad interpretations? Discuss with reference to the arts and one other area of knowledge.

If we conclude that there is some knowledge we should not pursue on ethical grounds, how can we determine the boundaries of acceptable investigation within an area of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

May 2022 Title #1

Can there be knowledge that is independent of culture?

Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.

Well, now, for the first time, in a long time, one of the two AOKs is already chosen for you. This can give the students peace of mind not to worry about choosing two AOKs, and at the same time, restricts the student to explore the title within any AOK that he/she wants. Anyways, this is what we have.

"Can there be knowledge that is independent of culture?" The short answer is "Yes!" Mathematics, physics, and biology (to some certain extents) and many more, contain knowledge, independent of cultures. But of course, you do not want to give a direct answer to the essay title and receive a very low mark for that.

This is where it gets interesting. Now we know the reason for Mathematics to be one of the AOKs. But, what can we do with it? Should we first explore different points of view, pro and against the title, within Mathematics and then continue within another AOK? Or, we may want to compare the independence of knowledge from culture in other AOKs with Mathematics.

Well, both approaches work. You can show your clear awareness of different points of view by bringing RLEs within Mathematics in which the expert knowers (mathematicians) created knowledge depending on a culture, also independent of any culture. You will definitely face "numbers" in your research. Do numbers exist in nature independent of any culture, or did cultures invent numbers and numeral systems based on their values and needs, and can these systems be applied to/used by other cultures? And without a doubt you want to discuss the famous knowledge question "is mathematics discovered or invented?"  Platonists vs formalists .

Introduction

Define "knowledge" and explain how it can be "dependent" on or "independent" of a culture. Bringing a RLE from your personal life is a good touch. Did you always think that some knowledge, some way of living, only belonged to your culture, and then you learned that (almost) everyone in the world has that knowledge? You may also want to consider this, according to the Oxford Internet Institute, the range of cultural information that Wikipedia contains is hugely biased!

One AOK is Mathematics . The other AOK can be any of the other four. History carries knowledge dependent on cultures and independent on any culture, belonging to humanity, or shared among many cultures. You can find many interesting examples in The Human Sciences , as these sciences study human beings, who happened to have different cultures. At the same time, there is a big portion of human sciences focused on humanity itself, regardless of race or culture. The Natural Sciences sounds more like an area of knowledge independent of any culture, as it studies nature, but is it though? Does the contribution of different cultures to the advancement of physics and chemistry makes the knowledge dependent on that culture? Or not? If we find differences in biology of people belonging to different cultures, does it also mean that the knowledge depends on those cultures? Or is it just knowledge, independent of any culture? And last but not least, The Arts . The Arts is definitely an AOK totally dependent on culture, isn’t it? Not necessarily. Paintings, statues, songs, music, fashion and any artwork in general that is produced surely rely on a culture and an era. But, what about the knowledge that is extracted from them? According to Oscar Wilde, "life imitates art more than art imitates life." These days we clearly see the cultures that are formed based on art, which makes the knowledge in The Arts not only independent of culture, but a source for creating a new culture.

Base 10 in comparison with base 8 , used by the Yuki people , shows that knowledge can be cultural in Mathematics , while the value of π is the same whatever your culture!

In History , events have happened to cultures and undoubtedly, the knowledge depends on that culture, but the same events were not told by only one culture , therefore the knowledge that is produced does not depend on a culture. Moreover, in a bigger scope , the entire humanity suffered from some global events , like WWII , that happened to almost every culture and nation. Also, terrorist groups like The Taliban , Al-Qaeda , ISIS , Shining Path , IRA , Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and many more, while forming in different culture, have one thing in common, and that is extremism , which is independent of culture .

The Human Sciences try to study human behavior in a systematic way. Therefore, sometimes, these studies produce knowledge heavily dependent on a culture, and in many cases, regardless of the culture and applicable to the entire humanity. Supply and demand is a theory in microeconomics that is free from any culture, race, nation or even belief. While, Capitalism and Marxism are dependent on respective sociocultural structures. Whether psychologists like Sigmund Freud or not, his theories are about human nature regardless of culture, while Richard Shweder focuses more on cultural psychology and anthropology.

Physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy and all The Natural Sciences in general, and knowledge produced within them, should be independent of culture. But, according to Carl Sagan , "Science is a way of thinking more than it is a body of knowledge." And as we all know, ways of thinking are highly formed by and dependent on cultures. Otto Hahn , Lise Meitner and Fritz Strassmann pioneered nuclear science , and J. Robert Oppenheimer is known as "the father of the atomic bomb ." Clearly, knowledge can be heavily influenced by culture, if not being dependent on.

The Arts are, most of the time, considered as the symbols of cultures. At the same time, especially in these modern times, we observe the appearance of cultures based on art, like hip-hop culture. So, if a culture is dependent on an AOK, does it mean that the knowledge is independent of the culture? While this point of view creates some kind of paradox, it is worthy of being explored. At the same time, while cultures (civilizations, religions and traditions) basically were the main reasons for artworks to be created, aesthetics are considered universal by some, and cultural by others.

In conclusion, some may find knowledge produced in an AOK dependent on the culture, and some may find knowledge independent of any culture and universal. You, as an IB student, explore different points of view, reflect them through RLEs and keep your strong opinions to yourself!

May 2022 Title #2

To what extent do you agree with the claim that “there’s a world of difference between truth and facts” (Maya Angelou)?

Answer with reference to two areas of knowledge.

Maya Angelou was an American poet also famous for her quote, and this title is an incomplete version of one of her quotes. The complete quote is "there’s a world of difference between truth and facts. Facts can obscure the truth." IB has removed the last part, most probably, for the students to be able to explore all the theories of truth. To write an essay on this title, you want to consider the implications of correspondence, coherence and pragmatic theories of truth within different AOKs.

Obviously, "truth," "fact" and "a world of difference" are the keywords that you are going to define. But, defining truth has always been a very hard, close to impossible, task. You do not need to worry though, as in writing a TOK essay, the students do not have to explicitly and strongly define a term/concept, and comparing a variety of common definitions shows their clear awareness of different points of views.

Correspondence theory of truth states that a proposition is true if it corresponds to a fact. "IBDP is the best educational program" is true if, and only if, IBDP is the best educational program! We usually examine the existence of a fact through sense perception, that as we all know, is not perfect.

There are three major criticisms against correspondence theory of truth, problems with facts , it is never perfect and finally, truth cannot be determined in isolation .

There are also more aspects of and criticisms to other theories of truth that you may want to consider forming your arguments based on them. In summary, the best approach to choose in writing the essay under this title, is to explore the relation between "truth" and "facts" in different AOKs.

Introduction Explain the "truth" through coherence theory and other theories of truth that you find better fit for your essay. As usual, that RLE from your personal life, that you can explain your point of view with, is useful. Your classmate told you one day that the teacher was sick and was not coming to the school that day, but he appeared right on time. There was no fact for you to validate your classmate’s truth (about the teacher being sick) but the teacher might have been sick, yet still couldn’t bear staying at home, missing the chance to teach his lovely students!

