TOK Essay Title May 2024
TOK essay title 3 ideas
Title 3: “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.”
1) Introduction and Connection to the Title
○ Rudimentary (1-2): Make general comments about the importance of “fresh ideas.”
○ Basic (3-4): Identify that fresh ideas are integral to human sciences and your chosen area but don’t delve into why they may be slow to adopt.
○ Good (7-8) to Excellent (9-10): Frame the essay by posing a thought-provoking question or observation about why fresh ideas face resistance, and how this manifests differently in the human sciences and your chosen area.
2) Links to Areas of Knowledge (Human Sciences and Another Area)
○ Rudimentary (1-2): Simply list the areas relevant to the title.
○ Basic (3-4): Make some general observations about how fresh ideas appear in these areas.
○ Good (7-8) to Excellent (9-10): Introduce unique aspects of each area of knowledge that contribute to the slow or fast adoption of fresh ideas, perhaps mentioning specific theories, paradigms, or historical precedents.
3) Arguments and Examples
○ Rudimentary (1-2): Offer basic assertions like “People are afraid of change.”
○ Basic (3-4): Provide one or two basic examples in each area, perhaps a popular scientific theory that was slow to gain acceptance.
○ Good (7-8) to Excellent (9-10): Use concrete examples like a groundbreaking study in psychology that faced ethical scrutiny or a technological innovation in your other area that revolutionized thinking. Evaluate these against factors like ethical considerations, practicality, and societal impact.
4) Different Points of View
○ Rudimentary to Basic: Neglect to include counterarguments or only address them superficially.
○ Satisfactory (5-6): Mention that not everyone agrees on what constitutes a ‘fresh idea’ or its value.
○ Good (7-8) to Excellent (9-10): Incorporate multiple perspectives on what qualifies as a ‘fresh idea’ and why they may be slow to be accepted. Critically assess these perspectives in relation to your examples.
5) Conclusion
○ Rudimentary to Basic: Conclude by restating the same ideas you started with.
○ Satisfactory to Excellent: Wrap up by reflecting on the complex factors that influence the adoption of new ideas in the chosen areas of knowledge, hinting at the broader implications of this resistance.
