So you want to write a philosophy paper that will knock the proverbial socks off of your professor? Below are some rules to help you do your very best. Remember, each instructor has different expectations, so carefully read your assignment's instructions and ask questions if you are unclear.

Research

Rule # 1 - Do not use Wikipedia. Do not use Encyclopedia.com. Do not use Cliffs or Sparks Notes.

Rule # 2 - You may break rule #1 only in the instance that you want to find some links to scholarly articles. In this case, check your textbook's bibliography before you break rule #1. And always, always, check with your instructor about how they want you to use online sources.

Rule # 3 - If you are asked to write a critical response with only primary sources then skim your text and find passages central to the topic you've chosen. Do not try to tackle the entire work (unless that is your assignment).

Getting Started

Rule # 1 - Do take the time to brainstorm multiple topics before deciding upon one. Does the topic interest you enough to write about it? Is it sufficiently complex to give you something to say? Is it so complex that you cannot cover it in the space allotted?

Rule # 2 - Once you've decided upon a topic, make an outline. The outline should contain your thesis (what you are trying to demonstrate) and several points that support your thesis. It's also a good idea to include at least one or two possible arguments against your thesis so you can refute them. (This, of course, depends upon the particular assignment.)

Rule # 3 - Be sure you understand the philosopher(s) you are discussing. Can you restate their central ideas in your own words? Can you do so without using their "jargon"? Can you place them into their philosophical context? (For example, Kant was responding to both empiricists and rationalists.) Where do you think the philosopher(s) were wrong, and why? Where were they right, and why? Do not move on until you can answer these questions!

Structure

Rule # 1 - Follow your outline carefully. Free-form writing is great for brainstorming, but does not turn out careful argumentation. This means you want to understand the connections between bullet points and use the appropriate transitions-"however", "therefore", "first", "second", etc.

Rule # 2 - If you make an assertion ("I think that X"), be sure that you are giving reasons why. It's a good idea to underline or otherwise mark every assertion you make. This way you will be sure you are not simply stating opinions. Philosophy is about justifying your beliefs.

Rule # 3 - State what you are going to do in your first paragraph, do it in the paper, and then summarize what you've just done. Your thesis statement should appear in the start of the paper, be supported by each paragraph that follows, and then be reiterated at the end. Every time you start a new paragraph, ask yourself, "How does this support my thesis?"

Examples

Rule # 1 - Use them!

Rule # 2 - Use them correctly. Examples ought to help clarify your ideas, or the ideas of the philosopher you are investigating. If they do not support your thesis, throw them out. Examples from your personal life are okay, but be sure that they are directly relevant.

Rule # 3 - Clarify your terms. Examples are good for illustrating what a philosopher means by a concept. If you use the word "Form" or "Categorical Imperative", early in the paper explain what you mean by it. This is an excellent time for an example. (Even if you don't use an example, be sure to define any important terms!)

Creating an Argument

Rule # 1 - Just because you say it doesn't make it true. Even the greatest philosopher cannot merely state a belief and leave it at that. Beliefs require reasons to support them.

Rule # 2 - Get familiar with informal fallacies. A great list can be found at this website: http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/ and they are tempting to use in philosophy papers. One of the most common mistakes in philosophy papers at the undergraduate level is called "appeal to consequences", in which you argue that belief X is wrong because it leads to undesirable effects. However, consequences of X don't directly bear on the truth of X (it could be true that I'm broke, even if that fact makes me very sad, a negative consequence).

Rule # 3 - Ask "why"? After you make a statement or have completed what you think is a solid argument, ask yourself whether you've answered this question. Consider what someone disagreeing with your position might say, and then return to your argument: have you refuted their objection?

Citations, Semicolons and Spelling

Rule # 1 - Little things count. Get a copy of Strunk & White's short book, Elements of Style. It will be invaluable to you throughout your college career. Be sure commas are in the right place, semi-colons string together two complete sentences, and that you are using words correctly.

Rule # 2 - Read it out loud. If you read your paper out loud and it doesn't make sense to you, chances are that it won't to anyone else. Despite writing about a complex subject matter, you want your sentence structure to be concise. Be conversational (but don't use slang!) and avoid lengthy sentences. Break them up into smaller bits; it will help your readers and your own thought process. (Also, note that spell check will not catch incorrectly used, but correctly spelled words!)

Rule # 3 - Cite correctly. Follow a single style throughout your paper (MLA is simple) and make sure you are introducing quotations, rather than letting them stand alone. Block quotes should be used sparingly-the professor wants to hear your thoughts, not long excerpts from Kant.

Miscellaneous Other Suggestions

Avoid long, historical or general introductions. Dive right into your topic, rather than introducing how important Aristotle or Descartes are; chances are your reader already knows this (otherwise, they wouldn't be reading your paper!).

Can you take out all of the quotations from your paper without it being impacted? One strategy to be sure you are relying upon an argument, rather than chopping up quotes and sticking them into a paragraph, is to put them in last. The paper should make sense without you citing anyone-citations are for examples or clarification.

If in doubt, submit a draft. This is why getting a head start on a paper is a good idea. Most teachers are happy to look over a draft and give suggestions or corrections. Another excellent way to get feedback is to have a friend who doesn't know philosophy read the paper. If they can understand what you've written, then you've done a good job. If they cannot, check for jargon, overly complex sentences, and where you can use examples.

Have fun! Creativity in philosophy is a wonderful thing! You can use examples from pop culture, art, your daily life, nature-and if you can support an argument, make it plausible, and defend it from objections, that's what matters. Remember, philosophy has come about from reflection on human life and existence. Though it may seem like a foreign language at first, once you've started to get the hang of it, you'll probably find exploring different ideas to be a fun and valuable exercise.

See this website as well for detailed discussion on writing a philosophy paper.:

http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/writing.html

Common grammar mistakes in philosophy papers:

http://www2.gsu.edu/~phltso/grammar&usage.html