TOK Object Sampler
Actionable flashcards
About this resource
This TOK object sampler is designed to support both teachers and students
in the process of choosing objects for the TOK exhibition. It features a
selection of TOK IA prompts with suggested objects that students may use
to explore each prompt. The objects included in this resource are intended
as conversation starters for appropriate selection with possible links to
prompts and themes. Teachers are advised to encourage students to
pursue their own independent explorations.
What is included:
Flashcards featuring three objects linked to a single IA promp
A brief description of each objec
A detailed link between the IA prompt and each objec
A holistic link between the three objects and the chosen theme
You can use this resource with students when
introducing the TOK exhibition assessment component
or when leading a practice opportunity.
1
How to choose your objects
Choosing the right objects is key to a strong TOK exhibition. When doing so, students have to consider the following thought process.
Choose objects that are naturally Include objects of different
linked to the IA prompt; avoid mediums such as written, visual,
forced or inorganic connections manufactured, designed, etc.;
identify objects from different
sources such as physical or virtual
Choose objects from different The object needs to reveal Include objects that are
contexts such as personal, local, something about knowledge interesting and naturally
or global; avoid similar objects in the context of the IA prompt prompt discussions
2
IA Prompt #4:
On what grounds might we doubt a claim?
Object 1: Illustration in a journal Object 2: Article Object 3: List on a website
‘The Darwinian Finch’ published in ‘The Victorian Anti-Vaccination ‘The Complete List of Trump’s Twitter
Darwin’s Journal of Researches
Movement’ published by The Atlantic
Insults’ published by The New York Times
Type of doubt:
Type of doubt:
Type of doubt:
Doubt due to lack of empirical Doubt based on misinformation and Doubt based on the credibility of a person
evidence; the scientific method personal beliefs
3
IA Prompt #4:
On what grounds might we doubt a claim?
Link to the theme
These objects can be connected to the core theme of knowledge and the knower. Students’ explorations may highlight how some claims are
rejected due to a lack of empirical evidence, misinformation, personal beliefs, or lack of reliability/credibility on the part of those making the claim.
Links to the IA prompt:
Object 1 Object 2 Object 3
This object illustrates Darwin's doubt about This object demonstrates how some This object highlights how some people
the diversity of finches. This was largely due knowers doubt vaccine claims due to doubt claims based on a person's
to the fact that the specimens he had personal views. This object draws historical credibility that has been established over
access to were not appropriately labeled as parallels about how vaccination doubts time. Despite his authority, Trump's Twitter
to their island of collection. Darwin omitted emerge as a result of mistrust of the medical history of spreading fake news and
any reference to Galapagos finches from system, populist politics feeding vaccine misinformation has made many people
any version of his book, Origin of Species, skepticism, and the spread of skeptical of his claims.
presumably due to his uncertainty about misinformation on social media.
the available data.
4
IA Prompt #14:
Does some knowledge belong only to
particular communities of knowers?
Object 1: Article Object 2: Video Object 3: Photograph
‘Tattooed women of Arunachal ‘Bird language of the Turkish village of ‘Druze at Mount Hermon, c. 1901’
Pradesh’s Apatani tribe’ published in Kuşköy’ posted on YouTube by Great published in Britannica
Made for Minds Big Story
Type of knowledge:
Type of knowledge:
Type of knowledge:
Traditional, tribal knowledge Linguistic knowledge Religious knowledge
5
IA Prompt #14:
Does some knowledge belong only to
particular communities of knowers?
Link to the theme
These objects can be connected to the core theme of knowledge and the knower. Students may explore how some knowledge belongs to a
select number of people or a close-knit community. This can be due to traditional practices, geographical needs, or religious beliefs.
Links to the IA prompt:
Object 1 Object 2 Object 3
Tribal traditional knowledge belongs to The practice developed as a result of the Many Druze religious practices are kept
members of that tribe and is only steep mountains and rugged secret, even from the community as a
applicable in their context and in line with topography of the region, which whole. Only an elite of initiates, known as
their beliefs. This practice was put in place required the local population to find an ʿuqqāl (“knowers”), participate fully in their
to prevent Apatani women from being alternative way to communicate across religious services and have access to the
kidnapped by neighboring Nishi long distances. The practitioners are secret teachings of the scriptures, Al-
tribesmen, by inking women’s faces to mainly agricultural communities who Ḥikmah al-Sharīfah.
make them look unattractive. spend most of their lives outdoors.
Hence, this language is not understood
beyond this close-knit community.
6
IA Prompt #15:
What constraints are there on
the pursuit of knowledge?
Object 1: Book Object 2: Article Object 3: Graph from a website
‘Open Veins of Latin America’ by ‘The literacy injustice’ published by The Funding trends published on Vox
Eduardo Galeano
Guardian
website
Type of constraint:
Type of constraint:
Type of constraint:
Political censorship Cultural constraints due to archaic beliefs Monetary constraints hindering
scientific progress
7
IA Prompt #15:
What constraints are there on
the pursuit of knowledge?
Link to the theme
These objects can be connected to the core theme of knowledge and the knower. Students may highlight how some knowledge may not be
accesible to all on the grounds of gender, political outook, privilege, monetary factors, and even due to deliberate manipulation of information.
Links to the IA prompt:
Object 1 Object 2 Object 3
This object illustrates the political This object demonstrates how some cultures This object highlights how scientific funding
involvement in the production of still have archaic beliefs. In Mali, for example, hinders the acquisition of newly developed
knowledge. Galeano writes a book that is gender roles, influenced by patriarchal scientific knowledge. Funding is essential to
characterized by opposition to imperialism cultural values, limit female education and the production of scientific knowledge as it
and a heightened Pan-American sentiment. empowerment. The restriction on the pursuit helps in running studies, subsidizing lab
The book was banned in several countries, of knowledge - education in this respect - is equipment, and paying assistants and
such as Latin American countries with right- attributed to patriarchal values in some scientists. The lack of this funding, hence,
wing dictatorships. cultures. becomes a formidable obstacle.
8
IA Prompt #18:
Are some things unknowable?
Object 1: Poem Object 2: Painting Object 3: Photograph of scrolls
‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost ‘God the Father’ by Cima da Sections of the Dead Sea Scrolls on
published in The Atlantic Monthly
Conegliano showcased at the display at a museum in Jerusalem
Courtauld Institute of Art
Type of knowledge:
Type of knowledge:
Type of knowledge:
Future-related knowledge Religious knowledge Ancient knowledge
9
IA Prompt #18:
Are some things unknowable?
Link to the theme
These objects can be connected to the core theme of knowledge and the knower. Students may explore how some knowledge is indefinitely
unknowable due to the limitations of our consciousness and perception. Discussions can be built around our inability to foresee beyond our
current existence and experiences.
Links to the IA prompt:
Object 1 Object 2 Object 3
This object’s underlying meaning is about This object highlights the nature of religious This object emphasizes the uncertainty of
our choices in life and the fact that we will knowledge which is abstract. Some need ancient discoveries. Archaeologists
never know the outcomes of choices we tangible details to grasp such abstract discovered a copper scroll, along with
disregard. In this sense, our decision-making knowledge better. Hence, artists like other Dead Sea Scrolls, in a cave in Qumran
process eliminates many options whose Conegliano provide a visual representation in 1952. The scroll records a massive
consequences are unknowable. of God based on personal interpretation of amount of hidden gold and silver treasure
scripture. However, the extent to which this — so much, in fact, that some researchers
knowledge is accurate is debatable. Hence, believe it cannot exist.
the proposition that details pertaining to
some knowledge remains unknowable.
10
How to print the resource
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Click "Print" to print your presentation.
111
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