Philosophy 1100: Essay Checklist and Cover Sheet
I. Introduction
1. Is my introduction concise?
Yes __ No __
2. Does it contain a clear statement of my main thesis?
Yes __ No __
3. Does it indicate very briefly my main line of argument?
Yes __ No __
4. Does it explain the overall structure of my
essay?
Yes __ No __
II. Logical and Perspicuous Structure
1. Is my essay organized into sections in a logical
fashion?
Yes __ No __
2. Have I made the overall structure of my essay clear by using
informative
headings for
sections?
Yes __ No __
III. Offering of Reasons
1. Have I set out an argument (or at most two
arguments)
to provide reasons
for thinking that my thesis is
true?
Yes __ No __
2. Have I made all of my premises clear and explicit?
Yes __ No __
3. Have I developed my argument in a full and detailed way, so
that all of my
reasoning is clear to the
reader?
Yes __ No __
IV. Consideration of Objections to my Arguments
1. Have I carefully set out the most important
objection
to each of my arguments? Yes __
No __
2. Have I then responded, in a careful way, to that
objection
(or
objections)?
Yes __ No __
V. Consideration of Objections to my Thesis
1. Have I considered the most important objection
against
the thesis that
I am
defending?
Yes __ No __
2. Have I responded carefully to that
objection?
Yes __ No __
VI. Setting Out Arguments, Objections, and Responses
1. Is every argument, every objection, and every
response that I set out always
contained in a separate paragraph?
Yes __ No __
2. Is every objection that I consider always followed
immediately, in a separate
paragraph, by a
response?
Yes __ No __
VII. Dispassionate and Unemotional Discussion
1. Have I made use of emotionally charged language?
Yes __ No __
2. Is my discussion dispassionate and fair
throughout?
Yes __ No __
VIII. Overall Clarity and Conciseness
1. Is my writing clear and straightforward,
and
concise?
Yes __ No __