AOKs History seems like your first choice, as what AOK better than History to talk about "truth" and "facts" within. The cubist theory of truth , exploring an event from a variety of perspectives , is the one that is used to get closer to the "truth" about historical events. In history, "facts" are basically the interpretations of evidences by historians, believed by the majority of people. How different is a historical fact from the truth about history? A world, or just a country?! The clash of the "facts" and the "truth" cannot be seen anywhere better than in Law , within the AOK of The Human Sciences . Courtroom stories are filled with the "facts" that led to discovering the "truth", and missing evidences (nonexistence of the facts) that still had no effect on the existence of the "truth". In general, "fact" is a rare commodity in The Human Sciences , and "truth" hardly exists, but still, it doesn’t stop you from exploring the title statement within this AOK. On the contrary, The Natural Sciences are gold mines of "facts" and "truth." Mathematical "truth" is either an empirical generalization (empiricism), is true by definition (formalism) or give us a priori insight into the structure of the reality (Platonism). Some believe that the “truth” in Mathematics corresponds to "facts", and some argue the needlessness of such correspondence.

RLEs World War II started in 1939 and ended in 1945, approximately 6 million Jewish people died during this time, and Hiroshima and Nagasaki suffered the loss of half of their population. These are the "facts" in History that help us realize the "truth" about the evils of war. In 1994, O. J. Simpson was arrested for the murders of Brown and Ron Goldman, and in 1995 he was found "not guilty." There was a mountain of evidence against him, and the majority of people believed he was the murderer, believing in "truth" through coherence . But all these "facts" did neither prove nor deny the "truth" about the murder that had happened. You can also find more RLEs in other fields of The Human Sciences . Gerald Feinberg coined the term tachyon in 1967, based on no "facts," but the "truth" that faster-than-light speed is possible under certain circumstances, and this is an example of the relation between these two in The Natural Sciences . And finally, I hope you are all familiar with John Stuart Mill , not a very popular figure I assume, and his empirical view on Mathematics and his famous 2+2=4 example.

Conclusion In conclusion, all you should do to write your essay under this title, exploring your agreement with the quote from Maya Angelou, is to choose one AOK in which "truth" and "facts" clearly correspond, and another AOK within which the exploration of this correspondence does not result in clear conclusions. And to what extent do you agree with the statement? Of course, to some (certain) extent.

May 2022 Title #3

Is there solid justification for regarding knowledge in the natural sciences more highly than knowledge in another area of knowledge?

Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.

And again, we have another one predetermined AOK. But this one seems fun. Let’s simplify the title first and then see what we have in front of us to work on.

" In The Natural Sciences , we justify our beliefs to produce knowledge." "This justification is more solid, and based on more reliable ways of knowing compared to other AOKs."

Can we agree with this statement (which is a question in the title)? Of course not. And if someone asks "why?" The answer is " Mathematics ."

In general, in any AOK, we should justify our findings to be certain about them and to be able to regard them as knowledge. And as we know, we justify our beliefs through the ways of knowing (not available to be taught independently anymore).

Knowledge, in The Natural Sciences , is justified by using the scientific method : observation , formulating a hypothesis , testing it by an experiment , if the results confirm the hypothesis, discovering a scientific law and finally developing a theory . It seems like a "solid justification" for considering something as knowledge. But in Mathematics , knowledge is simply just true, however you "justify" it. And in The Human Sciences , although scientists use the scientific method , there are way more problems ( the observer effect , ethical issues etc.) in and criticisms to each step compared to The Natural Sciences . History and The Arts are two other AOKs in which knowledge can be justified by the first three AOKs! Then clearly, "justification for regarding knowledge" in The Natural Sciences exists "more highly" compared to these three.

Introduction The first thing to do is to define "justification" and explain how knowledge can be justified in general, and specifically in The Natural Sciences . Then bring a peculiar RLE from your personal life to demonstrate your understating of justification of knowledge. Let’s say your teacher "knew" that you cheated in the exam, which you really had, because he had stomach pain, and it happens every time a student cheats! Or any other example from your peculiar life. Here, the knowledge is true, but the justification is not acceptable.

AOKs Clearly, your first AOK is The Natural Sciences , and in case you want to argue against the title , you will choose Mathematics as your second AOK. On the other hand, if your approach is to argue pro the title , you may choose The Human Sciences as the second AOK, or if, for some reason, you hold a grudge against the knowledge in History or The Arts , you will bring either of these as the second AOK and destroy their reputation.

RLEs Ptolemy ’s model of the universe had poor justification, while James Watson and Francis Crick ’s model of the structure of DNA is a good example for justification of knowledge in The Natural Sciences . The development of non-Euclidean geometry questioned the certainty of formal system in Mathematics , but Fibonacci numbers explain the beauty of nature. Historians use a variety of scientific methods like radiocarbon dating to prove their theories, and we gain knowledge in The Arts by analyzing famous paintings using mathematics .

Conclusion In conclusion, whatever the approach you choose, first you may want to explore two RLEs within The Natural Sciences , one having strong justification for knowledge and the other being less strongly justified. You will then move on to the other AOK, which is either Mathematics , or one of the other three ( The Human Sciences , History or The Arts ), and bring two more RLEs in the same (strong and less strong) levels of justification. You can conclude your essay by clearly expressing your awareness of different points of view, pro and against, on the existence of "solid justification" for "regarding knowledge" in The Natural Sciences compared to other AOKs.

May 2022 Title #4

How do historians and human scientists give knowledge meaning through the telling of stories?

Discuss with reference to history and the human sciences.

Okay. This is getting interesting!

Now, you have two AOKs to explore storytelling within. I personally would choose other AOKs that knowledge is not very friendly in them, but this is what we have here.

Clearly, methods and tools of producing and gaining knowledge should be discussed under this title. If we just say some events happened in the past and people got killed, or there are some crazy people walking around freely in society, it does not sound that much like knowledge, and even if it does, the receiver of such knowledge would be puzzled and would ask "so, what?!" But, if such knowledge is transferred by telling a story, then it makes more sense.

Introduction First of all, you may want to briefly explain methods and tools in these two AOKs ( History and The Natural Sciences ). Then you can explain how storytelling helps understanding the meaning and importance of knowledge, by bringing a RLE from your personal life. Remember the difference between just being told that some actions have consequences or understanding it through the morals of a story.

RLEs Theodore R. Sarbin is the pioneer of narrative psychology , whose works were continued by Jerome Bruner to give a more appealing appearance to knowledge in psychology as a field of The Human Sciences . Michael Pollan , journalism professor and food writer, explains how storytelling helps History reach a broader audience, and Timothy Noah shows the list of the resources used by Tony Kushner to write the screenplay for the Hollywood movie Lincoln (2012).

Conclusion In conclusion, if you choose to write your essay under this title, your best approach would be to choose two RLEs (one for each AOK) for which the knowledge was transferred in a very academic and rugged way, leaving no long-term effect on the knower, and two RLEs (one for each AOK) for which the knowledge was transferred through storytelling, and in result, creating an intimate connection with the knower to give more meaning to the knowledge.

May 2022 Title #5

How can we distinguish between good and bad interpretations?

