Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper
   Philosophical writing is different from the writing you'll be asked to
   serve you well when writing for other courses, but don't automatically
   assume that they all will. Nor should you assume that every writing
   writing a philosophy paper. Some of those guidelines are routinely
     * Three Stages of Writing
          + Rewrite, and Keep Rewriting
Three Stages of Writing
   The early stages of writing a philosophy paper include everything you
   will involve writing, but you won't yet be trying to write a complete
   Before you begin writing any drafts, you need to think about the
   get stuck writing, it's often because they haven't yet figured out what
   I find that making an outline is at least 80% of the work of writing a
   writing process will go much more smoothly.
   Philosophical problems and philosophical writing require careful and
   paper is due to begin. That is very stupid. Writing a good philosophy
   whose writing is obscure and complicated. Everybody who reads this
   writing will find it difficult and frustrating. The authors in question
   are philosophically important despite their poor writing, not because
   of it. So do not try to emulate their writing styles.
       as you possibly can when you're writing. It's no good to protest,
   material you're writing about, and if you aim your paper at such a
   you're writing a paper about abortion, and you want to assert the claim
          philosophers writing for other professional philosophers need to
   Sometimes as you're writing, you'll find that your arguments aren't as
   you can defend. For example, instead of writing a paper which provides
   Writing a paper of these sorts doesn't mean you've "given in" to the
  3. Rewrite, and Keep Rewriting
   you mean, it's bad writing. In philosophical prose, you have to be sure
   You should count on writing many drafts of your paper. At least 3 or
     * Writing tutor for Introductory Philosophy Courses
       <http://web.williams.edu/wp-etc/philosophy/jcruz/jcruz/writingtutor
   You shouldn't need to use these secondary readings when writing your
   No. Done well, these forms of philosophical writing can be very
   3. But these forms of philosophical writing are extremely difficult to
   metaphors. You need to master ordinary philosophical writing before you
    1. How well do you understand the issues you're writing about?
    3. Is your writing clear and well-organized?
   only correct these sorts of failings by rewriting your paper from
   suggestions here derive from writing handouts that friends and
   thanks.) Also, I've browsed some other writing guidelines on the web,
   URL: http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/writing.html