Writing A Philosophical Paper

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Writing A Philosophical Paper
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1) Choice of Topic/Thesis

• Should not be too broad to cover thoroughly
• Should not be too narrow to be worth covering
• Should not be so uncontentious that hardly any
  reasonable person will disagree
• Should not be so far-fetched that no argument can
  make it seem plausible

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2) Tone

• Be Objective
• Do not use inflammatory language
• Dont be indignant

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3) Balance and Presentation

• Present your argument, information, and evidence
• Discuss alternative views as well
• What are their merits and downfalls

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4) Organization of Paper

• Opening paragraph
• Announces the task you are going to undertake
• All transitions should be clear and smooth

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5) Originality

• DO NOT PLAGIARIZE!
• Plagiarism is using anothers words (or wording
  close to it), or ideas, allowing the reader to
  believe/think /conclude that they are your words
  and/or ideas
• Always cite your sources
• Any information, thoughts, or borrowed wording
  you used

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6) Accuracy

• Use precise language
• So as not to misrepresent information
• Either your own ideas or someone elses

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7) Use of Language

• Use correct grammar and spelling
• Use proper punctuation
• Avoid obscure language, phrases, and sentences
• Be precise
• Review, edit, and rewrite your paper

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8) Clarity

• Make sure you have clear sentences
• And ideas

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9) Consistency

• Make sure there are no contradictions in your
  thought

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10) Strength of Argument

• Offer reasons in support of your thesis
• That a clear thinking, unbiased person would find
  persuasive

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11) Research

• Use credible sources
• Use enough research information to justify your
  claims
• Use research that is relevant to your topic

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Types of Philosophy Papers
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1) Thesis Defense Paper

• About stating a position and giving reasons for
  believing it is true
• E.g. an ethics claim/thesis
• Major corporations have a moral obligation to
  repair the environmental damage they have done.
• Use reliable evidence and strong reasoning in
  defense of your thesis.

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2) Compare-And-Contrast-Papers

• Showing how two views, books, or philosophies
  differ and how they are alike.

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3) Research Paper

• A survey of important views that have been
  written on a specific topic.

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4) Summary Papers

• A restatement of anothers view(s) in your own
  words.

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5) Explanatory Papers

• Goes beyond a summery.
• Its meant to illuminate anothers view(s)
  through the use of analogies, examples, and/or
  comparisons.

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Philosophy Topics and Sample Paper Topics
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1) Ethics

• The study of moral rights and responsibilities.
• Sample Topics
• 1) The moral obligation of major corporations,
  why they have them, and/or what they are.
• 2) Is abortion ever morally justifiable?
• 3) Human equality and the right to marriage.
• 4) End of life issues.

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2) Political Philosophy

• The study of political rights and obligations
  the study of social justice.
• Sample Topics.
• 1) What should one do when ones conscience
  conflicts with law?
• 2) What constitutes a just law?
• 3) Where does the responsibility lie when it
  comes to feeding, and housing the homeless?

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Metaphysics/Ontology

• The study of theories of reality.
• Sample Topics
• 1) Quantitative and qualitative accounts of
  nature in the pre-Socratic philosophers
• 2) Ancient and modern atomism
• 3) Does metaphysics have to be scientific?
• 4) The mind and body problem.

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Epistemology

• The study of how humans can know, the kinds of
  knowledge, and the possibility of certainty
• Sample Topics
• 1) Circularity in Descartess Meditations
• 2) The subjectivity of scientific knowledge
• 3) The merging together of rationalism and
  empiricism to gain knowledge and understanding.

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Philosophy of Religion

• The study of problems of knowledge and truth in
  religion.
• Sample Topics
• 1) Can the existence of God be proven
  empirically?
• 2) Are there rational justifications for atheism?
  
• 3) If God exist, what type of God is S/He, and
  what are the human implications?

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A Thesis Defense Paper

• Developing A Thesis

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Thesis

• From an ancient Greek word meaning Stand or
  Position
• Its a particular stand or position you take on
  an issue.
• Your thesis statement should be stated in your
  opening paragraph(s).
• The first or second paragraph
• The rest of your paper needs to show why your
  position is correct or reasonable.

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Opening and Closing Paragraphs
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Formal Opening Paragraph(s)

• Formal opening paragraphs should help the reader
  anticipate the reasoning that will be offered in
  your paper
• A) State your thesis (make it clear)
• B) Show how you intend to support your thesis

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Formal Closing Paragraph(s)

• A) They go back to the opening paragraph showing
  that you have done what you said you were going
  to do.
• B) It refers to the body of the paper showing
  that you did establish what you said you were
  going to establish.

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The Body Of The Paper

• A) The structure of the paper should reflect the
  preview you gave in your opening paragraph(s).
• B) Use Roman Numerals for the various sections
  of your paper.
• For each point.
• C) Use transition phrases to call attention to
  shifts in your paper.
• E.g. The third, and final argument in support of
  my thesis is this
• D) Make sure to use good, clear reasoning.

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Tone

• A) Dont attempt to sell your ideas using
  overblown rhetoric.
• B) Use good reasoning.
• C) Use reliable insight.
• D) Sounding sure of yourself is not equal to
  sounding reasonable.
• E) Dont fabricate facts.
• F) Dont treat the views of others unfairly.

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Premises and Conclusions
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Premise

• A statement of evidence
• An observation, or claim, offered in support of
  the point to be proven.

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Premise Indicators

• Expressions that often precede and serve to
  announce a premise.
• The most common premise indicators are
• Since, and Because
• Phrases such as,
• Due to the fact that, and
• For the following reasons, also introduce
  premises.

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Conclusion

• A statement for which evidence has been offered.
• Your thesis statement is a conclusion.

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Conclusion Indicators

• Expressions that often precede and serve to
  announce a conclusion are
• So, Thus, Therefore, and Consequently
• Less common indicators are
• Hence,
• As this leads us to the conclusion that,
• And
• It follows that