Discuss with reference to the arts and one other area of knowledge.

It seems that finally IB wants to hear your opinions, but what happens to "clear awareness of different points of view?"

The best approach would be comparing different points of view about "good" and "bad" interpretations. But first, one needs to know what "interpretation" is and how it affects the knowledge that is produced within different AOKs.

We have all heard the famous sentence, "language is ambiguous." We usually take help from the context to "interpret" what we hear, see, feel or perceive in general. The wisest approach to communication is not to have an all-or-none attitude towards "interpretation," rather trying to understand different levels of meaning. And the way that we perceive the world around us is through sensation, which the world itself offers, and "interpretation," that is provided by our minds. Selectivity of perception, uncertainty, bias and many more factors cloud the way we see the world, "interpret" meanings and produce and receive knowledge.

In summary, "good interpretation" may be the one closer to the truth or reality and "bad interpretation" the one further away from them.

Introduction You can start introducing your discussion by explaining and bringing examples from the situations where wrong (bad) "interpretations" resulted in unpleasant outcomes and connect the hypothetical appealing outcome to the possible "good interpretation" and conclude a method on how to distinguish between these two "interpretations" by analyzing the outcomes. And as always, RLEs from your personal life are very helpful.

AOKs For this title, one AOK, The Arts , is already determined, and the student should choose another AOK to reference his/her exploration to. The way that I see it, all other AOKs fit perfectly to this discussion. In science ( The Natural and Human Sciences ), scientists "interpret" the data to reach conclusions and produce knowledge, and this is the same for sources in History . Also, mathematicians give value to expressions to interpret meanings in Mathematics .

RLEs Many song titles and lyrics have been misinterpreted, resulting in creating urban legends or even cult-like groups. Paintings , or the motive behind them, have also been misunderstood by people leading into years (or decades) of false reputation. These are examples of "bad interpretations" in The Arts . In science ( The Natural and Human Sciences ), "bad interpretation" of data (from experiments , surveys , researches or investigations ) may cause irreparable damages or put lives in danger. What happens if the report on the inspection of a pharmaceutical company , or a crime scene is based on "bad interpretation" of the findings? And if historians misinterpret their sources or historical events , they may give a falsified History , and in result a falsified identity , to a nation or even a town.

Conclusion In conclusion, I think we can all agree that one of the best ways of "distinguishing between good and bad interpretations" is by evaluating the outcome of those "interpretations." Some may also believe that in some AOKs (or some cases), especially in The Arts, "interpretations" are done by and affect the individual, and the outcome is not the best assessment tool. This group of people may find the process of interpreting a data a better way to assess the interpretation, regardless of the outcome. You can develop your arguments more result oriented or more process inclined.

May 2022 Title #6

If we conclude that there is some knowledge we should not pursue on ethical grounds, how can we determine the boundaries of acceptable investigation within an area of knowledge?

Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

"How can we determine the boundaries?" This is one of the most important questions to be answered in everyone’s life. The boundaries of anything. Or in a more today’s fashion, we can ask "where do we draw the line?" It is also the title of a song by Poets of the Fall .

Yes, as you can see, this title is not about ethics, ethical knowledge etc. It is about where to draw a line for investigating the ethical-ness of the pursuit of knowledge. Let’s break it down.

"There is some knowledge that we should not pursue, because it is not ethical." "We should investigate the methods and tools of pursuing knowledge, to know if they are ethical." "Some investigations may go too far." "Where do we draw the line, in our investigations, not to cross?"

This is one of the best topics to discuss. Under the name of ethics, many start investigating people’s lives, science, relationships, thoughts, you name it. These "necessary" investigations need to stop at some point. Where is that point? Is it related to what is being investigated, or is there a general universal point to stop the investigations? Are there any signs that we should look for? Should there be a stop sign on the road or maybe some speed limit signs?

When you think of these questions, you understand the title question better. And definitely you won’t start writing about ethics and ethics and ethics, rather questioning the boundaries of implementing ethics in everything, especially in the pursuit of knowledge that may save lives, but "investigators" stop it, because it endangers lives!

Introduction Introduce your approach by explaining how you, personally, accept methods and ways of pursuing knowledge as ethical. Bring example(s) from your life. And then try to bring a couple of (contrasting) quotes about the acceptance of ethics, or ethical practices. "These are my principles and if you don’t like them – I have others." - Groucho Marx "I cannot see how to refute the arguments for the subjectivity of ethical values, but I find myself incapable of believing that all that is wrong with wanton cruelty is that I don’t like it." - Bertrand Russell Quotes like these show the subjectivity and potential flexibility of ethics, as it seems to be strictly a personal preference. The key to writing a good introduction to your essay, is to compare a variety of points of view on how to accept something as ethical, and what are the boundaries.

AOKs Talking about the pursuit of knowledge and ethics, the first AOK that comes to mind is without a doubt The Human Sciences , as the test subjects should be humans, and testing on humans to help humans is considered unethical. The next AOK should be The Arts , right? Because artists never liked the restrictions of ethics and ethical authorities, whoever they are, never liked the "immorality" of the artists. Then The Natural Sciences comes to mind, as it is "the science" and in pursuit of science, the scientists always break the laws of ethics, wherever these laws are written. I personally do not find investigating and the investigation of methods and tools in History interesting and clear. And at last, questioning the morality and ethical-ness of methods and tools in Mathematics , especially in producing knowledge, and not applying it? Really? There are people these days, who question the applications of mathematical knowledge, but I don’t think many people find the pursuit of mathematical knowledge unethical.

RLEs A very tricky, but well-known example for me, is the case of Iraq’s WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction). Why is it tricky? Because in order to pursue knowledge in Politics , The U.S. started its investigation, and it should not be mistaken with the pursuit of knowledge in Physics . The investigation crossed all the boundaries by starting a war, and resulted in absolutely nothing. No WMD were found and no proper political knowledge was gained. You should be very careful with your RLEs for this title, as you are not asked to bring examples for unethical pursuit of knowledge, but examples from the investigations of such practices. You should find examples, in which the investigation took appropriate measures and resulted in helpful findings, also examples, in which the investigators went too far and probably found nothing unethical. By comparing these two types of investigations, one can somehow draw the line, and can "determine the boundaries of acceptable investigation" into the methods and tools of pursuing knowledge in different AOKs.

Conclusions In conclusion, what you need to do, is to focus on comparing and exploring different ways of and measures taken in investigating the ways of pursuing knowledge, and stay away from any unethical example itself. For instance, if you want to talk about the Milgram experiment, do not discuss the ethics of the experiment, but rather explore whether the accusations and criticisms were appropriate or they did cross the line. And in the end, you can conclude that while group A believes in lighter concerns, and group B believes in taking stronger measures, in investigating the methods and tools of gaining knowledge, based on ethics, this is not a very clear area and ethical values are subjective. Or you may want to draw the line and limit "the boundaries of acceptable investigation." Your choice.

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Choosing a TOK essay title

TOK Home > Free TOK notes > TOK essay guidance > Choosing a TOK essay title

Once you’ve understood the basics of the essay, and have grasped the essay rubric , you can think about which title to choose. These are published in March and September every year, according to whether you are a Southern or Northern hemisphere school.

