How to Write Your Philosophy Paper

How to Write Your Philosophy Paper:
Guidelines for Student Writing in Philosophy
Professor Hugh Wilder

This document will help you write a good essay for my philosophy courses. It also explains how I will grade your essay. Please let me know what questions you have.

I. Practicalities

1. Word process all papers.

2. Keep a copy of your paper--hard copy or electronic.

3. No cover sheets, binders, folders, please.

4. Staple the pages of your paper together, upper left corner (no paper clips, no folded corners).

5. Name, course, date and word count in upper right corner of first page.

6. Title of paper centered on first page, after name, course and date.

7. Format: One inch margins (top, bottom, left and right), double spacing, 12 point font, paginate (any location is OK).

8. Cite all sources (see “Academic Honesty” below). Use one citation system (e.g., MLA, APA) consistently. If you cite only texts used in class, then simply cite your source by author and page number within parentheses after the material cited. Cite Web sites with full URL and date of most recent access.

9. Help is available. I’m always willing to advise you on your work. Help is also available through the Philosophy Writing Lab and the general Writing Lab in the Center for Student Learning (Addlestone Library, first floor, 953-5635).

II. Academic Honesty

All work must be your own. Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of another person’s writing or of his or her words, ideas or facts. It is a serious violation of the standards of academic integrity and of the College of Charleston Honor Code.

The College Honor Code (Student Handbook, p. 11) defines plagiarism as:

The verbatim repetition, without acknowledgment, of the writings of another author. All significant phrases, clauses, or passages, taken directly from source material must be enclosed in quotation marks and acknowledged either in the text itself or in footnotes.
Borrowing without acknowledging the source.
Paraphrasing the thoughts of another writer without acknowledgment.
Allowing any other person or organization to prepare work for which one then submits as his/her own.

I will presume your familiarity with the College Honor Code and I will follow the procedure it specifies in prosecuting cases of plagiarism. A student found responsible for academic dishonesty will receive a grade of XF in the course, indicating failure due to academic dishonesty. The student may also be placed on disciplinary probation, suspended, or expelled from the College by the Honor Board.

III. Research & The Internet
Many of my writing assignments require no research. Most assignments ask you to critically respond to topics and issues discussed in class and in the readings for the course. You will need to show good understanding of the reading material to write a good essay, but you will not need to do any outside research for these papers. What you will need to do is develop your own views about the topic or issue as carefully and clearly as you can. The reading assignments I’ve given in class will give you enough material to use in writing these essays.

Sometimes I do assign research papers, usually in more advanced courses. In these assignments, I will be clear about research expectations and I will give specific instructions about source material and how to use it.

I know that you may want to research your topic on the Internet even if the assignment requires no research. My general advice is: Resist that temptation! Remember, for many assignments, I expect no outside research. I want to learn about your own views, not someone else’s.

I do, however, have advice for how to use the Internet effectively if my assignment does call for research (or if you simply can’t resist the temptation to use it):

Do not plagiarize from the Internet. As described above, plagiarism is a serious academic offense and I prosecute cases of Internet plagiarism as forcefully as I prosecute all cases.
Internet plagiarism is easy, but so is catching it. The College uses checking services, and it’s as easy for me to use Google to find your source as it was for you.
Learn how to evaluate information you find in your electronic searches. There’s lots of good information on-line, but there’s lots of bad - especially in philosophy. Learn to tell the difference.
A good way to begin to separate good from bad information is to start with good search engines and Web sites. Here are some suggestions:

Resist the temptation to use Google. Google searches on academic topics are simply not efficient. They’re quick but not efficient, because you get too many hits and most are worthless. Using the right tools and starting at the right Internet sites will lead you to reliable information more quickly.

III. Grading Criteria for Argumentative Essays
I frequently assign argumentative (rather than purely exegetical or historical) essays in my classes. I use the following criteria in grading argumentative essays; you should use them as guides for writing good essays.

1. Minimum Standards

Requirements listed under “Practicalities” above are met;

Paper is submitted on time; penalty for late papers is one-third of a letter grade per day;

Paper is not plagiarized.

2. Content

Topic is clear, manageable and appropriate for the assignment;

Thesis is clearly stated;

Cogent supporting arguments are offered;

Paper shows familiarity with relevant sources and adequate textual support is offered;

Paper demonstrates understanding of topic, key ideas and texts used;

Helpful examples are provided.

3. Organization

Paper includes a clear introduction: topic described, thesis stated, key terms defined;

The body of the paper develops the overall argument in a logical manner;

Supporting arguments are given for the thesis;

Alternative views are considered: counter-arguments and/or objections to the thesis and/or supporting arguments are considered;

Rebuttals to these objections are given;

Paper includes an overall conclusion, stating what has been accomplished (and what has not);

The paper covers the topic in sufficient detail and does not include irrelevant or redundant material.

4. Expression

Writing is clear and effective;

There are no logical errors;

Slang and rhetorical questions are avoided;

Technical terms are explained;

The organization of the paper is clear to the reader.

5. Mechanics

Writing is free of grammatical, stylistic and spelling errors;

Sentences are complete (no sentence fragments);

Paragraphs are well developed, with clear topic sentences and transitions.

IV. Grading Standards

A: Superior work. All minimum standards are met. Content is complete and clear, demonstrating an excellent understanding of the topic, the approach developed and the supporting arguments and texts used. The paper is well organized, including a clear introduction, full supporting arguments, counter-arguments and replies. The arguments show some personal insight or originality; they do more than review material discussed in class. The writing is clear and effective and the essay contains almost no grammatical, stylistic or spelling errors.

B: Good or very good work overall. All minimum standards are met. The essay shows good understanding of the subject. Effective supporting arguments are provided, counter-arguments and replies are given. The writing is good and has few mechanical problems.

C: Fair effort. All minimum standards are met. The essay shows adequate understanding and organization. Supporting arguments are given. The thesis is apparent but may not be clear or well supported. Organization may be unclear or illogical. Viewpoints may not be represented accurately. Essay may contain serious and/or numerous mechanical/stylistic problems.

D: Barely acceptable. Minimum standards may not be met. Poor understanding of topic shown. May lack a clear thesis. Inadequate support given. Essay may be disorganized. Ineffective writing and/or serious mechanical problems may make it difficult to understand the essay.

F: Failure. Minimum standards may not be met. Essay fails to address assignment or topic. Little or no apparent argument. Writing is ineffective and/or filled with serious mechanical errors.