It takes a lot of practice, dedication, and training to become a great writer. While they cannot guarantee an excellent paper, these tips should guide you to the right direction. Here are some general tips on how to write a philosophical paper, followed by some "dos" and donts.
A philosophical essay differs from most other types of essays. Its not a report nor is it a piece of creative writing. It isnt a compilation of the opinions expressed by various academics on a given topic. It doesnt present the most recent results of tests or experiment. It does not include your own personal opinions or feelings. This is not a personal opinion, but a rational defense of your thesis. What does it mean?
You must establish and convince the reader that you have made a certain point.
It is important to know what you intend to prove before you write. Its more difficult than you might think. A rough idea is not enough. Undeveloped, unclear ideas are not easily understood. In a short sentence, you should know what youre trying to prove. It is likely that you do not have a clear thesis.
It is now time to decide on the best way to convince your reader that you are right. Your method should be rational persuasion. Arguments will be presented. Students often make a variety of common mistakes at this stage. Some students think that they do not need to make much of an argument because their thesis seems obvious. You may overestimate your own strength. You already agree with that viewpoint. How will the opponent respond? Its safest if you assume your reader knows about the subject and is knowledgeable, but disagrees.
A second common mistake is believing that mentioning, even briefly and in a brief manner, every argument you have heard to support your position will strengthen your case. This is known as "the fortress strategy." The fortress method is not likely to produce a high-quality paper. This is due to a number of reasons.
Your reader may find it hard to keep up with so many arguments, particularly if the arguments are coming at the topic in different directions.
The second thing that will make them stand out is the best of the worst. In this case, discrimination is crucial. It is important to only develop the strongest arguments. By including weaker arguments, you give the impression that it is difficult to distinguish between them.
Third, if you include many different arguments, it will lead to your being spread too thin. To cover a lesser amount of ground with greater depth is preferable to covering a larger area superficially. Your paper will be more focused.
Before you can produce a quality philosophy paper, think clearly and carefully about the topic. Unfortunately, the reader (likely a teacher or marker) cannot see your thoughts unless they are written down. Your reader will not be able to tell you what you wanted to say, yet did not. Nor can they read what would be said in a face-to face conversation. To the best or worst of your ability, you are stuck with what is available. It must be able to stand alone. The writer is responsible for the accuracy of the communication. You need to be clear about what you are trying to convey and avoid being misunderstood. This point cannot be overemphasized.
A good piece of philosophical writing cannot be unclear, ungrammatical and unintelligible. Clarity, precision and accuracy are key elements. Poor writing undermines both.
Avoid these mistakes in your philosophy essay
- Introductions that are too long. These introductions are completely unnecessary and do not interest the reader. You dont need to say that your subject is important and has fascinated philosophers over the centuries. Introductions must be kept as short as you can. You might even consider not including an introduction in your paper.
- Long quotations. Unexperienced writers tend to rely on paraphrases and quotations. Only use direct quotations when you need to prove the authors exact choice of words. Even paraphrasing must be limited. Remember, this is your essay. Your instructor is interested in your opinions. This is especially important when you are asked to critique someone elses opinion in your essay.
- Dont present several positions and conclude your paper by saying you arent qualified to resolve the issue. Do not, for example, conclude your paper by stating that philosophers have disagreed on this topic since humans began keeping records and that you are unable to settle the issue in just a few pages. Your teacher knows this. The instructor will expect you to evaluate the arguments and take a firm stand. Take a risk. Your argument will back you up if it is good.
- Cuteness. Good philosophy writing is usually written with a sense of simplicity and dignity. Its not a joke. No one who has been asked for their opinions is stupid. (If they seem like idiots to you, then it is because you did not understand their arguments.) It is not appropriate to use names and it can never replace a careful argument.
- Begging of the question. In order to make a point, its necessary to assume that what you are arguing is true. Lets look at a simple example. Smith is asking the wrong question if he argues abortions are morally wrong due to the fact that they amount to murder. Smith is assuming the moral standing of abortion, as represented by his conclusion. If you want to see this, note that anyone who disagrees with Smiths conclusion that abortions are morally wrong will reject his premise that they amount to murder. Since murder by definition is morally unjust, it would be difficult for them.
- You cannot convince of the error of your opponents position by merely claiming that they are wrong in their general conclusions. It is not enough to say that one of the premises they use is incorrect. These things must be demonstrated, but in a way that doesnt assume that you are right.
Some suggestions for writing your Philosophy Paper
- Make sure you have a plan before you begin writing. It is important that the reader can easily follow your logical progression. Your paper will flow in a logical way if it is organized well. Readers will be put off by a frantic essay. Your reader may not feel that it is worth the effort. Before you start writing, let your outline rest for a day or two. When you return to your outline, does it seem to still flow well? It will not work even if you use the most beautiful prose.
- Select the correct words. After you have created your outline, it is important to select the words that best convey your message to the reader. It is important to use a dictionary. It is not enough to choose a term that, in your opinion, captures the idea youre trying to convey. The words "infer", "disinterested", and "reference", do not all mean the same thing. Be sure to use "its" or "its" correctly. You will notice that words like "therefore,""hence,""since,"and "follows from", are powerful logical connectives. These expressions are used to assert a tight relationship between two claims. Its important that you are right. Last but not least, double-check the spellings of words you dont know. In a philosophy paper, "existence" is not acceptable.
- Make sure you support your arguments. Assume a reader who is always asking questions, such as "Why do I have to accept this?" Presupposing your reader to be skeptical is a good way to ensure that you write a paper that defends an argument. It is here that most of the first philosophy essays fail. Justify your claims if you suspect that critics may not agree with them.
- Always give credit. Cite your sources when you quote or paraphrase.
Indicate your debt, whether you owe money for a specific phrase, a general idea, or an argument. Plagiarism is when you use someone elses ideas, words or arguments and present them as your own. Plagiarism, which is considered dishonest and against academic institution rules, is a serious offense. Your academic career can be put at risk or terminated if you are caught plagiarizing. Why risk it when you could improve your paper by giving credit to the right people? It is important to cite the work of others because it shows that you are familiar with the literature.
- Expect objections. There will be people who reject your position for a variety of reasons. These reasons can be interpreted as criticisms. You can demonstrate your strength by examining one or more of the most effective objections. Show how these can be overcome. It is like stealing ammunition from your opponents before they can fire at you. It is important to anticipate what objections your critics will make if they are not disarmed first. It is also important to understand the criticisms. must argue in that the criticisms you have cited are not accurate or are not well-intentioned despite how plausible they may seem. It takes time and experience to develop a style of argumentation that is engaging.
- Rewrite your first draft. Never have I met someone whose paper was not improved by rewriting. It is important to rewrite your work often. Its not enough to just repeat the same text. As ideas are clarified, words can be cut to make the drafts shorter. The word "no" is useless. Clear sentences do not just happen. The result is a tough edit.
I could say a lot more about writing that is clear. I havent even touched on grammatical or stylistic issues. The campus bookstore has many useful books to help with these subjects (and we must all have reference materials in these fields). Elements of Style, by William Strunk & E.B. White. William Zinssers When Writing Well also makes a good general-scope book. These books have been published in several editions. Students with more advanced knowledge might want to read Philosophical writing: an introduction. Martinich.
Last words on proofreading. Do it. Again. Have someone else review your work after that. Does this person understand you fully? Is this person able to read through your paper without getting stuck at any one sentence? If its not perfect, you should go back to the beginning and fix any mistakes. Do not just get rid of the paper. It is something to be proud of. It is important to write clearly. This reflects your thinking.