Here are a few consideration points that you can bear in mind when you read through the six prescribed titles (PTs), and decide which one to take on.

STEP 2: Choose a TOK essay title

1. have you properly considered your choice.

Be open-minded about the titles, and listen carefully to the opinions of others during the initial class discussion about the PTs. You may feel a strong reaction for or against certain titles, but don’t act on this yet. Wait until you have fully processed and understood what each essay is looking for, then make your choice.

2. How does your title relate to the TOK course structure?

Our way of structuring the course is via the Big Questions . These are designed to align with the TOK essay, so if you have followed this way of studying the TOK course, it’s your first way of linking the PTs to the course. Which BQ unit did you most enjoy? Which thinkers and ideas appeared in that unit? A measure of a title’s suitability is the ease with which you can link it to the course structure you have followed.

3. Does your title link to an AOK that you’ve enjoyed exploring?

As you consider the titles, you should be thinking about how they link to the areas of knowledge, and which AOKs might work as the context of your essay. Inevitably, you will have enjoyed, and had more success, with some AOKs than others, so your title should link naturally to these – if it doesn’t, then perhaps you need to rethink your choice.

4. How does your title relate to the key concepts?

The key concepts are 12 ideas of particular significance to the TOK course, and you should use them as much as you can in your TOK essay. Does the title you have chosen include a reference (either explicitly, or implicitly) to a key concept? Does it allow you to discuss a key concept that has resonated with you, or which enables you to draw on personal experiences? Try as much as possible to choose a title that allows you to mention and discuss one or more key concepts.

5. Can you find ways to challenge your title?

One characteristic of a top-level essay is that it offers a challenge to the statement or question within the title. Is the title you are considering based on an assumption that you could dispute? Is it based on a concept or idea that you could take issue with? This is a great way of showing that you have a critical approach to knowledge, and don’t just toe the line.

6. Can you relate the title to your own experiences?

Another consideration point is whether the title allows you to draw on your own experiences – either inside school, or outside it – as a knower. Can you draw on the process of writing your EE? CAS projects? Your other DP subjects? From books you’ve read, art galleries you’ve visited, thinkers you’ve encountered? All this works very well in a TOK essay.

7. Can you easily explore the title in a real-world context?

As well as your own experiences, what about events and issues on a local, national, or global level? Think about interesting real-life situations that you have read about or watched, via articles, documentaries, and podcasts. These will help when you start writing and justifying your ideas.

8. Can you think of key thinkers whose ideas might help you explore your title?

Adding the ideas of a key thinker adds authority and clarity to your essay, and enables you to consider the question via a different perspective. It also encourages you to offer an evaluative discussion. If you can link your title to the work of one or more key thinkers, this is a great indication that you’ve chosen wisely.

If you can answer ‘yes’ to all of the above questions, then you are definitely on the right pathway – and it’s time to move onto Step 3 !

A four-step guide to the TOK essay

Click on the buttons below to take you to the four steps of creating a great TOK essay. Don’t forget that we have plenty of videos on this and other aspects of the course, and members of the site have access to a huge amount of other resources to help you master the course and assessment tasks.

Check out our three-minute explainer video on the TOK essay here . The video goes over the basics of the TOK essay, such as how it’s assessed, the word count and other practical details, terms such as ‘perspectives’ and ‘implications’, and the role of real-world examples in justifying claims and arguments.

You’ll find more videos on this and other aspects of TOK here , and you can dive into much more depth via our free and premium webinars, here .

Watch our essay & exhibition webinars

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FAQs about the TOK essay

How do i choose my tok essay title.

You choose your essay from six prescribed essay titles, that are released at the beginning of your second DP year. We give a few tips on how to choose a PT that will work for you here . But briefly, choose one that links to your pre-existing knowledge, and that you find personally engaging.

What will I be writing about in my TOK essay?

You’ll be answering your prescribed title, within the context of two areas of knowledge, considering how different perspectives might affect our response to the question, and what the implications of your arguments are.

Can I use ChatGPT to write my essay?

You can use ChatGPT to help you gather materials for your essay, but you should definitely not be using it to write the essay. Be very careful with ChatGPT. It bases its answers on online material, and much of this is inaccurate or out-of-date. For example, depending on what you ask it, it may tell you that you have to explore multiple areas of knowledge (rather than the two stipulated by the titles), and that you have to identify a separate knowledge question to the title (which is absolutely not the case).

How much help should I expect from my teacher?

Your teacher should run through the PTs when they are first released, and then meet you for three interactions, during which you’ll discuss your progress. They are allowed to give you one set of written feedback. But you can consult them at other times with specific questions.

Do I need to use real-world examples in my TOK essay?

Yes, real-life examples help illustrate your points and make your arguments more tangible. They can be drawn from personal experiences, historical events, scientific discoveries, etc.

Should I include my personal opinion in the TOK essay?

While the TOK essay is not about your personal opinion per se, it’s important to reflect on your perspective and how it shapes the way you understand the title. However, you should avoid using the essay as a platform for rants or unsubstantiated claims.

Is it necessary to include counter-arguments in my TOK essay?

Yes, including counter-arguments shows a deeper understanding of the complexity of the topic and demonstrates your critical thinking skills. It also enables you to consider different perspectives, and evaluate the implications of arguments.

Should I include the 12 key concepts in my essay?

Yes, as much as you can, draw on the key concepts such as justification, evidence, perspective, bias, certainty, and objectivity within your arguments linking them to the title, and to the real-world examples you draw on.

How do I ensure that my TOK essay reflects my own original thinking, and avoids plagiarism?

Clearly attribute ideas and sources that are not your own, and strive to present original insights and interpretations supported by evidence and reasoning. See our point above on using ChatGPT – never view this as more than a tool to help you gather material for your essay, rather than a tool to write it for you.

What are some common pitfalls to avoid when writing a TOK essay?

Avoid oversimplifying complex issues, relying solely on personal opinion without justification, neglecting counter-arguments, veering off the question, and failing to include a consideration of different perspectives.

How long do I have to write my essay?

You’ll have 6 months from the time the prescribed titles are released, to the deadline date for uploading your essay to the IB. However, most schools will set their own deadline for completing the essay, so that everyone has plenty of time to complete your PPF, and upload it on time. Follow what your school tells you about this.

How important is the TOK essay PPF?

The PPF (‘Planning and Progress Form’) is the document that you fill in to outline your discussions during the three essay. Although this is not directly assessed, it is an important part of demonstrating that you have approached the TOK essay in an ethical way, which is now particularly important in the era of ChatGPT.

What are some effective strategies for revising and editing my TOK essay to improve clarity and coherence?

Take breaks between revisions, seek feedback from peers or teachers, and carefully proofread for grammar, punctuation, and coherence.

Should I include references or a bibliography in my TOK essay?

While not required, referencing sources appropriately adds credibility to your essay; use footnotes or endnotes for citations.

