*This article is part of the TOK Roadmap — a visual, all-in-one guide I created to help you ace Theory of Knowledge. [View the full roadmap here.]

In this post, I explain

• What are ‘implications’ in TOK Essay?
• Example implication
• How you can incorporate them into your TOK essay

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By now, you’ve seen how to structure a TOK essay and how to write a good body paragraph—you’ve already hit most of the grading criteria for a great essay. But the rubric requires one more thing…

“The implications of arguments are considered.

This bit is not included in the 7-8/10 score category, which means you MUST include the so-called “implications” for a 10/10 essay.

What are “implications” in TOK Essay?

An implication in TOK is a ‘takeaway’ statement when you reflect on your argument, apply it to the real world, or TOK as a whole.

As a writer, think of it as asking yourself..

• Okay, now I’ve shown that my arguments are great. What’s the consequence of making these arguments? What do they mean for us in the real world?
• You can also ask, does my thesis have a real-world impact? Does it call for action? Should we be more careful? Is knowledge not as it seems?

It’s basically some deeper insight that goes beyond statement of facts or explanation of evidence.

EXAMPLE TOK Essay Implication

Prompt: May 2023 title #1 “Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge”

*To note, “replicability” refers to the ability to get the same outcome after something is done again.

Argument: While replicability is still valued in human sciences, instances where it is nearly impossible to achieve do not necessarily disqualify the knowledge produced. The scientific community often considers unique circumstances to recognize the value of knowledge without replicability.

Implication: This highlights the need for us, as producers of knowledge, to understand that not all knowledge is created equal. When we evaluate knowledge, our criteria should adapt to the specific context in which it is produced and intended to be used.

Notice how I zoomed out a little bit, from talking about human sciences to knowledge in general. Here, I considered the implication of a main argument. But you can do it for anything—main argument, thesis, analysis of example, conclusion, assumptions.

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How to incorporate implications into your essay

The best way to incorporate implications is to sprinkle them naturally throughout your essay.

Sprinkle them in your intro (why is exploring this title important for our world?), body paragraphs (think one step beyond your argument), and conclusion (overall, what are the broader consequences of my arguments?)

Instead of creating a separate paragraph for implications, this method allows you to show your depth of thinking throughout the essay.

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