TOK Essay Title May 2024
TOK essay title 4 ideas
Title 4: “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.”
1) Introduction and Connection to the Title
○ Rudimentary (1-2): Briefly mention the concept of ‘transferring knowledge’ but without depth.
○ Basic (3-4): State that transferring knowledge across contexts is challenging and mention the two areas of knowledge you will explore.
○ Good (7-8) to Excellent (9-10): Introduce the topic by framing the question of whether the challenges are underestimated and hint at complexities unique to the two chosen areas of knowledge.
2) Links to Areas of Knowledge
○ Rudimentary (1-2): Simply name-drop the areas of knowledge.
○ Basic (3-4): Provide basic examples where knowledge is transferred in each area.
○ Good (7-8) to Excellent (9-10): Introduce historical or current events where the transfer of knowledge led to various challenges, benefits, or ethical dilemmas in the areas chosen.
3) Arguments and Examples
○ Rudimentary (1-2): Make broad, unsupported statements like “context matters.”
○ Basic (3-4): Use general examples like ‘mathematics in engineering’ or ‘psychological theories in marketing’ to suggest challenges.
○ Good (7-8) to Excellent (9-10): Use specific, well-researched examples to highlight the complex challenges of such transfers. These could be case studies or events where the transfer led to ethical, practical, or epistemological challenges.
4) Different Points of View
○ Rudimentary to Basic: Barely touch upon alternative perspectives or miss them altogether.
○ Satisfactory (5-6): Recognize that some people might see benefits in transferring knowledge across contexts.
○ Good (7-8) to Excellent (9-10): Critically evaluate the varying perspectives, including those who advocate for free exchange of knowledge across contexts against those who argue for the preservation of context-specific knowledge.
5) Conclusion
○ Rudimentary to Basic: Simply restate your initial points.
○ Satisfactory to Excellent: Summarize your arguments, ponder upon the implications, and offer a nuanced view that directly answers the title’s question.
