How to Write a Philosophy Essay
- 1). Begin by brainstorming ideas on your philosophic topic. Construct several possible assertions about your topic on which you could base your essay. These ideas should show your understanding of the topic and be supported with reasoning, and your ideas should also critique your topic--or another philosopher's ideas on the topic.
- 2). Choose the idea from your brainstorming list that you can best support with reasoning and that you understand well. Formulate a strong thesis from your philosophic idea that projects your feelings on the topic. If your thesis will be on the ideas of other philosophers, use your thesis statement to tell your audience why you agree or disagree with the philosopher's idea.
- 3). Give your essay a skeleton. Create and outline of related subpoints stemming from your thesis to support your claim from every angle. Your subpoints can be thought of as subthesis statements that are more specific and deliberate in supporting different facets of your main thesis. Fatten your thesis subpoints by adding the main points you wish to cover by their inclusion.
- 4). Create a rough draft of your paper based on your outline. Draft an intro that leads into your thesis statement, and then transition into the heart of your paper--focusing on your subpoints to guide each area of your argument.
- 5). Keep your writing modest and original. Bold assertions should be well backed to keep your essay credible. Focus on backing assertions in your argument with reasoning and examples to corroborate your reasoning. But feel free to generate new questions and leave some unanswered--philosophy is about provoking thought and new ideas.
- 6). After you've completed a draft of your essay, stash if for a while and then reread it with a refreshed mind. Keep drafting and editing your essay until you feel that you've made your point as clearly and concisely as you can.
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