IB May 2026 (M26) TOK Title #3 Model Response
Is the power of knowledge determined by the way in which the knowledge is conveyed? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.
- The essay below is written as a teaching draft to illustrate the structure, tone, and depth of analysis expected in a high-scoring Theory of Knowledge essay.
- It includes call-outs after each paragraph that explain why particular choices were made and how they align with the IB assessment criteria.
- In a formal submission, you would need to provide proper references and citations (using MLA, APA, or the referencing style your school/IB requires).
Introduction
The power of knowledge can mean different things: its ability to solve problems, to persuade, to shape memory, or simply to endure as truth. How that power is exercised often depends on the way knowledge is conveyed: through symbols, language, or medium. In mathematics, knowledge gains practical power when notation is precise and standardized, but its truth is powerful regardless of presentation. In history, testimonies and narratives can amplify the reach of knowledge, while raw evidence may retain power even when conveyed poorly. I argue that the power of knowledge is partly determined by conveyance: the medium shapes reach and application, but intrinsic qualities of truth and evidence give knowledge power regardless of style.
- Introduction lays out multiple interpretations of “power”
- It sets up the two AOKs, and stakes a clear evaluative claim: power is partly but not wholly determined by conveyance.
Mathematics I: Conveyance As Amplifier of Power
Mathematics shows how the way knowledge is conveyed can determine its reach. Calculus, for instance, was developed independently by Newton and Leibniz, yet the notation they used shaped how quickly their ideas spread. Leibniz’s notation for derivatives (dy/dx) proved easier to apply and teach than Newton’s fluxions.
The underlying knowledge was the same, but Leibniz’s symbols gave it more practical power by enabling future mathematicians to build on it systematically. Here, the power of mathematical knowledge was determined not by its intrinsic truth, but by how it was conveyed.
This paragraph shows how notation (a form of conveyance) impacts reach and usability, tying directly to “power.”
Mathematics II: Intrinsic Power Independent Of Conveyance
At the same time, mathematics also demonstrates that some knowledge is powerful regardless of form. The prime number theorem, which describes the distribution of primes, retains its power whether it is written in formal notation, explained verbally, or graphed. Even poorly presented, the underlying validity of the theorem means it can be reconstructed and applied.
Similarly, the Pythagorean theorem holds whether one expresses it as algebra, geometry, or spoken words. These truths derive their power from necessity and universality. Conveyance may affect accessibility, but the knowledge itself is powerful simply because it is true.
- This balances the first paragraph with a “No” case.
- It shows that mathematical truths carry intrinsic power even when conveyed poorly.
History I: Conveyance Shaping Historical Power
In history, the way knowledge is conveyed often determines whether it becomes part of collective memory. The Nanjing Massacre of 1937, for example, was documented in military reports, but its global recognition grew primarily through survivor testimonies and documentaries such as Nanking (2007). The same events were more widely acknowledged when conveyed through personal stories and visual media. In this case, the emotional and narrative power of testimony amplified the historical knowledge far beyond the reach of raw documents. The way knowledge was conveyed shaped the scale of its influence.
- The logic here is the same knowledge (that atrocities occurred) had limited power when conveyed bureaucratically.
- But, gained transformative power when conveyed narratively and audiovisually.
- Try not to use overused Eurocentric cases (like Herodotus, Anne Frank, or Churchill’s speeches).
- This is unlikely to catch the attention of examiner's going through dozens of similar essays.
History II: Power Independent of Conveyance
Yet history also shows that some knowledge retains power even when conveyed in plain or inaccessible forms. The archaeological findings of the Indus Valley Civilization revealed advanced urban planning through standardized weights, drainage systems, and city grids. These discoveries reshaped historical understanding of South Asia’s past despite the absence of deciphered writing or compelling narrative. Their power comes from the material evidence itself, not from eloquence or style. Conveyance can limit accessibility, but the knowledge retains authority because of its evidential weight.
This demonstrates that truth and evidence can carry power without elegant conveyance.
Cross-AOK Comparison
Comparing the two areas highlights a tension. In mathematics, knowledge has dual power: its truth power is independent of communication, while its application power often depends on notation and teaching. In history, knowledge can gain persuasive power through narrative, but also retains evidential power regardless of style. Across both, conveyance matters most when knowledge relies on collective uptake. When it must persuade, teach, or be remembered. Where validity or evidence is self-sufficient, conveyance is less decisive.
- This paragraph synthesizes insights across AOKs.
- It highlights the relationships between knowledge and langauge and knowledge and technology.
- Suggesting, that the power of knowledge is more than what's known, but also about how it's transmitted.
Conclusion
I agree to a considerable extent that the power of knowledge depends on the way it is conveyed. In mathematics, notation gave calculus practical force, though truth itself carries power independently of form. In history, testimonies and films shaped recognition of Nanjing, while archaeological evidence from the Indus Valley held power regardless of narrative. The larger lesson is that knowledge has two sources of power: intrinsic qualities such as validity, and communicative qualities such as reach and persuasion. Conveyance cannot create truth, but it can determine whether truth matters beyond the page.
The conclusion restates stance (“considerable extent”), reviews both AOKs, and ends with a dual framework (intrinsic vs communicative power).
