Some ToK Essays easier than others ?
The May 24 TOK essay titles are out, so I think it's a good time to reprise a question which I looked at this time last year: What makes some TOK essay titles easier than other titles?
I made a video on this last year which not many people watched, and I think that not many people watched it because it's 28 minutes long. TLDW too long, didn't watch.
Here's a link to that video, and the blog (also linked) so that you can watch it if you want and get more detail.
Today's blog (& the associated video) is much shorter, we're just going through the six main points which makes some TOK essays easier than other TOK essays.
Factor #1: Closed-ended claims vs Open-ended claims.
The questions are all open-ended. The command term is usually "discuss", but some of them have closed-ended claims, and some of them have open-ended claims. I believe that ones that have closed-ended claims in the question are easier to do than open-ended questions. And if you want to know more about that, remember to watch the video, or read the blog that I made this time last year.
Factor #2: Assumptions within the question.
Some of the questions have assumptions contained within them. Some of those assumptions are implicit. Some of those assumptions are explicit. Some of the assumptions can be both implicit and explicit. The fewer assumptions that are contained within the question, the easier the question is. If you want to know more check out the more detailed blog, and video.
Factor #3: Quotes in the question.
Some of the questions have quotes from famous or important people. I think that generally questions without quotes are easier than questions with quotes. If you want to know more about that: Blog link,video link.
Factor #4: Definitions.
All of the questions require you to operationalize key concepts or give definitions for the concepts contained within the question.
My experience is that it's easier to define concepts that are TOK core concepts, one of the 12 concepts, than it is to define concepts which have just been brought in from the course from Althuss-Wack. If you want to know more about that, you know what to do.
Factor #5: Claims - clear or ambiguous ?
Some of the prescribed titles have claims in them. Some of the claims are clear, i.e. they have one direction. In other essay titles the claims are ambiguous, that is they do not indicate a direction. I believe that titles that have a clear directional claim are easier than titles that have ambiguous claims. For more details see the earlier detailed blog and video.
Factor #6: Freedom of Area of Knowledge.
Some of the titles define the areas of knowledge that they want you to look at. They might tell you to look at one specific area of knowledge or two specific areas of knowledge. However, some titles do not define the areas of knowledge at all. My general belief is that it's easier if they direct you to the areas of knowledge they want you to look at than if they don't. If they're directing us to specific areas of knowledge then they're giving us a clue as to the sorts of arguments they expect us to explore. On the other hand, if they don't direct you to the areas of knowledge, then it's easier to stray into ToK debates which are of marginal relevance to the question. If you want to know more about this see the earlier detailed blog and video.
Conclusion
We have lots more content coming up on ToKToday about the May 2024 essay titles. We've got round table discussion about the titles, guides to the titles and FREE downloads to help you . So, if you're writing the May 24 titles keep checking back here for more information
Stay ToKtastic my friends.
Daniel, Bangkok, Sept 23