History — Essay Rubric

Applying the essay rubric to the prescribed title. Outlining for the in-class essay.

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Notes

Prescribed title: “To what extent is a reliable tool in the production of knowledge? Answer with reference to the area of knowledge of history.”

Six rubric criteria:

1. Clear, coherent, and critical — arguments make sense; the essay is internally consistent; claims are evaluated and supported
2. Focus on the title — all key terms addressed throughout; no veering into unrelated topics; focus on knowledge
3. Effective links to the AOK — show “why and how” over “what”; avoid disciplines adjacent to but not actually History
4. Supported by specific examples — real examples, not hypotheticals; examples must be typical of the AoK
5. Different points of view — not just “counterargument” — genuinely different perspectives evaluated for strengths and limitations
6. Implications — why does this matter? What advice for laypeople or experts?

Key reminders: Two well-developed examples are better than four shallow ones. TOK vocabulary earns marks only when it makes a genuine conceptual contribution.