Every year, on the first of September, the prescribed titles of the IB ToK Essay are published for those who sit for the May session. This component represents 67% of your IB TOK marks. That is why it is very important to try to achieve a good grade in this component.
Before you select your title, you need to know what it is expected of you. To do that, read about how you are going to be marked as well as the skills you are expected to manage to be able to reach the highest marks possible. You can find the marking system that the examiner will use to evaluate your IB ToK essay on page 48 of the IB Theory of knowledge Guide. Once this is understood you are ready to begin with the IB DP Essay.
Step 1. Choose one of the titles. Go to the prescribed titles and read all of them very carefully. Surely in class with your IB teacher, you will have analysed all of them. You will find that some of the titles pertain to one of the areas of knowledge that should be used to address the title of the IB essay while the second area can be freely chosen by the IB DP student. It could be helpful if you chose one of the titles that links an area of knowledge that you have studied as an “Option”. That is, if the prescribed title refers to art, you will find it much easier to find examples of art and to analyse them using the technical vocabulary of the subject, than if you don´t. Of course, this should not be a limitation in choosing the title, but it could facilitate the approach to the essay. Remember that you must provide a clear, coherent, and critical exploration of the IB ToK essay title.
Step 2. Make a plan. Prepare a draft of the IB essay structure. Identify the main concepts of the title. Define the areas. Mention the concepts and authors you would like to develop. This is a good moment to talk about your schedule with your teacher. Remember that you are only able to have three formal interactions with your IB DP TOK teacher while preparing the IB Essay. Therefore, you should make the most of those encounters.
Step 3: Introduction. Show that you understand the title, define the main concepts, and present the areas that you are going to develop. Remember that the chosen title must be used exactly as given; it must not be altered in any way.
Step 4: Apply the title to the first selected knowledge area. Review your notes and the main concepts of the first chosen knowledge area. Look for clear examples in this area that could help you to confirm or deny the statement. When using an example to explore the title, be careful not to describe too much but to use the example to help you to support the perspective. Look for a different example to test the statement. Arrive at a conclusion in this area of knowledge. Can the knowledge question be applied in the same way to different examples in the same area of knowledge?
Step 5: Repeat step 4 for the second selected knowledge area.
Step 6: Arrive at a conclusion: Can you apply the same conclusion for both areas of Knowledge? Do they differ? Explain why.
Step 7: Check the format: Number of words (Remember that the word limit is 1600 words), line spacing, spelling, correct use of bibliographic references.
If you have followed all these steps, your essay is ready. Good work!