How to Write a Philosophy Paper I: Things to do

 

Below I have listed some general guidelines that you may find helpful when you write your first philosophy paper (they are also helpful for constructing class presentations).

 

1. Consult the Essay Writing Handbook for Philosophy Students.

 

2. Narrow your thesis several times before you begin to write (Consider visiting the campus writing center for this ­ they provide an excellent resource for help with brainstorming and helping you formulate a thesis statement.)

 

3. Be sure to list at least three ideas or reasons in support of your thesis.

 

4. Under each of these three ideas list at least two examples or textual references that support them.

 

5. Go back and create a really dynamic opening statement that captures your reader's attention and also clearly states your thesis. Posing a series of thought provoking questions related to your thesis is almost always an effective way to set the tone of your project.

 

6. Write a conclusion that concisely reiterates your thesis and summarize the reasons or arguments you have offered in support of these points.

 

7. Go back over your argument and consider what possible objections someone might raise to support you offer. Briefly summarize these possible objections. Consider incorporating these objections into your paper. Do the arguments you present stand up to these objections? If not, you may want to consider revising your thesis or argument.

 

8. Go back to your conclusion and thesis statement and make any necessary revisions in light of any revisions you have made.

 

9. Pay particular attention to creating smooth and readable transitions sentences between each new thought.

 

10. Proofread your paper with a special eye to eliminating grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, shortening long and unwieldy sentences and eliminating the majority of passive constructions.

 

11. Put the paper away for a few days and re-read before handing in your final draft. Or, better yet, read your paper aloud to a friend. Does he or she get it? Ask him or her to repeat your argument in a sentence or two. Consider rewriting any sentences that you stumble over or that you or your friend don't understand.

 

 

How to Write a Philosophy Paper II: Things to remember

 

1. Try to be as clear as possible about what the point of the paper is. Ask yourself what you are trying to show in the paper, and force yourself to be crystal-clear in explaining the point to the reader. You yourself may not be sure of the point until the second or third draft; but do not quit until you are satisfied that what you have written is precise and cannot be misunderstood. This does not mean that you have to be wordy; philosophers in fact prefer concise papers. And being clear doesn't mean that you cannot be imaginative or original; it just means that you are expected to allow the reader to see your originality and insight with a minimum of effort.

 

2. If a specific essay question or topic is assigned, make sure that you address all parts of it. Don't forget to critically examine a view if that is what the assignment calls for, and almost every assignment does. Generally, if you only state very clearly and accurately, in your own words, the argument that you are asked to examine then you will get a B+. An A- or solid A requires a serious attempt at critical analysis. Simply stating that you agree or disagree doesn't count.

 

3. You can use the first person in a philosophy paper (as far as I am concerned) so long as you don't become too "touchy-feelly." The phrase "I shall show that . . ." is preferable to "I feel that . . ." The latter sounds as though you have no reasons supporting your view.

 

4. Write your paper so that a reasonably intelligent person who has not read the assigned material could understand what you are saying. Do not aim it toward the idiot, mind-reader, advanced philosopher, or genius. You might, for example, pretend that you are trying to explain the topic to your roommate. If you pitch it at this level, it helps you to get clear about the nature of the subject, and to convey your understanding to the person who must evaluate it.

 

5. Avoid quotations that are not directly connected to the point being addressed. Quotations should be single-spaced when they exceed two lines of the paper. Don't use quotations as filler.

 

6. Avoid "psycho-history." This applies especially to a chronology of how you wrote your paper. Don't spend paragraphs on psychohistory such as the following: "First I read Descartes, and didn't understand him. Then I read him again, and still didn't quite get it . . ." The reader should know what your considered opinion is, and what reasons you have for holding it. Writing a good paper will involve supporting your opinion with reasons, and carefully explaining passages in the text in a concise manner (especially if those passages are obscure and call out for explanation). It will not involve extended narratives about what you "feel" about the topics being discussed.

 

7. Always proofread your paper and delete sentences which do not either add to your point or restate it in an illuminating way. Delete sentences that are misleading or contradict what you said earlier. (If you say "p" and then "not-p," how am I to know what you mean?) Don't feel like you have to keep a sentence in your paper just because you wrote it.

 

Other sites devoted to philosophical writing

Tips on writing a philosophy paper

Writing Philosophy