TOK+English


 * 17th January, 2018**

Here is how you will be assessed in the presentation:

Here is the presentation on the presentation, including common mistakes to avoid:

Here is the planning of the presentation we will watch in class next week; I recommend you read it before we watch the video:

Here is the presentation planning form you need to fill in:


 * 12th January, 2018**

Fill in the following document. You have to include 3 reflections of the essay writing process:
 * 1) When we did the analysis of the titles
 * 2) When you received feedback on your planning
 * 3) When you received feedback on your draft

Document to be sent by Monday 15th January to the teacher's e-mail.

If you have not sent your final copy of your essay, it should be uploaded to Turnitin immediately; it was due in December.


 * 2nd November, 2017**

From now on, you will be sending your work to the class in Turnitin:

Número de la clase: 16707997 Clave de inscripción: 2018
 * Turnitin:**


 * 24th October, 2017**

Deadlines for the TOK Essay:
 * 1) Planning with one AOK - 24th October
 * 2) Planning finished - 1st November
 * 3) First draft - 10th November
 * 4) Final draft - 1st December


 * 19th October, 2017**

Questions to think when planning the TOK essay:




 * 25th September, 2017**




 * 12th September**

As you finish the previous work, start analysing two of the following essay titles, with your partner:
 * 1) "The fields of study of academic disciplines can overlap, but adopting interdisciplinary approaches to the production of knowledge leads only to confusion." Discuss this claim.
 * 2) We know with confidence only when we know little; with knowledge doubt increases" (adapted from JW von Goethe). Discuss this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge.
 * 3) "Without the assumption of the existence of uniformities there can be no knowledge." Discuss this claim with reference to two areas of knowledge.
 * 4) "Suspension of disbelief" is an essential feature of theatre. Is it essential in other areas of knowledge? Develop your answer with reference to two areas of knowledge.
 * 5) "The quality of knowledge produced by an academic discipline is directly proportional to the duration of historical development of that discipline." Explore this claim with reference to two disciplines.
 * 6) "Robust knowledge requires both consensus and disagreement." Discuss this claim with reference to two areas of knowledge.



When doing you analysis, answer the following questions:
 * 1) What does it say?
 * 2) What does it not say?​
 * 3) What does the title assume?
 * 4) What are the key terms?
 * 5) What does it ask?


 * 4th September, 2017**

Read the following TOK essays. Try to score each one taking into account the assessment instrument; after you decide on the score, justify it by focussing in the different aspects of the assessment instrument.

This assignment is to be graded and you will have two classes to work on it. You can work in pairs.






 * August 30, 2017**

Look at the following prescribed title from May 2017


 * “Humans are pattern-seeking animals and we are adept at finding patterns whether they exist or not” (adapted from Michael Shermer). Discuss knowledge questions raised by this idea in two areas of knowledge.**

In today's class you should answer the answer the following questions for this title:
 * 1) What does the title assume?
 * 2) What are the key terms?
 * 3) What does it say?
 * 4) What does it not say?​
 * 5) What does it ask?

Essay assessment:


 * August 21, 2017**

In groups of 2, think about the situation regarding the 12th grade video. Regarding this video issue as a real life situation, propose the following:
 * 1) Three possible knowledge issues and questions - Choose 1 to continue
 * 2) Two areas of knowledge that can be used to answer this knowledge question
 * 3) Two ways of knowing that can be used for each of the areas of knowledge
 * 4) A real life situation for each of the above; these can be from personal or shared knowledge


 * February 24, 2017**

Presentation assessment instrument:



Look at this sample presentation planning as a fairly good example:



Watch the following presentation, which is quite good: [|Stanford Prison Experiment Presentation]

Read the presentation planning for this presentation:




 * November 21, 2016**






 * October 18, 2016**

Format to start planning the TOK Essay:




 * October 4, 2016**

TOK essay to analyse, taking into account the assessment instrument:




 * October 3, 2016**

Here is the preliminary analysis of the titles for May 2017:




 * September 30, 2016**

Prescribed titles:



Essay assessment:


 * September 20, 2016**

During class today, do a search in Google for TOK essays. Choose a web page that gives tips on how to write a good essay. In groups of 2 or 3 read and discuss the page you selected. Buy the end of the class, send me the page you read and what you learned from it. I will be grading this; it is class work, not homework so it should be ready by the end of the class.


 * September 15, 2016**

Dear students:

I will not be in school for a few days because my father has died. During class today I want you to make groups in which there is at least one student from each of the initial groups that were formed for the analysis of the prescribed titles. You will socialise with the others your analysis of the prescribed titles and discuss them. By the end of the class everyone should have some idea on all 6 prescribed titles. If you have any questions, please send them to me.

Thanks,

Tulia


 * September 2, 2016**

Dear students:

Good morning. I am still on sick leave and I will not be in school for class today. I am sending you the prescribed titles for this year's TOK essays:
 * 1) “It is only knowledge produced with difficulty that we truly value.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
 * 2) “Facts are needed to establish theories but theories are needed to make sense of facts.” Discuss this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge.
 * 3) Should key events in the historical development of areas of knowledge always be judged by the standards of their time?
 * 4) “In the production of knowledge, traditions of areas of knowledge offer correctives for ways of knowing.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
 * 5) Given access to the same facts, how is it possible that there can be disagreement between experts in a discipline? Develop your answer with reference to two areas of knowledge.
 * 6) “Humans are pattern-seeking animals and we are adept at finding patterns whether they exist or not” (adapted from Michael Shermer). Discuss knowledge questions raised by this idea in two areas of knowledge.

In today's class you should do the following:
 * 1) In groups of three students, choose at least two of the above titles to discuss.
 * 2) Answer the following questions for each of he titles:
 * What does the title assume?
 * What are the key terms?
 * What does it say?
 * What does it not say?​
 * What does it ask?

I hope to be back to school on Monday so we are able to discuss the titles as a group next class.

Best wishes,

Tulia


 * August 30, 2016**

Here is the PowerPoint on the Presentation: