Censorship and Whistleblowing, Lesson 4
Lesson 4: Writing a TOK Essay
Focus: How can knowledge users develop strong, structured arguments?
Suggested length: 1 hour
Learning objectives:
- Write a coherent TOK essay paragraph that explores a knowledge issue related to politics.
- Incorporate real-world examples and counterclaims to deepen the argument.
- Engage critically with TOK concepts (e.g., objectivity, perspective, power).
- Practice a structured approach to the TOK essay assessment.
| Critical Thinking Concepts | TOK Concepts | Reflection Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Confronting Biases and Assumptions: Explore how censorship or whistleblowing debates often rely on implicit assumptions about power, truth, and the public’s right to know. Exploring Contexts and Expert Opinions: Analyze how different disciplines influence what is accepted as credible, objective, or ethically justifiable. Responsiveness and Flexibility of Thought: Explore how knowledge claims about censorship or whistleblowing are shaped by context, purpose, and worldview. | Bias and Power: How do corporate or governmental interests influence what knowledge is presented? Ethics and Responsibility: Is it ethical to censor or leak sensitive information? Perspective: How do different cultural or ideological backgrounds alter interpretations of censorship? Reflection on Knowledge Construction: Are we always aware when knowledge is being shaped or suppressed? | What was the most challenging part of writing this? How do different perspectives influence AI censorship debates? How does this practice help prepare for the TOK essay assessment? |
Resources and Preparation
- Slides, attached below.
- TOK Essay Checklist, attached below.
- Students will need to create their own Kialo discussion to plan their essay paragraph. Instructions for this can be found in the slides.
- You may find it useful to have additional TOK essay prompts to supplement the examples in the slides.
Introduction
Guiding Question: "How do we develop a strong argument in a TOK essay?"
Recap: What makes a TOK essay unique?
- Focus on knowledge (not merely opinions).
- Use real-world examples drawn from multiple Areas of Knowledge (AOKs).
- Include counterclaims.
- Refer to TOK concepts (e.g., objectivity, perspective, power).
- Reflect on the implications and limitations of your argument.
Main Activity
Examining a Strong TOK Essay Claim
Break down an example paragraph of your choice with students. Ask them to annotate:
- Claim: The stance or argument addressing the TOK prompt.
- Example: A real-world situation supporting or illustrating the claim.
- Counterclaim: A contrasting perspective that challenges the claim.
- TOK Links: Explicit connection to TOK concepts (e.g., objectivity, perspective, power) and reflection on how knowledge is produced or validated.
Discussion Questions:
- How does the example strengthen the claim?
- Which Ways of Knowing (WOKs) or Areas of Knowledge (AOKs) are relevant here?
- Does the counterclaim effectively challenge the claim, encouraging deeper exploration?
Teacher Tip: Show a quick visual of the TOK essay structure (introduction, body claims, conclusion), highlighting where this developed paragraph fits in.
Writing Task: Drafting a TOK Paragraph
Select a prompt: Provide students with a list of essay prompts to choose from. These could be prompts that you’ve prepared (e.g., “Does the suppression of knowledge always reflect an abuse of power?”) or a prescribed title from the official IB list that ties to censorship/whistleblowing.
Students plan the paragraph, including notes on:
- Claim: A statement connecting directly to the prompt.
- Example: A real-life scenario (e.g., the Meta censorship case, Edward Snowden’s revelations) that demonstrates the claim.
- Counterclaim: An alternative viewpoint or critique that challenges the initial argument.
- TOK Link: Exploration of how bias, power, or ethical considerations shape knowledge in this scenario.
Students could plan their essay section out on Kialo. The TOK essay checklist outlines a suggested approach.
Write the paragraph: Emphasize clarity, coherence, and the TOK focus (not just describing the event but analyzing how it affects knowledge).
Teacher Tip: Ensure students reference relevant AOKs — e.g., how the Human Sciences interpret freedom of speech, or how History deals with archival records/censorship.
Peer Review and Refinement
Students exchange their writing in pairs or small groups, and use the essay checklist to give feedback. Use the following discussion points to help students’ develop their feedback:
- Claim: Is it clearly stated, and does it tie back to the prompt?
- Example: Is it concrete, relevant, and well-explained?
- Counterclaim: Is it meaningfully different or just a weaker version of the claim?
- TOK Link: Does it show awareness of how knowledge is justified, constructed, or challenged?
- Language and Clarity: Are there any vague statements or unclear references?
If time permits, students revise immediately based on peer feedback.
Reflection Activity
Discuss the following reflection questions in open discussion or exit ticket format:
- What was the most challenging part of writing this?
- How do different perspectives influence AI censorship debates?
- How does this practice help prepare for the TOK essay assessment?
Extension or Homework Activity
Students could complete one of the following activities as an in-class extension or as a homework task.
- Option A: Expand the paragraph by adding another real-world example or a deeper analysis of the counterclaim.
- Option B: Research a different context (another region or era) to see if the claim holds universally or changes with cultural/political conditions.
- Option C: Draft an introductory or concluding paragraph linking the argument to a broader TOK theme (e.g., the reliability of testimony or the ethics of whistleblowing).
