Sammy8153 Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 Hey! I've chosen to write on the 4th prescribed title for TOK Nov 2010, May 2011."To what extent do we need evidence to support our beliefs in different areas of knowledge?"I need some help with creating a knowledge issue for this topic. Does anyone have ideas?Also, I'm planning on using the following areas of knowledge: the arts, natural sciences, human sciences, and ethics. Do I need to reference any Ways of Knowing in my paper? Would these ways of knowing count as evidence, as mentioned in the title? Does anyone have a good definition for evidence? I was thinking of saying that it had to be objective empirical evidence just to put some sort of parameters on the essay, but I don't know how I would back up my decision to use this definition. Any ideas?Thanks so much. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bLub Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 a knowledge issue for this topic.What about...the death penalty (how can we know whether it's right to kill someone? Is the d.p. worse than a life sentence?)abortion (how can we know whether it's right to terminate the life of an unborn? who has the right to make this decision?)beauty (how do we know what beauty is? can it ever be "objectively 'measured'"?)You can use most ways of knowledge with these examples (or rather any topic). E.g., if you want to answer the question how we can tell what beauty is: you could argue with science that beautiful people have specific proportions that can be measured; maybe within ethics you could say that at any rate, beauty is subjective and people should not be "put into categories" like "ugly", "nice", "pretty" which might make them feel bad and cause psychological harm...)Would these ways of knowing count as evidence, as mentioned in the title?Yes 1 Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammy8153 Posted February 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 What about...the death penalty (how can we know whether it's right to kill someone? Is the d.p. worse than a life sentence?)abortion (how can we know whether it's right to terminate the life of an unborn? who has the right to make this decision?)beauty (how do we know what beauty is? can it ever be "objectively 'measured'"?)thanks for the help, but are those really knowledge issues? i thought knowledge issues were generalized, open-ended questions about the topic. those are more like examples.i really just need one knowledge issue for this essay, but i can't think of one. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetnsimple786 Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 Hey! I've chosen to write on the 4th prescribed title for TOK Nov 2010, May 2011."To what extent do we need evidence to support our beliefs in different areas of knowledge?"I need some help with creating a knowledge issue for this topic. Does anyone have ideas?Also, I'm planning on using the following areas of knowledge: the arts, natural sciences, human sciences, and ethics. Do I need to reference any Ways of Knowing in my paper? Would these ways of knowing count as evidence, as mentioned in the title? Does anyone have a good definition for evidence? I was thinking of saying that it had to be objective empirical evidence just to put some sort of parameters on the essay, but I don't know how I would back up my decision to use this definition. Any ideas?Thanks so much.For a knowledge issue, I'd look at the implication in the title that seems to suggest that we might need different levels of evidence for different areas of knowledge. I'd probably talk about perception and another way of knowing and talk about limitations concerning them. I think doing the arts, natural sciences, human sciences, and ethics is -way- too much. When you say the arts, you might want to focus on one rather than all. Same with sciences. This'll allow you to really narrow and focus your essay and give coherent, indepth examples that'll cover more than they would if they had to cover all of the arts. Do you know what I mean? Yes, you should talk about the ways of knowing. That's usually where you can find a lot of knowledge issues--talking about obstacles in gaining knowledge, the flaws [and benefits] of ways of knowing. I'd say evidence is how you support something. That's a terrible definition because it's pretty circular, but what you should do is try giving examples from this and then trying to form a cohesive meaning. Your 'objective, empirical evidence' is fine--it's a personal choice. Just don't use the word 'evidence' in defining evidence I like the parameters. It'll really shape your essay. I'd just say that in this essay, I'm going to look at evidence as ______ because this evidence can be more universal and certain. Whatever you claim, you must explain and back up. I'd need to do the same for what I just said. 2 Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammy8153 Posted February 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 For a knowledge issue, I'd look at the implication in the title that seems to suggest that we might need different levels of evidence for different areas of knowledge. I'd probably talk about perception and another way of knowing and talk about limitations concerning them. I think doing the arts, natural sciences, human sciences, and ethics is -way- too much. When you say the arts, you might want to focus on one rather than all. Same with sciences. This'll allow you to really narrow and focus your essay and give coherent, indepth examples that'll cover more than they would if they had to cover all of the arts. Do you know what I mean? Yes, you should talk about the ways of knowing. That's usually where you can find a lot of knowledge issues--talking about obstacles in gaining knowledge, the flaws [and benefits] of ways of knowing. I'd say evidence is how you support something. That's a terrible definition because it's pretty circular, but what you should do is try giving examples from this and then trying to form a cohesive meaning. Your 'objective, empirical evidence' is fine--it's a personal choice. Just don't use the word 'evidence' in defining evidence I like the parameters. It'll really shape your essay. I'd just say that in this essay, I'm going to look at evidence as ______ because this evidence can be more universal and certain. Whatever you claim, you must explain and back up. I'd need to do the same for what I just said.Thank you soooo much. That was really helpful. 