TOK Essay Title May 2024
TOK essay title 6 ideas
Title 6: “Are we too quick to assume that the most recent evidence is inevitably the strongest? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.”
1) Introduction and Connection to the Title
○ Rudimentary (1-2): Briefly mention what ‘most recent evidence’ means.
○ Basic (3-4): Link the concept of ‘most recent evidence’ to the natural sciences and another area of knowledge you’ll discuss.
○ Good (7-8) to Excellent (9-10): Frame the essay by dissecting the notion that newer evidence tends to be perceived as stronger, questioning its validity and outlining its potential implications in the chosen areas.
2) Links to Areas of Knowledge
○ Rudimentary (1-2): Just name the areas of knowledge.
○ Basic (3-4): Provide a basic overview of how new evidence is treated in these areas.
○ Good (7-8) to Excellent (9-10): Highlight specific moments or trends in your chosen areas where recent evidence revolutionized or complicated the field.
3) Arguments and Examples
○ Rudimentary (1-2): Make unsupported statements about the role of evidence.
○ Basic (3-4): Mention a couple of examples where recent evidence made a difference but without depth.
○ Good (7-8) to Excellent (9-10): Utilize real-world examples or case studies where the introduction of new evidence led to groundbreaking changes, controversies, or ethical quandaries. Discuss both the positive and negative aspects of this.
4) Different Points of View
○ Rudimentary to Basic: Neglect alternate perspectives or handle them superficially.
○ Satisfactory (5-6): Acknowledge that not everyone may agree on the value of recent evidence.
○ Good (7-8) to Excellent (9-10): Critically evaluate contrasting perspectives, perhaps introducing skepticism about new evidence or discussing the value of long-standing, traditional knowledge.
5) Conclusion
○ Rudimentary to Basic: Summarize points without offering a nuanced position.
○ Satisfactory to Excellent: Pull together your arguments and counterarguments, pondering the implications and offering a nuanced, thought-provoking response to the title’s question.
