Steps In Essay Writing
Choose a central problem or argument: make sure that the topic is not too difficult, and you will be able to come up with basic arguments. Before you start reading, make a list of questions that you can consider while reading. Also, a good idea is to take notes as you read and briefly write your own thoughts.
Thesis statement: for a philosophy paper a thesis statement is important as it guides the central focus of your paper. Create a thesis statement that will appear at the end of your introduction paragraph. The thesis statement will generalize your critical opinion on the topic and give the reader a preview of what the body of the paper will be discussing. Make sure that the thesis statement provides enough information.
Paragraphing: each and every paragraph should be a minimum of three sentences and consist of a single evidence that is aiming at explaining or supporting the thesis statement. The introduction paragraph should consist of a background information on the topic so as to familiarize the reader on the topic that you have chosen. Paragraphs should have a topic statement that captures the attention of the reader and at the same time give them a small synopsis of what you are going to talk about in the rest of the paragraph.
Analyze the information: what evidence, arguments, and claims have you found? Identify weaknesses and strengths, pointing out important relationships.
Examine different viewpoints: examine and evaluate scholarly opinions about your chosen topic. Review contexts, does the author try to approach the topic from an ideological perspective? Consider the fact that your own interpretation may be influenced by your culture, ideology, and other biases. Don’t make assumptions, it is a mistake to consider a particular viewpoint to be obvious and undeniable with demonstrable evidence.
Conclusions: the last paragraph should consist of the concluding phrases that reinstate the thesis statement and at the same time summarize the paper. Briefly sum up the ideas you came up with in an overview. Define the importance of your findings and take liberty to point out the directions that need further research. You can imagine that you are a participant of discussion and your task is to explain your opinion with evidence. Remember that you should avoid pronouns like “I” and “my.”
Writing Your Research Paper
Since most papers in are thesis papers in some form, you will need to focus on the purpose of a thesis paper, which is to analyze and present a well thought out argument for a particular position.
A philosophy paper consists of at least six (6) parts:
(1) the introduction
(2) the presentation of the arguments
(3) the presentation of counter arguments/objections
(4) a response to these objections
(5) Conclusion
(6) Bibliography
