Writing Philosophy: A Student's Guide to Writing Philosophy Essays is a concise, self-guided manual that covers the basics of argumentative essay writing and encourages students to master fundamental skills quickly, with minimal instructor input. Opening with an introductory chapter on how to read philosophy, the book then moves into the basics of writing summaries and analyzing arguments. It provides step-by-step instructions for each phase of the writing process, from formulating a thesis, to creating an outline, to writing a final draft, supplementing this tutorial approach with model essays, outlines, introductions, and conclusions. Skills essential to evaluating arguments, citing sources, avoiding plagiarism, detecting fallacies, and formatting final drafts are dealt with in detail. The final two chapters serve as a reference guide to common mistakes and basic skills in sentence construction, writing style, and word choice.

Lewis Vaughn is the author or coauthor of numerous books, including The Power of Critical Thinking, Seventh Edition (2022); Philosophy Here and Now, Fourth Edition (2022); Writing Philosophy, Second Edition (2018); and Living Philosophy, Third Edition (2021), all published by Oxford University Press.

Preface
Part 1 Reading and Writing
1: How to Read Philosophy
What is Philosophy?
Reading Philosophy
- 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 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 Treat Opponents and Opposing Views Fairly
- Rule 3-6 Write Clearly
- Rule 3-7 Avoid Inappropriate Emotional Appeals
- Rule 3-8 Be Careful What You Assume
- Rule 3-9 Write in First Person
- Rule 3-10 Avoid Discriminatory Language
4: Defending a Thesis in an Argumentative Essay
Basic Essay Structure
- Introduction
- Argument Supporting the Thesis
- Assessment of Objectives
- 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
5: Avoiding Fallacious Reasoning
Straw Man
Appeal to the Person
Appeal to Popularity
Appeal to Tradition
Genetic Fallacy
Equivocation
Appeal to Ignorance
False Dilemma
Begging the Question
Hast Generalization
Slipper Slope
Composition
Division
6: Using, Quoting, and Citing Sources
- Rule 6-1 Know When and How to Quote Sources
- Rule 6-2 Do Not Plagiarize
- Rule 6-3 Cite Your Sources Carefully
- Rule 6-4 Build a Bibliography if Needed
Part 2 Reference Guide
7: Writing Effective Sentences
- Rule 7-1 Make the Subject and Verb Agree in Number and Person
- Rule 7-2 Express Parallel Ideas in Parallel Form
- Rule 7-3 Write in Complete Sentences, Not Fragments
- Rule 7-4 Connect Independent Clauses Properly
- Rule 7-5 Delete the Deadwood
- Rule 7-6 Put Modifiers in Their Place
- Rule 7-7 Be Consistent in Tense, Voice, Number, and Person
- Rule 7-8 Communicate Pronoun References Clearly
Exercises: Writing Effective Sentences
8: Choosing the Right Words
- Rule 8-1 Select Nouns and Verbs Precisely
- Rule 8-2 Prefer the Active Voice
- Rule 8-3 Use Specific Terms
- Rule 8-4 Avoid Redundancy
- Rule 8-5 Be Aware of the Connotations of Words
- Rule 8-6 Learn to Distinguish Words That Writers Frequently Mix Up
- Rule 8-7 Strive for Freshness; Avoid Clichés
- Rule 8-8 Do Not Mix Metaphors
- Rule 8-9 Beware of Awkward Repetition
- Rule 8-10 Spell Correctly
- Rule 8-11 Distinguish Commonly Confused Words
Exercises: Choosing the Right Words
Appendix A: Formatting Your Paper
Appendix B: Documenting Your Sources
Appendix C: Grammar Handbook
Appendix D: Researching a Philosophy Paper
Index