Philosophy of the Arts (Course Guide)

How to Write a Paper for a Philosophy Class

Philosophy is the practice of making and assessing arguments. An argument is a set of statements that work together to support another statement with a conclusion.

Learning to make strong arguments and to assess the arguments other people make can help us get closer to understanding the truth and helps make us aware of our reasons for believing what we believe, and enables us to use reason when we discuss our beliefs with other people.

All written work in this class should be an argument that focuses on the process of reasoning and rationality. To convince rational readers of your position, you must have valid and sound arguments and employ deductive reasoning to support your stand. EX:  you might think the death penalty is wrong because that's what your your parents taught you,  however other people have no real reason to care what your parents think.  Your job is to give reasons that will be reasoned and rational.

Your paper should be written in MLA Style with MLA citations on a Works Cited page. Your paper should take this general form:

• Stand -  What are you arguing for?
  • Introduction to your topic
    • your first sentence should be focused and clear.
    • briefly map out the structure of your paper
    • explain how your arguments will combine to support your thesis.
    • state your thesis (in philosophy this is called the Stand)
      • a sentence or two that asserts your position on a given issue, specifically, the position that you will be arguing for in your paper
    • define any terms you will use in the body of your paper.
• Reasons (#1 and #2) -  How do you support your stand?  
  • body paragraphs
    • provide 2 separate reasons to support your stand
      • clear main ideas or topic sentences and details to support those ideas
      • include transition sentence between ideas
        • connective words and phrases 
        • organize your points and arguments in a logical fashion
        • your organization should be apparent to your reader
      • each paragraph should have a clear place in the overall argument.  
      • stay true to the logic and structure of argument you set forth in your introduction
      • aim for clarity in order to ensure that your audience understands what you're saying.
      • be precise in both argument and word choice; use simple language
• (CA) Counter-Argument - What is a possible objection to your stand?  (
  • This is the philosophical part of the paper
  • With any argument or position, there are alternative or opposing positions. These opposing positions are called counterarguments.
    • EX:: if my argument is that dogs are better pets than cats because they are more social, but you argue that cats are better pets because they are more self-sufficient, your position is a counterargument to my position.

  • when writing your counterargument paragraph, you should respond to that other position. In your paragraph:

    • Identify the opposing argument.

    • respond to it by discussing the reasons the argument is incomplete, weak, unsound, or illogical.

    • provide examples or evidence to show why the opposing argument is unsound, or provide explanations of how the opposing argument is incomplete or illogical.
• (REF) Refutation -  How to you refute the counter-argument?
  • state your own argument and why your argument is stronger than the identified counterargument.
  • be specific with what is wrong with the counter-argument
  • focus on the biggest weakness, not small errors
• (RS) Restatement of your Argument - Your Conclusion
  • The basic purpose of your conclusion is to restate your thesis (stand) and summarize your argument 
    •  it should not just be a copy of your introduction
    • it should be a final effort to convince the reader that you have both established your thesis (stand) and offered a cogent argument in its defense
    • discuss the implications and/or limitations of your argument
      • explain the practical and/or theoretical implications of your argument You might also
      • point to some questions that your argument raises or to some of the issues that your paper leaves unresolved

Grading Rubric

• Form (3pts):  Does your paper have the required (above) philosophically argumentative form?
• Strength (2pts):  Are the reasons you give compelling and true?
• Grammar (2pts)
• Application (2pts): Have you answered the question?
• Citation (1pt):  Is it scholarly in tone and written in MLA Style with your MLA citations on a Works Cited page?

Use Yoko Ono paper linked below as a guide for your thinking about your papers.

Using MLA Style for Your Philosophy Paper

What is MLA Style?

• The term, "style," refers to the appearance of a paper - how it needs to look
• MLA Style developed by the Modern Language Association and used for written materials in the humanities
• MLA Style requires you to cite your sources in two places:
  • in the body of your paper (in-text citation) 
  • end of your paper (Works Cited) list 

MLA Guidelines for Papers: The Basics

• notice the appearance or "style" of an MLA formatted paper - numbered page (header); placement of the title, student's name, professor's name, course, and date; double-spaced, etc. See the list of MLA Style elements below.

Papers constructed according to MLA guidelines must include these elements:

• Double-space all of the text of your paper (including entries within Works Cited).
• Use a clear font between 11 and 13 points. One example is Times New Roman font.
• Use one-inch margins on all sides and indent the first line of a paragraph one half-inch from the left margin.
• Add a running head in the upper right-hand corner with your last name, a space, and then a page number. Pages should be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin.
• List your name, your instructor’s name, the course, and the date double-spaced in the upper left-hand corner of the first page. This is your header. There is no cover page.
• Center the title on the next double-spaced line after the header.
• Provide in-text citations for all quoted, paraphrased, and summarized information in your paper.
• Include an alphabetized Works Cited page at the end of your paper that gives full bibliographic information for each item cited in your paper.
• If you use endnotes, include them on a separate page before your Works Cited page.

In-text Citations

• notice when an in-text citation uses a page number along with the authotrs name and when it doesn't

Works Cited List

• notice where and how where punctuation, "quote marks" and italics are used in the example below