Guidelines On Writing A Philosophy Paper
A philosophy paper consists in a critical analysis of a thesis and in a reasoned defense of some claims. If you advance a claim, your claim should be under the support of an argument. If you attribute a view to someone, you should support your attribution with reference to the original text and interpretative remarks. When you make claims about a philosopher you have read, make sure that you support your interpretation with references to specific passages.
Characteristics of a good philosophy essay
- Clarity: say what you have to say simply and straightforwardly
- Depth of analysis and critical questioning: offer a critical analysis of a philosophical issue, present and question different approaches to the same issue, and compare them.
- Consideration of arguments: the reader is not interested in your own opinion, but in the way you reason about a particular issue, how you argue about it, how you defend your claims. You must exhibit reasons for what your hold, not just voice your concern about a particular matter. Make your reasons explicit.
- Logical organization: everything that you write must be justified: there should be a reason why you wrote what you wrote the way you did. Use only the sentences that you need to express your claims.
What are the steps in writing a philosophy essay?
- Discuss the issues with others- One of the best ways to check how well you understand your essay is to try to explain it to someone who is not already familiar with the material.
- Make an outline- Before you begin writing any drafts, you need to think about the questions: In what order should you explain the various terms and positions you will be discussing? At what point should you present your opponent's position or argument? In what order should you offer your criticisms of your opponent?
- Use simple prose-Do not aim for literary elegance. Use simple, straightforward prose. Keep your sentences and paragraphs short.
- Make the structure of your paper obvious- You should make the structure of your paper obvious to the reader. Your reader should not have to exert any effort to figure it out. Beat him over the head with it.
- Be concise, but explain yourself fully
- Use plenty of examples and definitions- It is very important to use examples in a philosophy paper. Many of the claims philosophers make are very abstract and hard to understand, and examples are the best way to make those claims clearer.
- Present and assess the views of others
- Check on your grammar and spelling.