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May 2022 Theory of Knowledge Essay Titles | Tips + SAMPLES

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• Writing Metier

Already nervous about the BIG ToK essay? We hear ya! From finding the right ToK essay topic to making sure you cover all your basis, ToK essay can be a big deal and frankly overwhelming as well. The key here, however, is forward planning and by the looks of it, you seem to be on the right track!

IMPORTANT! These are topics for the year 2022. Check the latest 2023 November TOK Essay Titles

Finalizing the topic for your essay is just one component of ToK but an extremely important one. According to the ToK essay core, it holds 67% weightage in the final grade. Through this essay, examiners see how coherent, critical and clear the reflection and analysis of the topic you have chosen is. And because of how essential the essay is, students often find themselves in a pickle because they are often not guided correctly on how this essay needs to be done.

The idea behind this essay is not to assess the amount of knowledge you possess regarding a subject matter, but how you explain the findings that you have. It must demonstrate your knowledge in a constructive manner and that is what helps you with this 67% of the grade.

ToK essay topics:

Now that you have landed on this page much in advance, let’s touch some base on the prescribed May 2022 theory of knowledge essay titles. Furtheremore, you will find several ToK essay 2022 samples completed by our theory of knowledge essay writers .

1. “Can there be knowledge that is independent of culture? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other are of knowledge.” + SAMPLE

If  Math as a subject  is something you are passionate about, this is the perfect topic for you. Here, you need to talk about mathematics and the relation that culture has to it. The best way to explore this topic is to talk about the universality of mathematics in terms of the subject being one that is extremely objective. The same formulae are used to solve problems in mathematics world over. However, when we talk about a different area of knowledge like human sciences or art, we can explore how these are highly subjective in nature. Hence, contrasting the role of culture in these two areas of knowledge can help understand this much better.

2. To what extent do you agree with the claim that ‘there’s a world of difference between truth and facts’ (Maya Angelou)? Answer with reference to two areas of knowledge. + SAMPLE

Including two areas of knowledge may get a handful, but it’s not to say that this won’t be an interesting ToK essay because of how subjective and debatable it is. In this essay, you have to talk about the fine line of difference between truth and facts. The best approach here is through the use of examples. It can be quite difficult to understand this for someone who does not have any prior idea of the substantial difference between the two. For this reason, pick out something that you are familiar with, and then highlight how the truth and facts differ in these.

3. Is there solid justification for regarding knowledge in the natural sciences more highly than knowledge in another area of knowledge? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.

Science is the most important source of knowledge and information. It gives us the solutions we need in our everyday functionality and helps in unfolding the mystery of the world. If you are a science geek, this is the perfect topic for you to proceed with. If you decide to go with this topic, then it is best that you give examples from the sciences and highlight how these can be evidence based, and hence proved to be right or wrong. Contrasting this with something more subjective like the human sciences can help shed light on this in the best possible way. The point that you need to highlight here is how natural sciences as a subject is one that is highly evidence based, whereas other areas of knowledge are subjective, and different meanings can come out of those.

4. How do historians and human scientists give knowledge meaning through the telling of stories? Discuss with reference to history and the human sciences.

Storytelling is an art and historians and scientists have been doing that for decades with their findings about life on the earth. This topic requires an essential link between these two disciplines. The idea is to shed light on what storytelling mainly is, and how storytelling can help gain insightful knowledge in different situations. The idea behind using these two areas of knowledge is that these are as such that storytelling is very common in these. So give examples of how historians and human scientists have come up with evidence through the use of stories, and how it has been helpful in people understanding things in a much better way,

5. How can we distinguish between good and bad interpretations? Discuss with reference to the arts and one other area of knowledge. + SAMPLE

Gut feelings and interpretations are indeed important human fundamentals. This is a fun topic to play around with and if you wish, you can get into the depths of multicultural elements around interpretations and discuss how they vary geographically as well. The way that human beings interpret things differs greatly from situation and situation. Not just that, but there are also several other factors that affect our understanding of things, which essentially means that our interpretation will also differ.

6. If we conclude that there is some knowledge we should not pursue on ethical grounds, how can we determine the boundaries of acceptable investigation within an area of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

This is a common debate – the correlation between law and ethics. If you like to take a controversial front in a topic, this essay topic might be the perfect fit for you! Ethics in itself is something that is so highly debatable based on the opinions and outlook of different people. So outlining your own definition and boundaries of ethics, you can talk about the role that ethics plays when it comes to knowledge. This can be a very interesting topic for you to work on if you can highlight the different role that ethics plays in different areas of knowledge based on several different schools of thought.

The year 2023:

• November 2023 TOK essay prompts
• November 2022 prescribed TOK essay titles

Previous years prompts:

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

Now you know about the ToK essay topics you can expect for May. Plan ahead, don’t mess with the TOK essay word count , and start doing your research.

⏩ And in case you feel you  need a hand with the ToK essay , you know where to come! ⏪

Free topic suggestions

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Breaking Down TOK Essay Titles 2022

The TOK Essay can be a daunting task, and many of us struggle to even begin out of fear of doing something wrong. Not only are you expected to learn the philosophy of all the areas of knowledge, but now you have to write an essay about it too!?

TOK Essay Titles in Human Sciences

As difficult as this may seem, what most of us need is just a nudge in the right direction, and this is exactly what the following guide will provide. If you’re struggling to begin your essay, don’t know where to start or which title to pick, we’re here to help!

Read on for a simple breakdown of the 6 TOK titles and how to tackle them.

1. Can there be knowledge that is independent of culture? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.

The first title is very intriguing for those who are interested in the social sciences! The question posed expects you to discuss whether knowledge and culture are always connected and if knowledge can exist without culture in the first place. You’re asked to consider mathematics and another AoK of your choice. Before we consider which AoK’s are suitable, however, we must establish what it means for knowledge to be independent of culture.

Culture is a very abstract concept, and it can refer to anything ranging from a regional food dish such as Spanish Paella to the entire history, language and moral values of a society. This may seem like a lot to tackle, but a simpler way to look at it is to consider whether knowledge is always defined by culture, or if there are exceptions.

In some cases, culture certainly determines the knowledge we produce. Consider the AoK History, for instance, where the history of a country is closely connected to aspects of culture such as language and morality. Historians use language to write history and their morals (which are defined by culture) to interpret the past, such as who was right or wrong. Both language and morality are aspects of culture, and therefore we can argue that historical knowledge may not be independent of culture!

How about Mathematics, then? We must also consider if knowledge can be independent of culture. In this case, mathematics is largely independent of culture as it is mostly an objective AoK. Knowledge is factual, and facts are absolute. Mathematics has one, universal language spoken by all mathematicians, and 2 + 2 = 4 in any part of the world. Thus, we can argue that mathematical knowledge is indeed independent of culture.

Lastly, don’t forget to support your arguments with real-life examples (RLEs). For history, one option would be to look at how bias affects historical writing. Some historians may have biases, which have arisen from their morals and culture and are reflected in their historical writing. For mathematics, consider the absence of bias and how formulae such as Pythagoras’ Theorem remain universal, and no amount of cultural influence can ever change something which is a fact.

2. To what extent do you agree with the claim that “there’s a world of difference between truth and facts.” (Maya Angelou) Answer with reference to two areas of knowledge.

