Philosophy tends to be an enigmatic and challenging subject for students. Some questions are so hard to understand that students prefer not to complete them at all. However, this is the wrong approach. Indeed, philosophy may sometimes be hard to understand. But so may be English, History, Management, and Economics. If you are assigned a philosophy essay and have no idea how to write it, don’t worry. After reading the article, you will be able to complete the assignment and submit it on time.
Writing Philosophy Paper: Pre-Writing Steps
First and foremost, you have to understand what your topic is about. Before writing the essay, make sure you know what the question is about and what it requires. When you know that, you can start thinking about the ideas to include in the paper. Indubitably, don’t expect to come up with top-notch ideas in a timely manner. Writing philosophy papers may well be time-consuming. And it might cause thoughts like, “I want someone to write my essay for me,” or “I’d better work than writing such papers.” But don’t rush the process. You still can deal with the paper real quick.
In case you don’t understand the topic, you are free to contact your colleagues or even a professor and clarify what you should do. They will be glad to help you. And when you already have some ideas in your mind, you can proceed to research the topic.
The last step is called research. When having the ideas, make sure to find relevant literature to back up your claims. Simply look for credible books, articles, or other shreds of evidence on reliable web pages, such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, or JSTOR. If you have to write a two-page essay, make sure to find at least two authoritative sources to add to your discourse.
Follow The Proper Structure
Each and every paper has its structure. When completing your assignment, you need to follow the relevant structure. Otherwise, the teacher will give you the lowest grade regardless of the content you have provided. A generally agreed structure for essays is:
- Introduction
When writing an introduction, you have to make sure to start the paper in an appealing manner, entice the reader to keep following the piece. And most importantly, you have to compose an accurate and perfect thesis statement. The latter is the most critical part of your paper. It comprises several (usually, three) arguments that you strive to develop within the document.
- Body Part
Body paragraphs focus on explaining your points presented in the thesis statement. Each particular body section describes one idea from the thesis. The paragraph starts with a topic sentence that reminds the reader about an argument. Then you move toward its explanation. And here comes credible literature that you have found during your research session. After including a direct or indirect quotation, you have to explain the relevance of such a statement. The last sentence is oftentimes a brief conclusion and a transition.
- Conclusion
You need to be careful when writing a conclusion. The thing is, many students commit severe mistakes when crafting the last paragraph. This is because of unconscious repetitions. Doing that, they get mediocre degrees. And oddly enough, they don’t understand the reasons behind such grades. To avoid that, do not repeat the content from previous parts. Simply restate the thesis, encapsulate the most crucial concepts, and prove that your essay helps everyone who wants to enrich the knowledge in the given field.
Know Which Formatting Style to Use
It goes without saying that students should rely on credible sources when writing papers (unless it is a personal reflection). There are several formatting styles presented these days. And depending on your subject, you may need to follow a specific style. Usually, philosophy follows the MLA format. However, every academic institution may require using different styles when writing philosophy papers. In case you are unsure of the proper style, ask your teacher about it.
Avoid Extensive Introductions
No one likes lengthy introductions. And your philosophy teacher doesn’t like it either. When writing your essay, remember that there is always a specific word count. For example, if your piece needs to have 500 words, ensure squeezing your intro in 100 words. Should you write more, you will have to narrow down other parts. And under no circumstances should you do this. Of course, you can extend your essay, making it, let’s say, a 600-word. But again, you will get your grade lower because of that.
Shun Fence Sitting
Students like adding many arguments to the papers. However, they avoid developing them or saying that they are not competent enough to explain them. This strategy will do you no good. To remain on the safe side, include three points that you can develop. Even if they are simple, don’t worry. It is better to have an essay with simple arguments and get an A than have a discourse with sophisticated points and get an F in the long run.
Use The Right Vocabulary
Remember that no matter what subject and topic you write about, you have to follow a formal style. Do not use colloquial language; instead, use eloquent words and transition verbs that will make your piece coherent, understandable, and peerless. For instance, you are highly encouraged to use the words, such as however, therefore, thus, hence, in addition, besides, moreover.
If you think that your vocabulary is not as vast as you wish it to be, you can employ handy apps to correct that. For instance, use OneLook Reverse to enlarge your vocabulary. The app is entirely free. It demonstrates the bulk of synonyms for an exact word. You can also check the definition and even a model sentence where the word is used. Utilizing such an app, you will boost your knowledge in the blink of an eye.
Edit and Proofread
Editing and proofreading are two aspects that students underestimate immensely. If you think that they are time-consuming, you have to change your attitude. By editing and proofreading your essays, you increase the chances of getting the desired grade. Besides, it doesn’t take as much time as you might think. We live in a fast-paced environment where one can find nearly anything on the web. Grammarly is one of such apps you can find. It analyzes your text and helps you correct the errors you have made. The app has a free version that is more than enough for your academic needs.
When you edit the text, leave it aside for a short time. Get back to the text again and reread it carefully, trying to spot mistakes. It is always good to have a fresh set of eyes that hasn’t seen your text before. Friends or family members may well be of assistance. Ask them to read the text and objectively check it based on content, vocabulary, and grammar.
Writing a philosophy assignment is not an easy task. You need to have in-depth knowledge in the field and find credible literature to include when writing an essay. However, you can make the writing process way simpler by following the mentioned tips.