1 Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
laryxle Posted April 10, 2010 Report Share Posted April 10, 2010 I'm also doing this topic and i'm writing it at the moment but I find that the whole problem with the essay is to do with how you define it. My whole essay is basically saying how you can't define it in a definite and concise way and that the extent to which they are needed depends on the nature of the evidence. What i've done basically is compared AoK's where beliefs are formed through subjective WoK's and one from objective WoK's, and shown how the nature of evidence varies in different areas based on this and how it makes it difficult to compare them, and then I looked at the implications of subjective/objective evidence in different AoK's. So basically I make distinctions and connections between different AoK's and the nature of evidence in them, and then I basically say that they all need evidence to the extent that their beliefs are required to be supported and this varies depending on the degree of subjectivity and objectivity.I'm really worried that this isn't a viable way of answering the essay but I think that defining evidence in one way could really limit the essay. It is ok to answer essays like this? 1 Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaFin Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 (edited) Hello,I also choose this topic but my TOK teacher always murmurs about my reasoning skill. She tells me to explain more whereas I hate explaining my ideas in words. What could you suggest me to improve my TOK skill while working on this title? Edited April 26, 2010 by LaFin 1 Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetnsimple786 Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 That's funny. You chose the title about evidence when you don't like showing evidence for your arguments in your essay? =)This is probably too late, but I think personal examples are the best. When you're trying to prove a point, if you give an anecdote--a little story from your life--then you don't have to be formal and you've shown that you can relate TOK to your life. Basically when you say something, you need to examine when it's valid and when it's not. Explore the holes in your statement and make them your counterclaims. Show examples for everything you say. The more emphasis you give to one thing, the more likely it is you'll go off on a tangent in that direction, so be careful. 1 Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonhomme Posted June 6, 2010 Report Share Posted June 6, 2010 Hey guys,So I just picked a topic for the TOK essay (which is shown in the title), and just had some questions about it.So the different areas of knowledge that I will be using are the Sciences (probably natural) and history. In each of the areas of knowledge, I will compare and contrast the use of perception and reasoning for the sciences and history. My teacher says that this is okay, but I am kinda stuck here. The topic says that I have to talk about the limitations for different areas of knowledge, as it says "to what extent", yet I am doing the essay on the different types of evidence used for the different areas of knowledge. Is what I am doing correct?Any help is appreciated =D Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetnsimple786 Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 You're fine. Talking about the limitations of perception and reason will segue into the types and strength of evidence you need based on the different characteristics of the different areas of knowledge, including their limitations. But don't feel limited to talking about limitations only. You can talk about the benefits of reason and perception as well. 1 Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
agusfontes Posted June 18, 2010 Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 I am doing title number 4 from the tok list for nov 2010I am going to talk about religion natural sciences and history as areas of knowledgeI need help to relation those areas of knowledge with some ways of knowing!!!I know religion is no there in the diagram as a aok but i am going to considerate it as one. Can you also give me some ideas to support religion as an area of knowledge!!???Please i need your help my tok course was not that good!Thanks Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilia Posted June 18, 2010 Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 I am doing title number 4 from the tok list for nov 2010I am going to talk about religion natural sciences and history as areas of knowledgeI need help to relation those areas of knowledge with some ways of knowing!!!I know religion is no there in the diagram as a aok but i am going to considerate it as one. Can you also give me some ideas to support religion as an area of knowledge!!???Please i need your help my tok course was not that good!ThanksFirstly, basically all WoK are in all AoKSecondly, I think it is a bad idea to use religion as an AoK Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynyrd Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 (edited) Okay, so today i handed in my second draft of my TOK essay (by the way i'm doing essay number 4 from the prescribed list from Nov. 2010 and May 2010. My teacher says my essay is just fine, but I do not have any more chances to let my teacher read my essay after this one. So Do you have any tips for final revision of the essay?Essay number 4 is: "To what extent do we need proofs to support our beliefs in different areas of knowledge?" Edited July 15, 2010 by sweetnsimple786 No textspeak, please. