Knowledge questions TOK Guide
From the IBO TOK Guide
2015
Knowledge questions TOK is primarily concerned with knowledge questions. This phrase is used often in describing what is seen in a good TOK presentation or a good TOK essay. An essay or presentation that does not identify and treat a knowledge question has missed the point. It also occurs in the assessment descriptors that examiners use to mark the essay and that the teacher uses to mark the presentation. To put it briefly, the whole point of the presentation and essay tasks is to deal with knowledge questions. Knowledge questions are questions about knowledge, and contain the following features. •
Knowledge questions are questions about knowledge. Instead of focusing on specific content, they focus on how knowledge is constructed and evaluated. In this sense, knowledge questions are a little different from many of the questions dealt with in the subject classrooms. In this way, they are considered secondorder questions in TOK. •
Knowledge questions are open in the sense that there are a number of plausible answers to them. The questions are contestable. Dealing with open questions is a feature of TOK . Many students encountering TOK for the first time are struck by this apparent difference from many of the other classes in their school experience. Many find the lack of a single “right” answer slightly disorienting. Nevertheless, knowledge questions underlie much of the knowledge that we take for granted. Much of the disagreement and controversy encountered in daily life can be traced back to a knowledge question. An understanding of the nature of knowledge questions can allow a deeper understanding of these controversies. •
Knowledge questions should be expressed in general terms, rather than using subjectspecific terms. For example, instead of a question focusing on a specific model in development economics, such as the
HarrodDomar model, a knowledge question might focus on the
2015
Knowledge questions TOK is primarily concerned with knowledge questions. This phrase is used often in describing what is seen in a good TOK presentation or a good TOK essay. An essay or presentation that does not identify and treat a knowledge question has missed the point. It also occurs in the assessment descriptors that examiners use to mark the essay and that the teacher uses to mark the presentation. To put it briefly, the whole point of the presentation and essay tasks is to deal with knowledge questions. Knowledge questions are questions about knowledge, and contain the following features. •
Knowledge questions are questions about knowledge. Instead of focusing on specific content, they focus on how knowledge is constructed and evaluated. In this sense, knowledge questions are a little different from many of the questions dealt with in the subject classrooms. In this way, they are considered secondorder questions in TOK. •
Knowledge questions are open in the sense that there are a number of plausible answers to them. The questions are contestable. Dealing with open questions is a feature of TOK . Many students encountering TOK for the first time are struck by this apparent difference from many of the other classes in their school experience. Many find the lack of a single “right” answer slightly disorienting. Nevertheless, knowledge questions underlie much of the knowledge that we take for granted. Much of the disagreement and controversy encountered in daily life can be traced back to a knowledge question. An understanding of the nature of knowledge questions can allow a deeper understanding of these controversies. •
Knowledge questions should be expressed in general terms, rather than using subjectspecific terms. For example, instead of a question focusing on a specific model in development economics, such as the
HarrodDomar model, a knowledge question might focus on the