This concise manual deftly guides students through the process of writing argumentative, exegetical, and expository essays. With a clear and engaging style, this second Canadian edition incorporates samples of student writing and an abundance of examples carefully chosen to resonate with
post-secondary students, making it the ideal resource for any philosophy course.
Preface
Part One: Reading and Writing
1. How to Read Philosophy
Asking the Big Question
A Different Kind of Reader
- Rule 1-1 Approach the Text with an Open Mind
- Rule 1-2 Read Actively and Critically
- Rule 1-3 Identify the Conclusion First, Then the
Premises
- Rule 1-4 Outline, Paraphrase, or Summarize the Argument
- Rule 1-5 Evaluate the Argument and Formulate a Tentative Judgment
Writing a Paraphrase or Summary
Applying the Rules
2. How to Read and Evaluate an Argument
Premises and Conclusions
Judging
Arguments
- Rule 2-1 Know the Basics of Deductive and Inductive Arguments
- Rule 2-2 Determine Whether the Conclusion Follows from the Premises
- Rule 2-3 Determine Whether the Premises Are True
Applying the Rules
3. Rules of Style and Content for Philosophical Writing
- Rule
3-1 Write to Your Audience
- Rule 3-2 Avoid Pretentiousness
- Rule 3-3 Keep the Authority of Philosophers in Perspective
- Rule 3-4 Do Not Overstate Premises or Conclusions
- Rule 3-5 Do Not Rely on Rhetorical Questions
- Rule 3-6 Treat Opponents and Opposing Views Fairly
-
Rule 3-7 Write Clearly
- Rule 3-8 Avoid Inappropriate Emotional Appeals
- Rule 3-9 Be Careful What You Assume
- Rule 3-10 Write in First Person
- Rule 3-11 Avoid Discriminatory Language
4. Exegetical and Expository Writing (NEW)
- Rule 4-1 Be Charitable when Characterizing
the Views of Others
- Rule 4-2 Provide Evidence that your Interpretation Is Correct
- Rule 4-3 Use Quotations Judiciously
- Rule 4-4 Draw on Context
- Rule 4-5 If Appropriate, State Why the Issue Matters
5. Defending a Thesis in an Argumentative Essay
Basic Argumentative
Essay Structure
- Introduction
- Argument Supporting the Thesis
- Assessment of Objections
- Conclusion
- A Well-Built Essay
Writing the Essay: Step By Step
- Step 1 Select a Topic and Narrow It to a Specific Issue
- Step 2 Research the Issue
- Step 3 Write a
Thesis Statement
- Step 4 Create an Outline of the Whole Essay
- Step 5 Write a First Draft
- Step 6 Study and Revise Your First Draft
- Step 7 Produce a Final Draft
An Annotated Sample Paper
6. Avoiding Fallacious Reasoning
Straw Man
Ad Hominem
Appeal to
Popularity
Appeal to Tradition
Genetic Fallacy
Equivocation
Appeal to Ignorance
False Dilemma
Begging the Question
Hasty Generalization
Slippery Slope
Appeal to Pity and Appeal to Fear
Fallacy of Composition
Fallacy of Division
7. Using, Quoting, and
Citing Sources
- Rule 7-1 Know When and How to Quote Sources
- Rule 7-2 Do Not Plagiarize
- Rule 7-3 Cite Your Sources Carefully
- Rule 7-4 Build a Bibliography if Needed
Part Two: Writing and Grammar Guide
8. Writing Effective Sentences
- Rule 8-1 Make the Subject
and Verb Agree in Number and Person
- Rule 8-2 Express Parallel Ideas in Parallel Form
- Rule 8-3 Write in Complete Sentences, Not Fragments
- Rule 8-4 Connect Independent Clauses Properly
- Rule 8-5 Delete the Deadwood
- Rule 8-6 Put Modifiers in Their Place
- Rule 8-7 Be
Consistent in Tense, Voice, Number, and Person
- Rule 8-8 Communicate Pronoun References Clearly
9. Choosing the Right Words
- Rule 9-1 Select Nouns and Verbs Precisely
- Rule 9-2 Prefer the Active Voice
- Rule 9-3 Use Specific Terms
- Rule 9-4 Avoid Redundancy
- Rule 9-5
Be Aware of the Connotations of Words
- Rule 9-6 Learn to Distinguish Words That Writers Frequently Mix Up
- Rule 9-7 Strive for Freshness; Avoid Clichés
- Rule 9-8 Do Not Mix Metaphors
- Rule 9-9 Beware of Awkward Repetition
Appendix A: Formatting Your Paper
Appendix B:
Documenting Your Sources
Appendix C: Grammar Handbook
Index
There are no Instructor/Student Resources available at this time.
Lewis Vaughn is a textbook author and freelance writer who has published extensively on philosophy, ethics, humanism, and critical thinking.
Jillian Scott McIntosh is senior lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at Simon Fraser University. She received her PhD in philosophy from
the University of British Columbia and taught at the University of Western Ontario and Kwantlen University College before joining the philosophy department at SFU.
Introducing Philosophy for Canadians - Robert C. Solomon and Douglas McDermid
Introduction to Philosophy - John Perry, Michael Bratman and John Martin Fischer
Philosophy - Louis Pojman and Lewis Vaughn
The Elements of Philosophy - Edited by Tamar Szabo Gendler, Susanna Siegel and Steven M. Cahn
Making Sense - Margot Northey and Joan McKibbin
The Canadian Writer's Handbook - The late William E. Messenger, Jan de Bruyn, Judy Brown and Ramona Montagnes
Practical Grammar - Dr. Maxine Ruvinsky
The Concise Canadian Writer's Handbook - The late William E. Messenger, Jan de Bruyn, Judy Brown and Ramona Montagnes
