Unpacking the Prescribed Titles - Class Notes
General unpacking questions to consider:
- What terms and/or phrases need to be defined in your essay? How do you define these terms in relation to the various AoKs?
- What assumptions are made in the title? How should they be considered in your essay?
- What are the implications of this title? (Implications = consequences or impacts. So what? Why is this important when it comes to
considering the big picture and real life?)
- Where does the claim being made in the PT fall on the ToK continuum? This may be different from one AoK to another.
(never - rarely - sometimes - usually/often - always)
*Please note that the premise of your essay must be the PT. You may NOT use a counterclaim to the PT as your premise. You MUST include the counterclaims in the body of your essay.
- What terms and/or phrases need to be defined in your essay? How do you define these terms in relation to the various AoKs?
- What assumptions are made in the title? How should they be considered in your essay?
- What are the implications of this title? (Implications = consequences or impacts. So what? Why is this important when it comes to
considering the big picture and real life?)
- Where does the claim being made in the PT fall on the ToK continuum? This may be different from one AoK to another.
(never - rarely - sometimes - usually/often - always)
*Please note that the premise of your essay must be the PT. You may NOT use a counterclaim to the PT as your premise. You MUST include the counterclaims in the body of your essay.
Prescribed Title 1: "Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not." (Pablo Picasso) Explore this distinction with reference to two areas of knowledge.
- It doesn’t matter that Picasso said this!
- Who are “others”? Specifically, who do they refer to? How do the “others” play a role in the AoK?
- “What is and asked why” assumes want/need for understanding and that one only sees the world as it is instead of what it could be
- “What could be and asked why not” assumes new knowledge can be created (breakthroughs, discoveries, innovations) and questions existing knowledge
Prescribed Title 2: "There is a sharp line between describing something and offering an explanation of it." To what extent do you agree with this claim?
- “Sharp line” = one or the other, not both (What? versus Why?)
- Describe = basic overview, details
- Explain = details + reasons (implies deeper understanding)
- How do we move from the what (description) to the why (explanation)?
- Descriptions can lead to explanations
Prescribed Title 3: Does it matter that your personal circumstances influence how seriously your knowledge is taken?
- Assumes personal circumstances DO matter
- Influence can be positive or negative
- What are the benefits and limitations of personal circumstances?
- How do we define “seriously”?
- Knowledge can refer to opinions, claims, perceptions, facts, etc.
Prescribed Title 4: "The role of analogy is to aid understanding rather than provide justification." To what extent do you agree with this statement?
- What type of analogy?
- What is the purpose of the analogy?
- Assumes analogies are only used for understanding and CANNOT provide justification
- Can analogies provide justification? If so, when and how?
Prescribed Title 5: "Given that every theory has its limitations, we need to retain a multiplicity of theories to understand the world." Discuss this claim with reference to two areas of knowledge.
- What makes a theory?
- What are the limitations of theories? Do they always have limitations?
- Limitation does NOT mean weakness
- Are multiple theories necessary?
- Can multiple theories work together or do they inhibit or remain in opposition to each other?
Prescribed Title 6: "Present knowledge is wholly dependent on past knowledge." Discuss this claim with reference to two areas of knowledge.
- Not just a reference to history!
- Assumes that there is no present knowledge without past knowledge
- Assumes we have past knowledge to work off of
- Wholly = 100% or ALWAYS
General overview of WoK benefits and limitations:
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Related handouts and documents:
unpacking_a_prescribed_title.docx | |
File Size: | 15 kb |
File Type: | docx |
tok_essay_exemplar_unpacking_handout.pdf | |
File Size: | 525 kb |
File Type: |