Analysis Paper Guidelines
Introduction to Philosophy Fall 2015
Essau should be 1,500 - 1800 words (5-6 pages), double-spaced, typed in size 12 font, Times New Roman, and
have 1” margins
I will not tolerate plagiarism!!! It is unnecessary and defeats the purpose of this assignment; it is also a
serious academic offense. If you plagiarize, you will receive a failing grade for the assignment and
possibly for the entire course. Paraphrasing without citation is one form of plagiarism. See me (or email
me) if you have any questions concerning what constitutes plagiarism.
If you copy and paste text from the internet (a type of plagiarism), you will receive a
failing grade for the entire course.
An analysis paper is not a book report. You are not to read the philosophy articles and merely summarize the
key points made by the authors. A paper that does so will not receive better than a C- (and you may receive
worse). The point of an analysis paper is to read the relevant articles and critically analyze the arguments
therein. Why/how do the reasons supporting the argument(s) justify the conclusion? I am looking for original
analysis based on your understanding of the readings and the philosophical issues involved.
1. Assignment
a. Your paper may focus on any philosophical issue discussed in class: free will, knowledge, truth,
religion, ethics etc.
b. Make a claim about a philosophical issue, support that claim with good reasons, and
defend the claim against objections.
c. Reference at least two sources in your paper.
i. One reference should be a reading from the text. Both sources may be from the text.
d. Outside sources are not required, but they are allowed as long as you reference them, and as long
as I can find the source (library book, article, online source).
e. Explain your position on the issue and address the strongest objections to your position
i. For example, if you write on ethics, choose a theory to defend and show why the other
theories are inadequate or why your theory is better than the alternatives.
ii. If you choose an ethical issue (e.g., animal testing) use an ethical theory to support your
view, and show why the contrary view is weak.
f. Defend your position using original analysis, examples, assigned readings, and reputable
sources.
2. Structure/Organization
a. The structure of a philosophical analysis paper is usually (but not always) as follows:
i. Introduction
1. Your introduction must include a thesis (a statement that declares which position
you will be supporting in your essay)
2. Beginning your paper with “This topic has been debated since the beginning of
time” is trite (overused) and untrue (we haven’t been around since the beginning
of time). Try to avoid beginning your essay with that type of line.
ii. Present and justify the position you favor.
1. Be sure to explain the philosophical issues relevant to the topic – this may or may
not include relevant concepts depending on your topic.
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2. For example, if you write about free will, you should definitely include a
definition of freedom (the type required for moral responsibility)
iii. Present and explain objections to your position.
1. Again, if you do not include a discussion of objections you will not receive
better than a C on your paper (and you may receive worse).
2. Show how the objections are weak or irrelevant
3. And/or show how your position can overcome objections
4. Address each objection as you present it.
a. In other words, do not list all the objections in one paragraph, then all of
your responses in the next paragraph.
b. Present one objection and respond to it before moving on to the next
objection
iv. Conclusion
3. Elements of an Analysis Essay
a. Thesis
i. Your thesis is the main point or position you will be defending in your paper. It should be
one sentence within the introductory paragraph. (The thesis is one sentence, not the
introductory paragraph)
1. E.g., “I support Kirk’s decision to interfere with the alien race in ‘The Apple’
because freedom is a universal moral standard by which we can evaluate the
practices of other cultures.”
ii. All subsequent paragraphs should support and justify your thesis.
b. General notes on style
i. YOU MAY USE THE FIRST PERSON.
ii. Avoid phrases such as “I feel”, “I think”, and “I believe”.
1. If you are arguing for a position, then it is obvious that you think it is the correct
position; terms such as “feel”, “think” and “believe” may weaken your argument.
Notice in the example of a thesis statement above I did not state that, “I believe
freedom is a universal moral standard”.
iii. Avoid rhetorical questions
1. They are not arguments or claims, and they will weaken your argument.
c. Supporting paragraphs
i. Each paragraph should contain one main point or idea.
ii. All sentences in that paragraph should be relevant to the point you are making in that
paragraph.
iii. If you introduce a new idea you should introduce a new paragraph; otherwise, your paper
will lose clarity and focus.
d. Conclusion
i. Your conclusion may be as creative as you want it to be, or it may merely summarize
your main point(s).
4. Quotes, Paraphrases, and Citations
a. ALL OUTSIDE SOURCES MUST BE REPUTABLE, INCLUDED IN THE WORKS
CITED PAGE, AND CITED WITHIN YOUR ESSAY!!
i. Wikipedia is NOT a reputable source.
ii. JSTOR and philpapers.org and the textbook are good sources for philosophical articles.
b. Use parenthetical citation within the text of you paper that includes the author and page
number. For example:
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c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
i. Quote: The principle of equality states, “it is unjust to treat people differently in ways that
deny to some of them significant social benefits unless we can show that there is a
difference between them that is relevant to the differential treatment” (MacKinnon, 140).
ii. Paraphrase: The principle of equality states that we should not treat people differently
unless there is a morally relevant reason to do so (MacKinnon, 140).
Do not over-use your sources (i.e., use quotes, paraphrases, and summaries sparingly)!!
i. A typical paragraph is between 5 to 8 sentences long. If you have 4 quotes or paraphrases
in one paragraph or if an entire paragraph is a summary of a source, then you are not
sufficiently analyzing the material. One or (if necessary) two quotes or paraphrases per
paragraph should be sufficient to support your position.
If you include a quotation or paraphrase, analyze or explain it.
A quote should not constitute the entirety of a sentence (i.e., you should introduce a quote).
i. E.g., Kant does not think that acting on inclination has any moral worth; rather he claims
that, “to have genuine moral worth, an action must be done from duty” (Kant, 15-16).
All quotes and paraphrases must include citation. If you do not cite a direct quote, you will not
receive a good grade. If you do not cite a paraphrase, you may be guilty of plagiarism.
Expressing an idea from a source in your own words constitutes paraphrasing and must be cited!
5. PROOFREAD
a. Have a friend, classmate, family member, or writing center tutor proofread your final essay
before turning it in. We may not always catch awkward phrasing and typographical or
grammatical errors ourselves so it helps to have someone with “fresh eyes” read our paper.
b. READ YOUR PAPER OUT LOUD!!!! I cannot stress this enough. What sounds good in our
heads may sound awkward or incoherent when uttered out loud. If your paper does not flow
when spoken out loud, then it most likely suffers from awkward or incoherent sentences.
Grading Criteria:
 Clarity – is the paper well-organized? Are the points and ideas presented clearly?
 Precision – is the paper focused? Are the ideas explained succinctly? Do you avoid unnecessary
padding and digressions?
 Coherence – is the paper easy to understand? Do typographical and grammar errors obstruct the
meaning?
 Thorough – Does the paper cover all the relevant aspects of the argument? Are the objections clearly
stated and addressed?
 Originality – Do you offer any original analysis? For example, offer reasons why an
argument/idea/point/quote/ is interesting/right/wrong/relevant. Original examples and analogies may be
one – but far from the only – way to offer original analysis.
 Understanding – Does the paper exhibit a proper and thorough understanding of the text and readings?
Does the paper misconstrue any of the authors’ arguments?
 Analysis - Does the paper show evidence of critical thinking?
 Justification – Do you offer sufficient reasons to support your position?
 Discerning – Are the strongest arguments for both sides represented?
 Plagiarism and Citations – Was any part of the essay plagiarized? Do you adequately cite all
references? Are the references reputable?
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