IB TOK Midterm Study Guide Latest
Updated
Allegory - ANS-A literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent
abstractions
Ambiguity - ANS-an expression whose meaning cannot be determined from its context
Analysis - ANS-an investigation of the component parts of a whole and their relations in
making up the whole
a priori - ANS-involving deductive reasoning from a general principle to a necessary
effect; before
a posteriori - ANS-requiring evidence for validation or support; after
Assumption - ANS-a hypothesis that is taken for granted
Bias - ANS-a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation
Confirmation Bias - ANS-a tendency to search for information that supports our
preconceptions and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence
Credibility - ANS-the quality of being believable or trustworthy
Critical Thinking - ANS-Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and
conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates
evidence, and assesses conclusions.
Dogmatism - ANS-arrogant, stubborn assertion of opinion or belief
Editorial (or column) - ANS-A newspaper article written by or on behalf of an editor that
gives an opinion on a topical issue
Empiricism - ANS-(philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge derives from experience
Epistemology - ANS-the study of knowledge; how it's gained and constructed
Equivocation - ANS-a statement that is not literally false but that cleverly avoids an
unpleasant truth
, Euphemism - ANS-an inoffensive expression that is substituted for one that is
considered offensive
Evidence - ANS-your basis for belief or disbelief
Fallacy - ANS-a misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning
Feature Article - ANS-Soft news about companies, products, or services that may be
written by a PR person, the publication's staff, or a third party.
Idiom - ANS-an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of
the words that make it up
Inquiry-Based Learning - ANS-Complex process in which individuals convert data into
useful knowledge; emphasizes inquiry- attainment skills
Irony - ANS-incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs
Second-Hand Knowledge - ANS-the communal sharing of knowledge for which one of
the main sources is other people; allows for knowing more than just what our own
experiences and resources allow
Social Constructivism - ANS-Theoretical perspective that focuses on people's collective
efforts to impose meaning on the world.
Synesthesia - ANS-describing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color",
"a sweet sound")
Testimony - ANS-an assertion offering firsthand authentication of a fact
Validity - ANS-the quality of having legal force or effectiveness
Verification - ANS-additional proof that something that was believed (some fact or
hypothesis or theory) is correct
Visual Agnosia - ANS-inability to recognize or interpret objects in the visual field
4 Ways of Knowing - ANS-Sense Perception, Language, Emotion, Reason
Skepticism - ANS-doubt about the truth of something
Socrates - ANS-philosopher who believed in an absolute right or wrong; asked students
pointed questions to make them use their reason, later became Socratic method
Updated
Allegory - ANS-A literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent
abstractions
Ambiguity - ANS-an expression whose meaning cannot be determined from its context
Analysis - ANS-an investigation of the component parts of a whole and their relations in
making up the whole
a priori - ANS-involving deductive reasoning from a general principle to a necessary
effect; before
a posteriori - ANS-requiring evidence for validation or support; after
Assumption - ANS-a hypothesis that is taken for granted
Bias - ANS-a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation
Confirmation Bias - ANS-a tendency to search for information that supports our
preconceptions and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence
Credibility - ANS-the quality of being believable or trustworthy
Critical Thinking - ANS-Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and
conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates
evidence, and assesses conclusions.
Dogmatism - ANS-arrogant, stubborn assertion of opinion or belief
Editorial (or column) - ANS-A newspaper article written by or on behalf of an editor that
gives an opinion on a topical issue
Empiricism - ANS-(philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge derives from experience
Epistemology - ANS-the study of knowledge; how it's gained and constructed
Equivocation - ANS-a statement that is not literally false but that cleverly avoids an
unpleasant truth
, Euphemism - ANS-an inoffensive expression that is substituted for one that is
considered offensive
Evidence - ANS-your basis for belief or disbelief
Fallacy - ANS-a misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning
Feature Article - ANS-Soft news about companies, products, or services that may be
written by a PR person, the publication's staff, or a third party.
Idiom - ANS-an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of
the words that make it up
Inquiry-Based Learning - ANS-Complex process in which individuals convert data into
useful knowledge; emphasizes inquiry- attainment skills
Irony - ANS-incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs
Second-Hand Knowledge - ANS-the communal sharing of knowledge for which one of
the main sources is other people; allows for knowing more than just what our own
experiences and resources allow
Social Constructivism - ANS-Theoretical perspective that focuses on people's collective
efforts to impose meaning on the world.
Synesthesia - ANS-describing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color",
"a sweet sound")
Testimony - ANS-an assertion offering firsthand authentication of a fact
Validity - ANS-the quality of having legal force or effectiveness
Verification - ANS-additional proof that something that was believed (some fact or
hypothesis or theory) is correct
Visual Agnosia - ANS-inability to recognize or interpret objects in the visual field
4 Ways of Knowing - ANS-Sense Perception, Language, Emotion, Reason
Skepticism - ANS-doubt about the truth of something
Socrates - ANS-philosopher who believed in an absolute right or wrong; asked students
pointed questions to make them use their reason, later became Socratic method