While prompt 1 gives you one prescribed AoK, this one offers you more choice. Hurray! Or? While this question allows you to select both AoKs, too much choice is often more detrimental than beneficial in the Theory of Knowledge. Here, you’re asked to consider the difference between truth and fact. At first glance, you may be thinking that they’re the same thing and while this is not the case, they are immensely similar. Let’s see how you can approach this…

When considering the meaning of truth and fact, it is always useful to put them into some sort of context. For instance, in the natural sciences, we can argue that there isn’t much of a difference between truth and fact. This is because when a scientific theory such as the theory of evolution is proven, it becomes widely accepted as true and factual. Thus, the definition of truth and fact are virtually inseparable in the sciences.

Another AoK to explore could be history. Here, historians never truly know the ‘truth’ of what happened in the past, and they struggle immensely to recover facts from all sources so that they may piece together accurate interpretations. Therefore, they collect facts in an attempt to reach ever closer to the ultimate truth of what happened in the past, but arguably never achieve this fully. This leads to varying interpretations in history, as historians gather the same facts but may reach different truths from them. In this view, we can argue that facts are the building blocks of truth, rather than truth itself.

3. Is there solid justification for regarding knowledge in the natural sciences more highly than other areas of knowledge? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.

It’s time for more science! This is probably the most straightforward TOK title this time around, and that’s good news! Not everything has to be complex, even in TOK. Here, you’re being asked to discuss if there is any good reason to regard scientific knowledge ‘more highly’ than other AoKs. In other words, is scientific knowledge ‘better’ than knowledge in other AoKs, and if so, why and how? Let’s dig in!

To make things easier, let’s consider what other AoKs would be suitable choices for this title. In this case, a social science such as history or art would be very suitable. If we consider the arts, knowledge can be defined as the creations of artists such as paintings or music, and the interpretations people have of them. In this view, we can argue that art knowledge is quite subjective as the same song may make one person feel happy and another sad. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it also makes the arts unique.

Nevertheless, the subjectivity of the arts could also be one reason that scientific knowledge may be regarded more highly, as it is objective and factual. For instance, it is an objective fact that cells are the smallest unit of life, but it is not factual to say that a painting is ‘beautiful’, as beauty is subjective. Then again, maybe facts aren’t everything, and maybe scientific knowledge isn’t better, but simply different from art knowledge. Consider these perspectives and ultimately decide if there is enough justification for the claim.

4. How do historians and human scientists give knowledge meaning through the telling of stories? Discuss with reference to history and the human sciences.

Storytelling is a powerful tool, so much so that experts in the social sciences use it to communicate their research. If you’ve chosen this title, you should begin by considering how knowledge is defined in history and the human sciences, such as psychology.

From the lens of history, you may decide that historical knowledge is a collection of interpretations of the past. Moreover, these are the interpretations of historians who record and teach them, orally or in writing.

These interpretations give historical events meaning by communicating their significance. A potential RLE would be to consider a historical event such as World War 2, and then analyze how historical interpretations teach us to appreciate its significance and not repeat the past.

If we consider the social sciences such as psychology, things can be a bit more complicated and ambiguous. Do psychologists tell stories? Maybe not in the conventional sense, but are research papers on mental health disorders not a type of story, one which teaches us about the disorder and the experiences people have of it? Exactly!

The key here is to consider how knowledge is communicated in history and social science. Thus, your essay should focus on analyzing and discussing the methodology that historians and human scientists use to tell stories.

5. How can we distinguish between good and bad interpretations? Discuss with reference to the arts and one other area of knowledge.

This question is my personal favorite! If you’re a fan of the arts, this is the question for you. What is an interpretation, and what makes it good or bad? In title 4 we considered how historical interpretations tell us about the past, and interpretations in the art are similar. While historians can interpret the past, art critics can judge the quality of an artistic piece. But how can we tell which interpretations are ‘good’ and which are ‘bad’?

When considering this title, make sure to focus on the different types of interpretations we can have within art. Not all interpretations come from professional art critics, as art is free to view by all, and the everyday person can have their own, unique opinion on a piece of art.

A good starting point to explore would be whether one art critic has a better interpretation of a piece of art than the everyday person. Perhaps the critic has professional training and is more qualified to judge the techniques Da Vinci used to craft the Mona Lisa than a casual art enthusiast.

However, art is not only about technique but also about emotion, and the everyday person may be better able to appreciate the subjective beauty of an art piece. Thus, in the arts, it may be difficult to tell the difference between good and bad interpretations, as there are no concrete criteria for determining this.

Through the lens of another AoK, we can see a completely different perspective in the natural sciences. Here, the opinions of experts can be said to always be better than those of the general public. A good RLE could be climate change propaganda, and how scientific knowledge is necessary in order to make educated interpretations.

In the arts, it may be debatable whether the Mona Lisa is a ‘sad’ or ‘joyful’ painting, but in the sciences, global warming is a proven fact, and anything which says otherwise is a ‘bad’ interpretation. Inherently, this question is about the subjectivity of the arts and the objectivity of other AoKs. Just some food for thought!

6. If we conclude that there is some knowledge we should not pursue on ethical grounds, how can we determine the boundaries of acceptable investigation within an area of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

The last prescribed title is one of the most difficult, as it deals with ethics. Here, you’re asked to discuss ethical boundaries within two AoKs of your choice. Some good choices could be AoKs which are very research-based, such as the natural sciences and history. Let’s break this down.

Ethics can be very tricky, as you’re essentially asked to discuss the boundaries between what is ethical and what is not. This is difficult because ethics differ as much from person to person as they do from one AoK to another.

In the sciences, ethical boundaries may refer to experiments involving human trials, for example. How can we determine when a new drug is safe for human testing and is it ethical at all to test on humans?

Similarly, in history, we may consider the issues that arise when researching sensitive topics. For instance, is it ethical to interview holocaust survivors and urge them to remember their past traumas, all for the sake of historical records?

At what point do we draw the line, and how are these ethical boundaries determined? This question is all about methodology and whether methodology within two AoKs is ethical, so if that sounds interesting, this is your go-to title!

Prescribed Essay Titles for Your TOK Essay

The prescribed essay titles above are great for tok essays as they cover ethical grounds that you can discuss with reference and solid justification. Once you have narrowed down these prescribed titles, you can conduct research based on factual knowledge and find specific examples to work with. Then the fun part begins: the essay writing process!

Do you have any questions?

Reach out to the team at Lanterna.

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IB ToK Essay Titles and Topics: November 2022

Here are links to ideas and suggestions relating to the the six November 2022 IB ToK Essay topics:

• Topic 1. Within an area of knowledge is it more important to have credibility or power? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.
• Topic 2. If pushed too far, can open-mindedness itself become restrictive? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
• Topic 3. Is it better to "have questions that can’t be answered than answers that can’t be questioned" (adapted from Richard Feynman)? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.
• Topic 4. Why do we seek indisputable evidence when it is so often unattainable? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
• Topic 5. To what extent do you agree with the directive to "measure what is measurable and make measurable what is not so" (Galileo Galilei)? Answer with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge.
• Topic 6. If the artist has freedom to interpret past events in ways that are denied to the historian, is this an asset or an obstacle to our understanding of the past? Discuss with reference to the arts and history.

