TOK Essay Preparation for the Second Interaction
At the second interaction, you have to explain the structure of your essay.
To do this you have to identify different knowledge questions that will help you answer the title. These KQs do not have to be explicit. They can be framed as a knowledge claim and a counterclaim.
Your essay should be broken into different sections where each KQ (claim and counterclaim) are explored. You should have at least two different KQs.
The quality of knowledge is best measured by how many people accept it. Discuss this claim with reference to two areas of knowledge.
KQs:
- To what extent can mathematics be proven as a source of reliable information?
- How much evidence do natural scientists need to prove the public with their quality of knowledge to show that something is believable?
The following might help your planning.
Knowledge Claims (Your essay should have at least 2 and possibly three claims/counterclaims)
| Claim (70%) | Counterclaim (30%) |
| Mathematics can be proven for every calculation that is done | Mathematics can’t be proven for every calculation that is done |
| The quality of knowledge is shown by how many people accept that mathematics has a proof for its calculation | The quality of knowledge is shown by how many people do not accept that mathematics has a proof for its calculation
|
| Use a RLS relevant to the claim:
1+1=2, 2×2=4, 12×12=144 for example. |
Use a RLS relevant to the counterclaim:
Fermat’s last theorem took 358 to prove |
| Claim (60%) | Counterclaim (40%) |
| Natural Sciences prove people the reason for why such things happen to us. | Natural Sciences doesn’t prove people the reason for why such things happen to us. |
| The quality of knowledge is shown by how many people accept that the natural sciences can prove why things happen the way they do. | The quality of knowledge is shown by how many people do not accept that the natural sciences can prove why things happen the way they do. |
| Use a RLS relevant to the claim:
Ignaz Semmelweis and the case of child bed fever |
Use a RLS relevant to the counterclaim:
Big bang theory |
This structure is suggested by Michael Dunn, author of theory of knowledge.net on this video. (from 7.20)