Monday, August 10, 2020
Short Essay
Short Essay In case you are unable to think of a suitable title, do it after writing the essay. Keep yourself updated and informed on latest issues and topics of national importance. Having a sound knowledge of various issues will help you justify your ideas in an essay. Every question has hidden assumptions behind it. Sometimes itâs enough to point out that these assumptions exist, and then to proceed with the essay by clarifying the definitions youâre using and the assumptions youâre working with. Sometimes you might think that the assumptions are fundamentally mistaken, or disguise a more important question. In that case, youâll need to point this out, and then proceed to explain why, and to make your arguments within the essay using your revised understanding of the question. If the question is âwhat is the best solution to the demarcation problem? â, youâre going to want to identify what you think the examiner means by the terms âsolutionâ and âdemarcation problemâ. How are you going to define and operationalise those terms in your essay? This is essential, because your argument has to have a clear definition of the terms youâre using in order for it to be coherent and responsive. This doesnât mean you should use lazy constructions like âI am going to define âdemarcation problemâ as âthe question of how we can define âscienceââ. Thatâs a perfectly reasonable definition (if you can defend it, and you should give a reason youâve chosen a certain definition), but you need to be a little less clunky. Make sure you take notes on everything you read. In fact, write down a few potentially useful quotes verbatim. I still handwrite quotes in my notes, and Iâm working on my PhD. You need to inculcate a habit of diverse reading in order to widen your knowledge base. In the context of the question youâre answering, and the frame youâve provided for your argument, why should I care about the point youâre making at this point in the essay? Once youâve proven that your argument stands, I want to know the significance of it. Youâll hear this quite a lot, and youâll probably wonder what on earth it means. Itâs important to understand it, because it can be the key to getting a high mark. The length of sections should be proportionate to the size of your essay. So a 1 page introduction to a 5 page essay is too much. Paraphrase your thesis and demonstrate how you have proven it with your arguments. Addressingcounterargumentsis also an important part of developing a strong argument. Also, make sure that it is relevant to the topic. The first paragraph of the essay holds great significance. You need to pay special attention to the introductory paragraph of your essay. The title of the essay should reflect the essence and content of the essay. You can also use a quote or phrase to name your essay. Depending on the length of your paper you can also briefly summarize the organization of your paper. This is like providing a tour for the reader of your arguments to come. Thesis Statementis the most fundamental component to include in your introduction. There arenât many ways in which Iâd recommend being like me. There is a difference between reading to understand the topic, and reading that you plan to reference. It is totally fine to use Wikipedia, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, lecture notes etc to familiarise yourself with the key arguments and concepts. Have a think, put the argument and essay together. Find relevant books and articles from the reading list and/or Google Scholar searches. It shows you have done extensive research and you have a good understanding of the topic in question. You should acknowledge existing and possible objections to your arguments and respond to them, discrediting them or showing why they donât hold true in your case. If relevant and important, you should also address counterargument you cannot refute and concede to them.
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