3 replies to this topic

[IB 2012]

hey everyone,
i'm thinking about doing my presentation on the burka ban in france (and some other european country). Since my teacher is somewhat incapable of teaching a good tok course, i wanted to ask you guys if you think it's a good topic?

Thanks

[Sandwich]

It depends whether you draw TOK issues out of it or not, to be honest There /are/ ways to get TOK issues out of it if you dig a bit and discuss it using TOK terminology etc., but it's also very possible to discuss the topic and fail to discuss TOK. You have to find some underlying TOK issue within the burqa ban, you can't just talk about the ban and whether it's ethical or not (this won't get you many marks).

I suggest reading these two topics:
Is this a good TOK Presentation title? / How do I pick my Presentation title?!
ToK Presentation Guide

And noting that the emphasis of your presentation MUST be on ways of knowing. So if you can't talk about ways of knowing with the background theme of the burqa ban as a sort-of catalyst to discuss ways of knowing, then it's a bad topic.

[IB 2012]

Sandwich, on Feb 03, 2012 - 13:28, said:

It depends whether you draw TOK issues out of it or not, to be honest There /are/ ways to get TOK issues out of it if you dig a bit and discuss it using TOK terminology etc., but it's also very possible to discuss the topic and fail to discuss TOK. You have to find some underlying TOK issue within the burqa ban, you can't just talk about the ban and whether it's ethical or not (this won't get you many marks).

I suggest reading these two topics:
Is this a good TOK Presentation title? / How do I pick my Presentation title?!
ToK Presentation Guide

And noting that the emphasis of your presentation MUST be on ways of knowing. So if you can't talk about ways of knowing with the background theme of the burqa ban as a sort-of catalyst to discuss ways of knowing, then it's a bad topic.

ok...
so could mmy knowledge issue  be something along the lines; what role do emotion and reason play in justifying laws imposed on religious groups?
thanks again

[Sandwich]

IB 2012, on Feb 10, 2012 - 16:39, said:

Sandwich, on Feb 03, 2012 - 13:28, said:

It depends whether you draw TOK issues out of it or not, to be honest There /are/ ways to get TOK issues out of it if you dig a bit and discuss it using TOK terminology etc., but it's also very possible to discuss the topic and fail to discuss TOK. You have to find some underlying TOK issue within the burqa ban, you can't just talk about the ban and whether it's ethical or not (this won't get you many marks).

I suggest reading these two topics:
Is this a good TOK Presentation title? / How do I pick my Presentation title?!
ToK Presentation Guide

And noting that the emphasis of your presentation MUST be on ways of knowing. So if you can't talk about ways of knowing with the background theme of the burqa ban as a sort-of catalyst to discuss ways of knowing, then it's a bad topic.

ok...
so could mmy knowledge issue  be something along the lines; what role do emotion and reason play in justifying laws imposed on religious groups?
thanks again

Yes It'd probably sound more snappy to say "Why ban the burqa?" or something but if the gist of your presentation the title you just said, you're onto a winner in my opinion. Provided your presentation effectively examines how we use those two (or indeed more!) ways of knowing to make arguments for/against the ban. You could perhaps looks at which of those arguments/ways of knowing IS indeed most involved in the French 'winning' argument where the burqa was indeed banned - and ask at the end of the presentation should it have been? Then you have an opportunity to give your opinion a bit too, makes it seem more personal.

Hope you do well