Title 1: Within an area of knowledge is it more important to have credibility or power? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.

Thoughts to consider with essay 1 include:

• the varieties of power
• the difference between being credible and being correct
• what is meant by "importance" here?

These thoughts, and others, will be developed here shortly: come back soon!

Title 2: If pushed too far, can open-mindedness itself become restrictive? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

Thoughts to consider with essay 2 include:

• the role of imagination in being open-minded
• what is meant by "restrictive" in this context?
• are there limits to what can be coherently questioned?

Title 3: Is it better to "have questions that can’t be answered than answers that can’t be questioned" (adapted from Richard Feynman)? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.

Thoughts to consider with essay 3 include:

• is it possible, coherently, to frame a question that admits of no answer?
• what distinguishes plausible from implausible answers to questions?
• which sorts of true propositions can't rationally be doubted?

Title 4: Why do we seek indisputable evidence when it is so often unattainable? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

Thoughts to consider with essay 4 include:

• do we know any indisputable propositions?
• are proofs indisputable evidence?
• what is the difference between rational and irrational dispute?

Title 5: To what extent do you agree with the directive to "measure what is measurable and make measurable what is not so" (Galileo Galilei)? Answer with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge.

Thoughts to consider with essay 5 include:

• what is the difference between being measurable in practice and in principle only?
• must we change something that is immeasurable, beyond recognition, in order to render it measurable?
• the difference between accuracy and precision in measurement

Title 6: If the artist has freedom to interpret past events in ways that are denied to the historian, is this an asset or an obstacle to our understanding of the past? Discuss with reference to the arts and history.

Thoughts to consider with essay 6 include:

• must all interpretations of past events be faithful to the facts?
• what makes an interpretation objective?
• if an interpretation is available to the artist, but not the historian, does this mean that it is ineffable?
• 1. Within an area of knowledge is it more important to have credibility or power? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.
• 2. If pushed too far, can open-mindedness itself become restrictive? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
• 3. Is it better to "have questions that can’t be answered than answers that can’t be questioned" (adapted from Richard Feynman)? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.
• 4. Why do we seek indisputable evidence when it is so often unattainable? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
• 5. To what extent do you agree with the directive to "measure what is measurable and make measurable what is not so" (Galileo Galilei)? Answer with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge.
• 6. If the artist has freedom to interpret past events in ways that are denied to the historian, is this an asset or an obstacle to our understanding of the past? Discuss with reference to the arts and history.
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Unpacking the 2024 November TOK Titles: A Comprehensive IB Solved Guide

The November 2024 IB Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Essay Titles are out!

Let's be honest – tackling the TOK essay can be a daunting task. With so many ideas, concepts and topics at our disposal and a myriad of ideas swirling around, it's easy to feel overwhelmed at the outset.

That's where we come in.

In this article, we'll delve into each title and offer some strategic advice on how to approach them.

General Tips to Unpacking a Title

When we first encounter a prompt, we want to think in terms of perspectives and counter-perspectives (formerly known as claims and counterclaims). This framework allows for a structured essay, exploring the title through the lens of two chosen Areas of Knowledge (AOKs) and weaving in different arguments. While the ultimate conclusion you draw may often reside somewhere between these extremes or on a conditional basis (e.g. perspective 1 is correct in certain circumstances, while perspective 2 is a better approach in other), starting with opposing arguments can facilitate the development of a more nuanced exploration and argument.

So let's get to it – here is everything you need to know about the November 2024 TOK Essay titles:

Title 1:  Does our responsibility to acquire knowledge vary according to the area of knowledge? Discuss with reference to history and one other area of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: History (Mandatory) and Natural Sciences/The Arts/Human Sciences

This title prompts an assessment of whether we have different levels of responsibility to acquire knowledge across different AOKs. While you are open to argue against the title directly, suggesting that the responsibility is the same across AOKs, this would be unwise. It would be better to reflect on each AOK and perhaps present one perspective in support of the responsibility and one perspective against it, drawing a conclusion on which argument is stronger in each AOK.

Also consider the difference between the acquisition and production of knowledge – perhaps we have a broader responsibility to produce new knowledge in some areas of knowledge but not necessarily to acquire it as individual knowers.

Some perspectives you may consider:

Perspective: We have a responsibility to acquire knowledge to ensure that we construct an accurate record of the past. It is our responsibility to know our History and learn from the past.

Counter-Perspective: Historical knowledge is limited by subjectivity and collective memory, hence it is not essential to acquire knowledge of our past to build a successful future.

Perspective: We have a responsibility to acquire artistic knowledge to understand cultures and societies.

Counter-Perspective: The acquisition of knowledge in the Arts is for aesthetic purposes and enjoyment, not the fulfilment of a responsibility.

Natural Sciences/Human Sciences

Perspective: We have a responsibility to acquire new scientific knowledge for the continual development of mankind.

Counter-Perspective: Understanding how the world/humans work is not necessary knowledge for knowers to acquire.

Title 2:  In the production of knowledge, is ingenuity always needed but never enough? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: Mathematics (Mandatory) and Natural Sciences/The Arts/Human Sciences

This is a super interesting title – ensure you define 'ingenuity' from the outset. The essay almost structures itself – your first paragraph in each AOK can consider how/whether ingenuity is 'always needed', exploring how this plays out in each AOK, while the second paragraph can explore whether or not it is 'never enough'.

Some ideas you may consider:

Paradigm Shifts – To revolutionise an AOK, often ingenuity is needed to enact a paradigm shift (a new way of thinking which changes the entire knowledge structure of an AOK) and to ensure progress.

Creativity – Creative thinking is important not only for AOKs such as the Arts, but even in Mathematics and the Sciences. Discovering innovative ways of devising experiments or utilising clever analogies to explain incredibly complex concepts is integral to these AOKs.

Structure – Ingenuity is only valuable within a framework for knowledge production, whether this be an artistic process or the scientific method.

Title 3:  How might it benefit an area of knowledge to sever ties with its past? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: History, Natural Sciences, The Arts and Human Sciences

The 'How' of this title restricts the scope to discussing different 'benefits' rather than a standard 'perspective-counter' analysis. It will also be important to define exactly what 'severing ties' involves – does this mean completely ignoring all past knowledge or simply becoming less attached to existing ways of thinking?

Some ideas for this title:

Fresh Ideas and Paradigm Shifts – By severing ties, you open up the possibility of acquiring knowledge which can overhaul an entire AOK, drastically accelerating progress.

Bias – By severing past ties, knowers can free themselves of the biases of their predecessors.

Innovation – Since existing frameworks of thinking often lead to similar conclusions, you can expand the possibilities of new knowledge by severing past ties.

However, you may interestingly conclude that these benefits are only reaped when ties to the past are severed to an extent, as it may be detrimental to an AOK to entirely negate past knowledge.

