Let’s understand how to deal with the TOK exhibition. Here, I will give you a general overview of the TOK exhibition with one of the TOK exhibition examples.
What is TOK exhibition?
TOK exhibition is an independent individual task of connecting specific real-life objects of personal importance with an IA prompt within one of the TOK themes. TOK exhibition is a brand new assessment task in the new TOK curriculum, 2022. It is worth of 10 marks which counts to 33% of the grades. The purpose of the TOK exhibition is to explore how TOK has its manifestation in the real big world around us. The TOK exhibition is an internally assessed task, which is externally moderated by the IB at the end of the coursework.
What are the components of the TOK exhibition?
- You have to intuitively choose 3 distinct, specific, concrete, perceptible real-life objects.
- You are to select one out of the 35 prescribed TOK ‘IA prompts’, which are generic and abstract knowledge questions.
- You have a commentary to write in 950 words explaining how the abstract and generic TOK concepts manifest in the real-world.
As and how you get a hang of what is the TOK exhibition all about, you will have couple of questions racking your brain.
TOK exhibition objects
You must have noticed that I have used a couple of attributes to define the objects. Remember, all of these descriptors are very significant. For example, when I say objects need to be distinct, specific, and concrete, I emphasize on particular contextual objects to be selected from the real-life. Yes, these objects are to be contextually relevant to the IA prompt. Also, note that the objects are concrete, which mean palpable or tangible or perceptible to our senses; and surely NOT something abstract.
Yes, it is very relevant for you to choose each of the objects very intuitively-by that I mean you should be convinced about the relevance of your choice of each concrete object in how it connects with the abstract question. In other words, the right choice of objects will help you understand how the abstract TOK has its manifestation in the distinct concrete real-world.
While selecting the objects, avoid selecting all the possible 3 you feel at the same time. First, you select one and justify its link with the IA prompt. Then follow a sequence with the second and the third. Make sure that the selection is not random and repetitive in a way that the objects connect with the IA prompt in exactly the same way. That’s not the purpose. Each object should have its unique contextual connection with the IA prompt or the knowledge question.
It is not necessary to interlink the objects. However, it is utmost necessity to connect each of the objects with the IA prompt in its own distinct way- here the phrase ‘distinct way’ is distinctively used to identify how each object is adding a unique value and perspective to the IA prompt.
TOK exhibition commentary
The TOK exhibition commentary is a clear, explicit explanation of your unique selection of objects. You can make a reasonable distribution of word limits explaining the inclusion of each object. The commentary for each object should explicitly highlight three key pointers:
- Why have you selected the object? Explain its real-life context. In case of virtual exhibition, use a clear image of the object with proper citation.
- Explain the link of the selected object to the IA prompt.
- Justify the inclusion of your selected object in the TOK exhibition.
How to write a good TOK exhibition?
With a TOK exhibition example, I will explain the steps.
The IA prompt no. 16 from the IB TOK guide has the knowledge question (KQ)- Should some knowledge not be sought on ethical grounds?
- First, let’s choose an optional theme to analyse the KQ. Let it be knowledge and technology. In the present informative age technology has given access to a bank of data. Now, the question is whether every information-whether having ethical or unethical repercussions-is relevant to know? Like the way technology helps, does it also hinder our pursuit of knowledge?
- Say, you select the first object as cocaine. The knowledge about cocaine, used as a prototype in exemplifying the ethical stance in knowledge, is as an excellent topical anaesthesia is sought after by some, for its excellent anesthetic and vasoconstricting property used in surgery. On the other hand, for some the knowledge may trigger an experimental urge to be used as a painkiller or to create an adrenaline rush-the overuse of which would affect the brain functions. So, the inclusion of cocaine as an object in the TOK exhibition can be looked through two lenses-in creating awareness of its benefits and side effects, as well as in exposing some young minds to experiment with new adventures.
- The second object you may think of is sex robot. In the pursuit of emotional well- being and companionship, the use of sex robots can be highly ethical and supportive for lonely individuals who do not have human partners. On the other hand, for others the knowledge of sex robots and their misuse may pose a psychological and oral threat to individuals and society.
- The third object you may think of is the nuclear weapons used in the ‘shadow war of May 2021’ by Iran and Israel. The knowledge on the usage of such weapons may be unethical to some as it may cause harm to mankind, if falling into wrong hands. On the other hand, it is also true that some feel having a knowledge of the use of nuclear weapons is a low cost way to insure against aggression from large power.
Through a far more detailing you would get to justify and evaluate the type of knowledge being sought and its contextual evidence. Foer some, knowledge cannot be categorized as good or bad, ethical or unethical; while for others some knowledge should not be sought as it may pose harm to the community than do good.
Also, check out another blog on TOK exhibition sample and TOK essay samples here