PTs at first might look like abstract and confusing riddles, just like the TOK exhibition prompts. To get a clear understanding, we need to 'unpack' them, essentially meaning decoding and understanding the key concepts and keywords. Doing this for all PTs can be beneficial.

🌎 Example: Imagine that you've received a complicated LEGO set for your birthday. The PTs are like the instructions for that set - they may seem complicated at first, but once you break them down step-by-step (unpack them), you start to see how everything fits together!

Unpacking PTs should be the initial step to kickstart a comprehensive knowledge discussion in your essay. Without this step, there's a risk of misinterpreting the demands of the question, leading to a misguided essay.

🌎 Example: Think of unpacking a PT like a roadmap for a trip. You wouldn't start driving without knowing your destination or the route, right? Similarly, you shouldn't start writing your essay without understanding the PT.

The link between your essay and the PT is one of the key assessed aspects. It needs to be crystal clear in your mind to be explicit in your writing.

🌎 Example: It's like writing a cover letter for a job application. If your cover letter doesn't connect clearly with the job description (PT), the employer might not see why you're a good fit.

Pay close attention to the specifics in the PT. If the PT demands discussion on two AOKs (Areas of Knowledge), don't throw in extra AOKs thinking it will earn you brownie points. Stick to the requirements - depth of analysis over breadth!

🌎 Example: If you're baking a cake and the recipe calls for two eggs, adding four eggs won't make the cake twice as good. It might just ruin it. Similarly, including more AOKs than needed could take away from the depth of your essay.

Beware of using dictionary definitions for keywords in your TOK essay unless you are specifically discussing the formation of definitions as a knowledge issue. Instead, explore what concepts look like in different AOKs, their acceptance, disputes, relationships with theories, schools of thought, ideologies, and what kind of conclusions different AOKs aim to achieve.

🌎 Example: Imagine you're trying to explain what a 'phone' is. A dictionary might tell you it's a device used for conversation. But in real-world terms, it's so much more: a camera, a diary, a game console, etc. Likewise, the words in your PT have much broader meanings in the context of different AOKs.