Resources for research
1. A writing guide for professional philosophers. I explore the content and form of excellent philosophical writing, with further comments on reading, thinking, writing processes, publication strategies, and self-cultivation. Resources for teaching I have designed the following sequence of handouts for my introductory philosophy seminars. You are welcome to use them as you please, either as they are or with modifications, as long as you include an acknowledgement. 0. Overview. Outlines the skills to be covered in these handouts. 1. Evidence, explanation. Introduces a way to diagram evidential and explanatory relations. 2. Figures of speech. Gives a method for interpreting these systematically. 3. Inference to the best explanation. Introduces this argument form. 4. Structure. Shows a way to structure ideas, both within and across paragraphs. 5. Sample paper 1; peer review exercise 1. 6. Conditionals. Introduces modus ponens, modus tollens, and some related but fallacious argument forms. (What is used here is the Ramsey conditional, not the material conditional.) 7. Objections. Gives a systematic method for criticizing an argument. 8. Precision, explanation. Gives tips on how to be precise and how to give illuminating explanations. 9. Sample paper 2; peer review exercise 2. 10. Argument by elimination. Introduces this argument form. 11. Using quotations. Explains how to use quotations effectively in a paper. 12. Introductions and conclusions. Offers some suggestions on writing a basic introduction and conclusion. 13. Signposts, review. Lists some helpful signposts to use in one's writing and offers a review quiz. |