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilia Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 One tips my teacher gave us, was to make it so clear that one could read the first and last sentence of each paragraph and still get the point. 1 Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
H.I. Flora Posted August 15, 2010 Report Share Posted August 15, 2010 I AM DOING TITLE NUMBER 4 FROM THE TOK LIST FOR NOV 2010I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT RELIGION NATURAL SCIENCES AND HISTORY AS AREAS OF KNOWLEDGEI NEED HELP TO RELATION THOSE AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE WITH SOME WAYS OF KNOWING!!!I KNOW RELIGION IS NO THERE IN THE DIAGRAM AS A AOK BUT I AM GOING TO CONSIDERATE IT AS ONE. CAN YOU ALSO GIVE ME SOME IDEAS TO SUPPORT RELIGION AS AN AREA OF KNOWLEDGE!!???PLEASE I NEED YOUR HELP MY TOK COURSE WAS NOT THAT GOOD!THANKSHey i am also doing the same topic, but i am a little stuck right now and i have to give this think in one week! anyways, you could try to fit religion into ethics, it is what i have done, natural sciences and ethics and ishowed in what cases they need evidence and what cases they dont Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMS Posted August 31, 2010 Report Share Posted August 31, 2010 My teacher's only willing to read my essay once Anyone want to help me by looking over it? Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihopetosurviveIB Posted September 1, 2010 Report Share Posted September 1, 2010 Guys just a tip to those who complain their teacher won't read it, if you have any other teachers (and I mean ANY teacher, whether it be math, english, history, economics, what ever) that like you, try to get them to read it. Or if you are hated by all your teachers (I know that feeling) then let your parents or relatives read it. If someone that doesn't have TOK background understands your points and finds your writing clear, that means you already are on the right track. That's how I did it, and got lots of feedback from friends (and even teachers surprisingly) and when I turned it in to my TOK teacher he said it was very good . Hope that helps. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IB no sleep Posted September 6, 2010 Report Share Posted September 6, 2010 Can you guys give me some more knowledge issues on this topic?Also, what can I say about each...I am really bad at thinking about these kind of things... Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cris Posted September 12, 2010 Report Share Posted September 12, 2010 I AM DOING TITLE NUMBER 4 FROM THE TOK LIST FOR NOV 2010I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT RELIGION NATURAL SCIENCES AND HISTORY AS AREAS OF KNOWLEDGEI NEED HELP TO RELATION THOSE AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE WITH SOME WAYS OF KNOWING!!!I KNOW RELIGION IS NO THERE IN THE DIAGRAM AS A AOK BUT I AM GOING TO CONSIDERATE IT AS ONE. CAN YOU ALSO GIVE ME SOME IDEAS TO SUPPORT RELIGION AS AN AREA OF KNOWLEDGE!!???PLEASE I NEED YOUR HELP MY TOK COURSE WAS NOT THAT GOOD!THANKSFirstly, do not capitalize everything.Secondly, basically all WoK are in all AoKThirdly, I think it is a bad idea to use religion as an AoKSo, its not a truly bad idea to use religion. I was planning on using religion, as well. But remember to use it with respect, because you dont know who will be grading it. I asked my ToK teacher if I could use religion, and she said it was fine. So I would just be cautious. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilia Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 I AM DOING TITLE NUMBER 4 FROM THE TOK LIST FOR NOV 2010I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT RELIGION NATURAL SCIENCES AND HISTORY AS AREAS OF KNOWLEDGEI NEED HELP TO RELATION THOSE AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE WITH SOME WAYS OF KNOWING!!!I KNOW RELIGION IS NO THERE IN THE DIAGRAM AS A AOK BUT I AM GOING TO CONSIDERATE IT AS ONE. CAN YOU ALSO GIVE ME SOME IDEAS TO SUPPORT RELIGION AS AN AREA OF KNOWLEDGE!!???PLEASE I NEED YOUR HELP MY TOK COURSE WAS NOT THAT GOOD!THANKSFirstly, do not capitalize everything.Secondly, basically all WoK are in all AoKThirdly, I think it is a bad idea to use religion as an AoKSo, its not a truly bad idea to use religion. I was planning on using religion, as well. But remember to use it with respect, because you dont know who will be grading it. I asked my ToK teacher if I could use religion, and she said it was fine. So I would just be cautious.I would never have thought of using religion as a AoK, but that's because we never covered it as one. But we never really covered ethics either, but I just can't recall ever hearing of it as a AoK. But it might be, I suppose. 1 Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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