TOK Exhibition — Overview

What makes a good Exhibition object and how to write an effective commentary.

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Notes

Arts practice prompt: “What role does language/perception play in producing knowledge in the arts?”

What makes a good object?

1. Links easily to the prompt
2. Specific — a particular object with a particular history, maker, date, purpose
3. The is easily described to a non-specialist
4. The object itself makes the link to the prompt visible
5. Has personal significance to you
6. Symbolic objects are usually weak — they link only indirectly to knowledge
7. Possesses features useful for linking to the prompt
8. No two students in the same class should choose the same object

The Commentary — four elements:

Element	Question it answers
Identification	What is the object, who made it, when, where?
	What knowledge is at stake here?
Explicit link to prompt	How do the keywords of the prompt apply?
Justification	Why does this object belong in your exhibition?

Common mistake: Telling the reader a lot about the object and very little about knowledge.