SUITLAND HIGH SCHOOL

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM (IB)

IB THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE II
2011 - 2012
Class Period: 2B
Instructor:

Location:

Media Center

Ms. Melanie Caldwell

(301) 817-0500, ext. 266

Email:

melani.caldwell@pgcps.org

Textbook:
Author:
Cost:

Theory of Knowledge
Richard van de Lagemaat
$40.00

All IB diploma candidates are required to take Theory of Knowledge I and II

Overarching Questions:

How Do You Know? Who Says So? Are You Sure? And So?...

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The class is a continuation of the study began in Grade 11. The IB Theory of Knowledge
(ToK) course challenges students in the areas of critical thinking and integration of
knowledge. The focus of the ToK course is studying what we know in the various fields of
knowledge and how we know it. The essential question of the course is How do I know
that a given assertion is true or a given judgment well grounded? Philosophical questions
are posed in order to get students to look at ideas of Truth and Knowledge. In ToK
there a few right answers. The goal is rigorous inquiry and critical thought based upon
commonly held standards. The course content links the 4 Ways of Knowing explored in
Grade 11 with six Areas of Knowledge, Ethics, the Arts, Natural Sciences, History,
Mathematics, and Human Sciences.

The GOALS and OBJECTIVES of the course are to lead students to:
. engage in reflection on and the questioning of the basis of knowledge and experience;
. be aware of subjective and ideological biases;
. formulate rational arguments;
. develop a concern for rigor in formulating knowledge claims, and intellectual honesty;
. consider that knowledge may place responsibilities on the knower;
. understand the strengths and limitations of individual and cultural perspectives; and
. make interdisciplinary connections.
. draw examples from a variety of sources, include their own experiences, and reflect on
cultural diversity;
.examine an issue from at least two sides to consider the pros and cons of different points
of view
. express themselves orally, and in writing, with clarity;
. make connections between and across the Ways of Knowing and the Areas of Knowledge
.evaluate beliefs and knowledge claims
.demonstrate an understanding of the strengths and limitations of the various Ways of
Knowing and of the methods used in different Areas of Knowledge
.demonstrate an understanding of knowledge at work in the world
.identify values underlying judgments and knowledge claims pertinent to local and global
issues
.consider how we interpret reality
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to write a 1200 -1600 word essay that
is externally assessed from a Prescribed Title generated by International Baccalaureate
Organization that reflects knowledge issues as presented in the ToK course.
Students will be able to give a ten minute, internally assessed Oral Presentation related to a
contemporary issue that identifies knowledge issues and examines these issues from
different perspectives.
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT:

Prescribed Title Essay (1200 1600 Words)

Knowledge of Issue (10 points)

The essay must deal with a question of knowledge explicitly.
Quality of Analysis (10 points)
The criterion asks for critical reflection and insight as well as treatment of divergent points
of view.
Breadth and Links (5 points)
Knowledge at work requires that TOK thinking be applied to a contemporary issue.
Structure, Clarity, and Coherence (5 points)
The presentation should be clear and logically coherent.
Examples
(5 points)
The use of varied examples to support the thesis.

Factual Accuracy and Reliability (5 points)

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT:

Oral Presentation

Students prepare and give presentations on a question of knowledge based on a

contemporary issue. The assessment criteria are based upon the IB rubric and are follows:
Knowledge of Issue (5 points)
The presentation must deal with a question of knowledge explicitly.
Quality of Analysis (5 points)
The criterion asks for critical reflection and insight as well as treatment and divergent
points of view.
Knowledge at Work (5 points)
Knowledge at work requires that TOK thinking be applied to contemporary issues.
Clarity (5 points)
The presentation should be clear and logically coherent.
EXPECTATIONS:
All students will come to class prepared daily.
All students will wear their uniforms and identification to class each day.
All students will come to class on time daily, and if not have a pass when they enter the
classroom.
All students will begin working upon entry to the classroom.
All students will complete all assignments and submit them on the due date no exceptions.
All students will follow school rules.
All students will participate in class; listen attentively and quietly when others in class are
speaking.
All students will comport themselves as students of excellence.
All students will respect themselves, their teacher, and classmates at all times.
All students will pass the course with an A or B in the course.
All students will earn a C or better on the prescribed title essay and an oral presentation
There will be no cell phone usage of any kind during class.
All students will exit ToK with a broader perspective in a variety of areas.
All students will be well-prepared for the next level.
GRADING POLICY:

Written Assignments

30%

Presentations/Oral Activities

20%

Homework/Journals

20%

Participation in Discussions

20%

Tests/Quizzes

10%

A
B
C
D
E

=
=
=
=
=

90 100%
80 89%
70 79%
60 69%
59 Below

JOURNALS:
Students will continue with their journal entries. Dont forget to jot down references,
reflections to what is heard and discussed in class. Books that have been read, newspaper
articles, magazine articles can still be used. Any thoughts or insights relevant to the
problems of knowing that occur during interactions with friends, family, church, ads,
travel, other classes, sports, viewing of art, movies, etc. can be included. The objective is to
create a dialogue with yourself where you can question the why of things. Poems,
dialogues, and drawings are also acceptable. However, there must be a relation to ToK
and all journal entries must be dated. Journals will be collected bi-weekly.
HOMEWORK:
Homework will be assigned weekly. During the week in which there are three class
meetings, homework will be assigned two of those days. The two class meeting week,
homework will be assigned one of those class meetings.
LATE WORK:
All assignments are due on scheduled due dates and no late work will be accepted. When a
student is absent, it is his/her responsibility to request work missed.
PLAGARISM:
Each student is responsible for submitting his/her own work. Presenting the work of
someone else as your own or using another persons ideas without acknowledgement will
result in a failing grade. Cutting and pasting from the Internet is unacceptable in will
result in a failing grade.
TOPIC OF STUDY:
Guiding questions are taken from support material provided by the International
Baccalaureate Curriculum and Assessment Centre
Review of Ways of Knowing Perception, Language, Reason, Emotion
Problems of Knowledge

Introduction to Areas of Knowledge

Mathematics
Natural Sciences
History
Ethics
Arts
Human Sciences
Knowledge and Truth
ToK Essay Writing/IB Prescribed Titles
Oral Presentation preparation/for Formal Oral Presentations