Writing Advice
1. Never underestimate the importance of structure even in a very short essay. Most good essays begin with a few introductory sentences which make it clear what is supposed to happen in the essay. Likewise, most good essays end with a few setences which remind the reader of the main points made in the essay.
2. Connect your ideas. There should be no point in your essay which causes your reader to wonder why you've jumped from one idea to the next. Try to make the connections between the various things you have to say clear.
3. Don't forget that philosophy is primarily concerned with arguments, not just taking positions. I want you to take and defend a position on the various topics covered by the assignments. It's not enough to just say what you think, you need to tell me why you think it.
4. A good way of stregthening your presentation of your own view is to consider objections to your view. Ask yourself how an reasonable person might object to what you're saying. If you don't have an answer for that objection your assignment needs more work.
5. Write simply and clearly. Don't try to impress me with unusual words or complicated sentence structure.
e.g., Why say 'it is the observation of this writer that ...' when 'my view is that ...' will do?6. Avoid overblown introductions or conclusions
e.g., Don't begin your essay with some variation on 'Since the dawn of time mankind has looked up at the sky and wondered [insert name of philosophical question here]'.7. Avoid dictionary definitions unless they're helpful. It's a cliche to begin an essay with something like 'The Oxford English Dictionary defines virtue as ...'. Remember I will be grading a large number of these assignments. Avoid doing things that will reduce me to tears if I have to read them 60 times.
8. Don't worry about writing from the first person point of view (e.g., 'I disagree'). Philosophers do this all the time (although this is not true in every discipline). Don't get carried away with this though. Often, referring to yourself is unnecessary.
E.g., why say 'Where I think Singer gets things wrong is by claiming that...' when 'Singer gets this wrong by claiming that...' does exactly the same work?9. Remember that good arguments don't have to be boring. Try to write something the reader will enjoy as well as understand.
10. Most importantly, try to write in such a way that an intelligent
person who had never read the piece you are discussing would understand and
be convinced by what you are saying.