## Arguments Show Your Thinking [52cdcfd204d5] 1. An argument is a **structured chain of reasoning** where you: 1. Make a **claim**. 2. Support it with **evidence/examples**. 3. **Analyse** what the evidence reveals about knowledge. 4. **Link back** to the prescribed title or knowledge question. 2. Without this structure, your essay turns into something wholly descriptive without any meat. [{"_key":"block_4","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"0NqVaDNEKv8LV2QKKWQKXo","_type":"span","markDefs":[],"marks":[],"text":"In TOK, arguments are the backbone of your essays and presentations, demonstrating your critical thinking skills. "}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}] ## Why Arguments Matter [block_5] A position you take, your attempt to answer the title. An opposing perspective that challenges your claim. 1. Strong arguments: 1. **Demonstrate critical thinking**: You’re not just stating ideas; you’re testing them. 2. **Show open-mindedness**: You consider perspectives beyond your own. 3. **Promote clarity**: Examiners can follow your reasoning step by step. 2. Weak essays often fail because they stay at the level of “examples” without analysing what those examples mean for knowledge. [{"_key":"57e5187eb1eb","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"6a440e4fd51c0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"You might claim"}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"9f5116d56c7c","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"6a440e4fd51c1","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Emotion can act as evidence in itself"},{"_key":"c2eee757e33e","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", especially in areas like "},{"_key":"6eb7bdf6caa8","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"ethics "},{"_key":"a3b748df9ee2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"or the "},{"_key":"23645be6517f","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"arts"},{"_key":"dfbafe14a1c7","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", where feelings of empathy, disgust, or beauty guide judgments that "},{"_key":"cf0e1ef6aeda","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"can’t be reduced to logic"},{"_key":"6ea9176ab4e5","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". "}],"level":2,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8a257ad5921e","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"895551aaa97f","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For example, public outrage after images of humanitarian crises often drives political action more effectively than statistical reports."}],"level":2,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"412a8cd99eb5","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"70d35bc4a52d0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"But you may counterclaim:"},{"_key":"70d35bc4a52d1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" "}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"c46c8047b9c3","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"dc8349075bf6","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Emotion isn’t pure evidence, it’s"},{"_key":"a820bc6e0d07","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" selective"},{"_key":"c23a35841a24","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and "},{"_key":"1ca03876caac","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"culturally shaped"},{"_key":"a89e577379e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". "}],"level":2,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"29a9fc923d71","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"2430716b9dee","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"What triggers outrage in one society may barely register in another, meaning that emotion can "},{"_key":"8153b8a4f77d","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"amplify certain knowledge claims"},{"_key":"0d2af888ad3c","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" "},{"_key":"72b0c2bbf776","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"while silencing others"},{"_key":"9497ddb51566","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"level":2,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}] ## The Core Framework for a TOK Paragraph [bee0545e389c] 1. You can use this simple **C-E-A-L** model for every body paragraph: 1. **Claim:** A statement that answers part of the prescribed title. 2. **Evidence:** A specific real-world example, case study, or object. 3. **Analysis: **Explanation of how the evidence supports your claim (draw out TOK concepts: certainty, perspective, reliability, power, interpretation). 4. **Link: **Connect back to the prescribed title and implicit knowledge question. [{"_key":"22b14aa58baa","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"1dd08a597bf3","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"This is very similar to PEEL that you'd use in languages. "}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}] [{"_key":"780d9e241b8a","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"454d0468202e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“"},{"_key":"ec9e46157bdf","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Does visual representation always aid knowledge?"},{"_key":"78cedf59f946","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"”"}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a7e61a285602","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"0825aaef48080","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Claim:"},{"_key":"0825aaef48081","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" In the natural sciences, visual representations can redefine knowledge."}],"level":2,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"51c3ce2bc952","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"cc38351464e80","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Evidence:"},{"_key":"cc38351464e81","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" Watson and Crick’s double-helix model of DNA was not simply a diagram of existing facts; it created a new way of seeing molecular biology, turning scattered data into a coherent structure."}],"level":2,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"ea6a40fc8912","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"286022b5ac510","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Analysis:"},{"_key":"286022b5ac511","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" The visual form made a discovery possible by revealing patterns invisible in raw numbers. This shows that visual representation can act as a tool of knowledge creation, not merely its translation."}],"level":2,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f50a1690d2e1","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"100ca7fadf900","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Link:"},{"_key":"100ca7fadf901","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" This supports the view that representation shapes what scientists can perceive as real, meaning visual tools are not add-ons but foundations of scientific knowledge itself."}],"level":2,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}] ## Weighing Claims and Counterclaims [960a0a732c8b] 1. The difference between a **good TOK essay** and a **great one** is whether you **weigh perspectives** instead of just listing them. 2. After presenting claim + counterclaim you need to be answering **which is more convincing, and why?** [{"_key":"0c23e8f3bbce","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"566c70bc18420","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Compare the "},{"_key":"566c70bc18421","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"scope"},{"_key":"566c70bc18422","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Which perspective explains more cases, not just one?"}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"eddbb8543e18","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"2aa5fa0a3044","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Evaluate the "},{"_key":"566c70bc18423","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"limitations"},{"_key":"566c70bc18424","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Which perspective holds up better when challenged by real-world examples?"}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}] [{"_key":"b224827dae9a","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"8599897944cf0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The “"},{"_key":"becff6cdbece","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"So What?"},{"_key":"b0a70d49ef4e","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"” Test:"}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0e43e8fbff7b","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"5718a5cac49d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"After every paragraph, ask yourself:"}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"53f8ad86bc46","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"cb7bf256d84a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Have I explained why this matters for knowledge?"}],"level":2,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"33905ac79a3b","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"63e1a4ad18a70","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Or have I just described an example?"}],"level":2,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"75051b9780e2","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"019661bf6b400","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If your commentary wouldn’t make sense without the example in front of the examiner, you’ve failed the “So What?” test."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}] [{"_key":"f07d6c437575","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"936b7087b8a90","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Have you used real, specific examples instead of vague references?"}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"d9512200ac7c","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"edfb0bd6d897","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Have you balanced claims with counterclaims?"}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"ec9d9e71f7c5","_type":"block","asset":null,"children":[{"_key":"a4d62ba79c99","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Have you weighed perspectives and drawn a reasoned conclusion?"}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}]