- When
explaining arguments, avoid narrative reconstructions. You want to
explain how the premises are logically connected, not summarize the
presentation.
- Write in the present tense about
stories: "The play begins"; not "The play began".
- Avoid the expressions "I believe" and especially "I
feel"; say "I think" or, even better, "I will
argue". We don't so much care what you believe, but why
you believe it. That is, we want to know your reasons for
believing something.
- Keep yourself out of the way.
It's typically unnecessary to say "I think." It's
assumed. You are the author of the paper, aren't you?
- Don't bury the lead. State the issue clearly. Make your
thesis explicit. Explain the general structure of your argument
up front.
- Theories don't argue, people do. People argue
for theories, claims, and positions.
- Make sure the logical flow
of your argument is explicit.
- Clarity is your first priority.
Ideally, every sentence would be impossible for an intelligent,
attentive reader to misunderstand.
- Truth does not mean
the same thing as "reality."
- Don't double and triple. Pick an adjective.
- Avoid long winded introductions
that try to explain the significance of an issue throughout the
ages.
- Make sure that your pronouns are not ambiguous.
Don't carry a pronoun reference into a new paragraph.
- Validity
is a technical term (in philosophy) that only applies to arguments,
not claims or theories. A valid argument is one where the
conclusion follows from the premises. A sound argument is a
valid argument whose premises are all true.
- Make sure that the
transition between paragraphs is smooth.
- Keep your paragraphs a manageable size. A page is
too long.
- Write complete sentences.
- Keep parenthetical
comments to a minimum.
- Work on your style: Read The Elements
of Style by Strunk and White.
- Spell names consistently (and
correctly).
- Use quotes as evidence of what someone thinks.
You should rarely, if ever, use quotes to speak for you. All
quotes must be explained.
- Follow the instructions. If the
paper topic asks you to answer a question, make sure that your answer
is stated clearly.
- Read your papers our loud. Revise any
awkward sounding sentences.
- Avoid "actually."
It's the new "like".
- Only use "like"
to express similarity. Use "such as" to introduce a
qualifying example.
- Avoid "being." It almost
always ruins sentences.
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