How can we help?

1. Slides, attached below.
2. TOK Essay Checklist, attached below.
3. Students will need to create their own Kialo discussion to plan their essay paragraph. Instructions for this can be found in the slides.
4. You may find it useful to have additional TOK essay prompts to supplement the examples in the slides.

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., responsibility, certainty, evidence).
• Reflect on the implications and limitations of your argument.

Teacher Tip: Show a quick visual of the TOK essay structure (introduction, body claims, conclusion), highlighting where this developed paragraph fits in.

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 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?

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 have prepared (e.g., “Does the exclusion of Indigenous knowledge from official records reveal bias in how history is constructed?”) or a prescribed title from the official IB list that ties to cultural appropriation. 
• Students plan the paragraph, including notes on:
  • Claim: A statement connecting directly to the prompt.
  • Example: A real-life scenario (e.g. Bruce Paul’s take on aboriginal agricultural history) that demonstrates the claim.
  • Counterclaim: An alternative viewpoint or critique that challenges the initial argument.
  • TOK Link: Exploration of how responsibility, evidence and certainty considerations shape knowledge in this scenario.

Peer Review & 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. 
• Write the paragraph: Emphasise clarity, coherence, and the TOK focus (not just describing the event but analysing how it affects knowledge).
  • Teacher Tip: Ensure students reference relevant AOKs — e.g., how the assumed objectivity of history may erase other forms of historical evidence such as oral traditions.

Reflection Questions:

• What was the most challenging part of writing this?
• How do different perspectives influence debates on the validity of historical evidence?
• How does this practice help prepare for the TOK essay assessment?

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.