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Theory of Knowledge for the IB Diploma

Richard van de Lagemaat

978 0 521542 98 2

(0 521 54398 7)

Details

• About the book
• Contents
• Writing a TOK Essay
• About the Author

About the book

This comprehensive and accessible book is designed for use by students following the Theory of Knowledge course in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. The book is also useful for students following other critical thinking courses.

The fundamental question in Theory of Knowledge is ‘How do you know?’ In exploring this question, the author encourages critical thinking across a range of subject areas and helps students to ask relevant questions, use language with care and precision, support ideas with evidence, argue coherently and make sound judgements.

All chapters include the following features:

• preliminary quotations to prompt critical thinking
• questions and exercises to encourage students to actively engage with the material
• cartoons and other illustrations to support the text
• a summary of key points and list of terms to remember
• a ‘linking questions’ diagram which makes connections with other parts of the course
• suggestions for further reading
• reading resources to explore some of the topics covered in greater depth

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Contents

The book consists of three main parts and a conclusion:

• Part 1, Knowers and knowing, examines questions about the nature of knowledge.
• Part 2, Ways of knowing, focuses on four major ‘knowledge tools’ - language, perception, reason and emotion.
• Part 3, Areas of knowledge - looks at problems of knowledge that arise in various subject areas (mathematics, the natural sciences, the human sciences, history, the arts, ethics and religion) and investigates questions of an interdisciplinary nature.

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Writing a TOK essay

'Writing a TOK essay' by Richard van de Lagemaat is a comprehensive guide to tackling the essay-writing component of the IB Theory of Knowledge assessment. Although students are in need of careful advice and guidance, there is, of course, no exact formula for writing a good essay. Given this, the points made in this article should be viewed not as a checklist that will guarantee success, but as a collection of tools that will help students to develop and refine their own essay-writing skills.

Writing a TOK essay (PDF)

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About the Author

Richard van de Lagemaat has more than 20 years' experience in international education. He is currently the director of an education consultancy service called InThinking.

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About the Author

Richard van de Lagemaat has more than 20 years' experience in international education. He is currently the director of an education consultancy service called InThinking.

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