Title 4:  To what extent do you agree that there is no significant difference between hypothesis and speculation? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: Human Sciences and History/Natural Sciences

This prompt is very focused on your definitions. I would suggest defining these terms distinctly and precisely from the outset. The primary question which this title is asking is whether hypotheses are mere "speculation" or "guesses", or if there is a significant difference.

Also, if selecting the Human and Natural Sciences, please ensure that your perspectives aren't repetitious and highlight the differences between these AOKs.

Development – Speculation and hypothesis differ in the fact that the development of a hypothesis generally requires significant prior research and an understanding of existing knowledge

Experimentation – Hypotheses are developed purposefully and then empirical experimentation are conducted to provide evidence either in support or against them

Emotion – Speculation tends to come from 'feelings' or 'impressions', whereas the development of a hypothesis is far more methodical

Title 5:  In the production of knowledge, are we too quick to dismiss anomalies? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: Human Sciences/History/Natural Sciences

This title allows you to reflect on whether or not we dismiss 'anomalies' (a key term to be defined) too quickly when producing knowledge.

Paradigm Shift – Anomalies are often the prompt for a paradigm shift in the sciences, causing us to challenge existing beliefs and ideas

Exceptions – Often rather than investigating anomalies further and considering an overhaul of existing knowledge, anomalies are dismissed as 'exceptions' to the rule, rather than a justification to question the rule itself

Generalisation – There is often a focus on generating 'general' rules and theories which can lead anomalies to be dismissed (think of the Human Sciences – how often do we produce a rule about human behaviour but ignore those who behave contrary to the rule)

Title 6:  In the pursuit of knowledge, what is gained by the artist adopting the lens of the scientist and the scientist adopting the lens of the artist? Discuss with reference to the arts and the natural sciences.

Recommended AOKs: The Arts and the Natural Sciences

This title requires you to define the 'lens' of each of these AOKs from the outset. It will be better to define them quite opposingly – the scientist is more methodical, experimental and structured, whilst the artist is more free-flowing and creative. You will then be able to take these attributes and argue which elements would be better across the two disciplines.

Creativity – Scientists can benefit from the creativity of artists when developing innovative ways of experimenting, presenting results and constructing abstract theories

Structure – Artists can often benefit from a methodical approach to constructing art, particularly when aiming to convey a specific message or purpose through their art

Flexibility – Artists are often quite flexible when constructing an artwork, always willing to change and adapt to their free-flowing thoughts, an attribute which is highly beneficial for scientists who at times may become rigid in their thinking and fixed to pre-existing scientific beliefs.

And that's it - our comprehensive guide to the 2024 November TOK Titles! If you're still racking your brain as to how to begin the writing process for your TOK essay, why not check out our post on The Complete IB TOK Essay Guide . Or check out one of our Grade A Exemplar TOK Essays ! Or better yet, if you are looking for some more personal assistance with your IB TOK Essay, click below to reach out to us and we can work with you through the entire writing process, from title selection to the best structure for success!

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

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May 2022 TOK essay prescribed titles

May 2022 tok essay prescribed title #1, may 2022 tok essay prescribed title #1 specific example – indian man killed for cutting down a tree.

Text: Muzaffar, Maroosha. “Indian man beaten to death by mob three months after he cut ‘holy’ tree.” The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/india-jharkhand-mob-lynching-holy-tree-b1986976.html Extract: “A 34-year-old man was dragged out of his home and killed by a mob in India’s eastern Jharkhand state for cutting down a “holy” tree in October last year.” This news article Read more…

May 2022 TOK essay prescribed title #2

May 2022 tok essay prescribed title #2 specific example – rohingya muslim shops destroyed.

Text: Dasgupta, Sravasti. “Bangladesh destroys 3,000 shops belonging to Rohingya Muslim refugees.” https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/south-asia/bangladesh-rohingya-muslim-refugees-shops-b1987162.html Extract: “Authorities in Bangladesh have bulldozed over 3,000 Rohingya shops in the last month calling them “illegal”. In a statement to AFP, the country’s deputy refugee commissioner Shamsud Douza confirmed the figure and said that the “illegal shops” had been cleared as Read more…

May 2022 TOK essay prescribed title #5 specific example – Pets and divorce

Text: “Pets’ welfare will be considered in divorce battles in Spain.” CNN World. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/06/europe/pets-divorce-welfare-spain-scli-intl-wellness/index.html Extract: “Spain will consider a pet’s welfare when couples divorce or break-up from Wednesday in a legal shift that strengthens the case for couples obtaining shared custody of their animals.The decision follows similar moves in France and Portugal and obliges Read more…

May 2022 TOK essay prescribed title #3

May 2022 tok essay prescribed title #3 specific example – research on microbes and pain.

Text: “Can a dangerous microbe offer a new way to silence pain?” Science Daily. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/success-fail-why-outliers-people-communities-nudges Extract: “A new study shows that a toxin from the microbe that causes anthrax can silence multiple types of pain in mice. Researchers found the toxin targets pain-sensing cells to alter signaling and block pain. Read more…

The Human Sciences

May 2022 tok essay prescribed title #4 specific example – research on meditation and mistakes.

Text: “How meditation can help you make fewer mistakes.” Science Daily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191111124637.htm Extract: “The research, published in Brain Sciences, tested how open monitoring meditation — or, meditation that focuses awareness on feelings, thoughts or sensations as they unfold in one’s mind and body — altered brain activity in a way Read more…

May 2022 TOK essay prescribed title #6 specific example – Google and Facebook fined over cookies

Text: “France fines Google, Facebook over cookies.” DW.com. Extract: “France’s National Commission for Information Technology and Freedom (CNIL) on Thursday hit Facebook and Google with €210 million ($237 million) in fines. CNIL has determined that the sites facebook.com, google.fr and youtube.com do not allow users to refuse the use of cookies as simply Read more…

May 2022 TOK essay prescribed title #6 specific example – letter from Disney

The letter from Disney (from 1938) l shows its response to a woman’s inquiry about working in Disney’s creative department. The response is extremely sexist. At that point in time Disney declared that the “boundaries of acceptable investigation” were gender-based.

May 2022 TOK essay prescribed title #2 specific example – fight against pollution in Kenya

Text: ““Kenya pollution: How air sensors are helping people fight pollution.” BBC.com The article shows the lengths that John Kieti went to get accurate pollution data to help improve air quality: “The results were shocking. The measurement indicator… showed that the air was heavily polluted,” Mr Kieti recalls. The air Read more…

May 2022 TOK essay prescribed title #1 specific example – hydrogen fuel in Japan

Text: “Climate change: Is ‘blue hydrogen’ Japan’s answer to coal?” BBC.com Extract: “Shouldn’t Japan be cutting its coal consumption, not increasing it, at a time of great concern about coal’s impact on the climate? So why the coal? The answer is the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. In 2010 about one Read more…

May 2022 TOK essay prescribed title #4

May 2022 tok essay prescribed title #4 specific example – war and analogy.

Text: “War and Analogy.” www.nytimes.com. Extract: “For every American generation of this century, the power of war analogies has been undeniable, and they have framed debate about every recent American military venture abroad. George Bush, who was probably the last of the World War II veterans to occupy the White Read more…

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