1. TOK Journal

2. What do you need to do? You are required to keep a journal where you record references to what you hear and discuss in class that deals with the problems of knowing. • You will need to buy your own journal (examples of acceptable and non acceptable journals given). • Each journal entry must always: • be dated • have a subject heading • contain your thoughts – a dialogue with yourself where you question the world and propose your own insights into how and why of things. • clearly show a problem of knowing • clearly explain the connection and relevance to ToK • You are required to complete a minimum of one entry per week

3. What should be in your journal? • Your journal will contain your thoughts and reflections on the problems of knowing. • If you read a book, newspaper article, magazine article, overhear or participate in a conversation that is intellectually or spiritually stimulating you can record them. • Any thoughts or insight relevant to ToK is acceptable TV, movies, music, theatre, friends, place of worship, ads, travel, other classes, sports, viewing of art, anything in or outside the class that seems related to problems of knowing. • The object of this journal is to create a dialogue with yourself where you can question the world and propose your own insights into the how and why of things. • Not all entries have to be written, poems or drawings are acceptable. • New words: If you come across a new word on this course, look it up in the dictionary and write it in your journal with its definition. It will not be acceptable as a journal entry but I do feel it is important that you build your vocabulary in this subject.

4. Example of Journal Entry 1 Incorporates drawings and text Date Title Problem of knowing showing relevance to ToK A dialogue with yourself where you question the world and propose your own insights into how and why it is like that. Next Slide • Website: Amy Scott http://www.amyscott.com/journals.htm • Excellent journal entries: Nick Alchin • http://www.amyscott.com/The%20Theory%20of%20Knowledge%20Journal%20Alchin.pdf

5. Examples of Journal Entries 2 + 3 In response to a newspaper article & reflections on an abstract idea. Thursday, August 12, 2004 Human Suffering and Political Inequality I read a disturbing article today. They found 39 Dominican Republic migrants who were reported lost at sea. 55 others died. It is the survivors who tell the tale. After two weeks at sea, an air of desperation and then terror gripped the people. When rations disappeared, some survived with nothing more than a coconut to eat.Others died, not from starvation, but severe dehydration. One woman died after she was brutally attacked for her breast milk 2 September 2001 The Nature of Time Recently I read a fantastic book by Alan Lightman called Einstein’s Dreams. It was a series of vignettes based on Einstein’s theory of relativity. In each piece, time had a different quality. My favorite story was about a world in which time slowed down at higher altitudes. Once the people discovered this, they began to construct houses on stilts and then on mountains. Social classes developed accordingto one’s altitude. Those on the very top shunned those who were below. The people most pitied, however, were those who refused to worry about time and passed leisurely lives at sea level. Next Slide To read the rest of these entries: http://www.amyscott.com/journals.htm

6. Extremely important note Your journal entries will show me the way you think which is like a finger print (original to you). I will know these entries are yours because of your discussions in class, your attitude etc. These will show me the essence of you - who you are. Copied entries (no matter how clever you think you are in copying) will be immediately apparent to me and I take plagiarism seriously, as do universities. If I feel there is evidence of plagiarism, I am obligated to report this to the relevant authorities within the school and record it in the system under your name. Please be aware that I am not required to find out who copied from whom. Both students will receive the same punishment. University applications can be rejected because of this please do not be tempted to take this risk. The regret you feel when you are caught cannot be described.