Essay Proposal

Essay Proposal

After you have completed Assignment: Primary Source Analysis, you should have a fairly good understanding of the source you had selected.

Philosophers spend a great deal of time analyzing, criticizing, and evaluating existing philosophical content. They also spend time defending their own work. Critical analysis allows philosophers to hold one-another accountable to the field of study. Each philosopher builds on the ideas of others, keeping the strengths of certain theories, while discarding weaknesses. Critical analysis strengthens the body of knowledge as a whole.

It is your job now, to begin a critical analysis of the primary source document you had previously summarized.

Essay Notes and Proposal

Before starting on essay writing it is always best to do some preliminary planning about how you will structure and communicate your thoughts.

1. Begin your critical analysis by copying the following chart into a document on your own device.

1. Fill out the chart by listing some of the key theories and ideas that were presented in the primary source document you had chosen. Jot down notes on the strengths and weaknesses of those theories and ideas. Consider the applicability and utility of the theories and ideas to real-life situations. Do you feel that the ideas presented in the document make sense? Are they useful for understanding present society? What do they address well? What do they fail to address? What perspectives are left absent? Whom do the theories and ideas apply to?

1. After completing the chart, decide on whether or not you feel the primary source document you had chosen contains ideas and theories that are useful to the study of philosophy. Perhaps you find that the document you have chosen is widely applicable, and makes valid points. Or maybe you find that the document you have chosen is outdated, and not especially useful in understanding and analyzing present society. What ever you decide, narrow your focus and develop a thesis statement that either defends, or refutes the utility of the primary source document (and theories therein) that you had chosen. Once you have decided on a thesis, begin looking through your summary and your strengths and weaknesses chart to help you select ideas and evidence you would like to make use of in your essay.
2. Begin planning out your essay by completing the following Essay Outline document, or by creating a similar document. Be sure to include your thesis, a main argument for each body paragraph (at least three), and supporting evidence for each main argument. Supporting evidence may be drawn from course material, additional research, and/or your own ideas and opinions.