Writing a philosophy essay

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Essays, you may say, are much the same, whatever the discipline you are working in. They have a beginning, a middle section, and an end. This is true, but again requirements vary somewhat from subject to subject. In general you will find the following suggested scheme useful.

You should start by sketching out your initial response to the topic. If you are preparing a tutorial essay you will probably have the relevant source material in front of you (primary and secondary texts, and your own notes). In an examination you will of course have to rely on your memory. 

Having identified the main issues and made your draft notes you can then set about turning all this into a rounded essay. You should in general divide it into four sections

• Section 1. A brief introduction to set out how you propose to approach the topic.
  
• Section 2. This section contains a detailed account of the relevant concepts, a statement (if appropriate) of what the philosopher is trying to achieve, and a summary of the key arguments.
  
• Section 3. Here you provide your own critical analysis. Are the basic concepts coherent? What do they really mean? Are the arguments deployed valid? Have the philosopher's intentions been fulfilled? Are his/her conclusions tenable? By all means make use of the secondary literature. Note that commentators often disagree among themselves about how to interpret, say, Descartes' 'cogito' argument; and you are just as entitled as the 'experts' to add your own pennyworth - and indeed encouraged to do so. Of course in the early stage of your studies you will not be required or expected to come up with original insights. But if you can show your tutor or the examiner that you are 'in control', that you are supporting your account with appropriate evidence, you can expect to be rewarded with a good grade. [Some students prefer to conflate sections 2 and 3, dealing with each concept or argument as it comes. That's fine, provided your discussion is clear, and you do not confuse the issues.]
  
• Section 4. Your essay should end with a short section in which you summarize the essay and give your final conclusion.

Remember that all quotations and references you make should be acknowledged. These can be listed in footnotes or endnotes. A full bibliography of sources should also be provided at the end of the essay, and each entry should include the title of the book or article (or website), the author's name, date of publication, and publisher. (This is obviously not required for examination answers.)

Within these four sections, always consider the following:

• What sort of language should you use? 

The best British philosophers have generally also been fine stylists. Such twentieth century thinkers as Ayer, Russell, and Ryle wrote with wit and panache, and with great clarity. (By contrast the language of many so-called 'continental' philosophers, for example, Heidegger, Husserl, and Sartre, is bombastic, prolix, and obscure often to the point of unintelligibility.) 

In your essays you should aim at writing simply, accurately, and analytically, paying attention also to spelling, punctuation, and grammatical correctness. This may not seem fashionable in certain quarters, but it is in your own interest to impress your tutor or examiner. And avoid emotive language, rhetorical flourishes and 'journalese'. Remember you are writing an academic essay not an article for a tabloid newspaper. 

• Be relevant

Students tend to waste a great deal of time and space on background historical and biographical details. This is very rarely needed. 

• Be concise

Do not use more words than is necessary to make a particular point. But aim at covering all the key issues as comprehensively as possible within the specified word limits. 

• Try to maintain continuity and flow in your writing

Avoid jumping around erraticallsy from point to point. Apart from any other considerations, this tends to irritate the person reading the essay!

For more advice, see essay writing, essay writing handy tips, critical and analytical thinking and the free audio download on critical analysis.

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This content has been written by Anthony Harrison-Barbet, author of Mastering Philosophy.