Whats a good overall approach to researching and writing essays?
Summary: • Be clear what the topic is asking • Select and carefully read relevant articles • Decide what your argument is going to be • Structure your writing so that the argument comes through clearly • Always re-read the completed essay Karen: First, be clear about exactly what the topic is asking you to consider, and what you are expected to form a judgement on (e.g. “Is abortion murder?” or “The existence of evil shows that God does not exist”). You might also begin by thinking about a very provisional response to the topic to focus your reading (e.g. “Yes, abortion probably is murder in such and such a circumstance” or “No, the existence of evil does not preclude God’s existence). Second, you need to select which articles and book chapters are going to be relevant to the topic. You need to read these texts very carefully and be clear about the arguments on the issue. This is actually the hard bit. Some texts will present arguments in favour of the proposition to be discussed; othe
