Books to read

Ethics Writing Guide The Basics of Essay Writing - Warburton

You have to argue a view, with systematically arranged reasons

You need to consider counterarguments, and respond to them

An essay is a discussion of arguments, you need to read around and do research. You need to explain your arguments rather than describe. You need to explain criticisms of the arguments, and explain why they are not convincing.

Try to become very detailed in the argument. YOU NEED TO GET GRANULAR

It's an evaluation of arguments, it's not a description. You CANT just describe.

NOT DESCRIPTIVE - You can't do it be describing what current practice/policy/attitudes are.

Avoid long descriptions of theories/procedures/effects/law/guidelines. Keep it brief.

You want to be Normative/Evaluative - What should be right or wrong, and why should it be right or wrong.

What is my main claim? what is it that I will be arguing for? What clarifications, definitions, introductory explanations and motivating considerations do I need to cover? What are the main arguments/counterarguments? What is the best order?

DON'T SUBMIT THE FIRST DRAFT! - Leave it a day!

Structure

Introduction

Leave the introduction to the end? Your introduction is what the article is about, how can you introduce until you've written it?

State your view and how you will proceed. With clarifications, assumptions, and minimal context. Don't make it flashy!

No surprises, state what you argue up front

Body

Go argument by argument, keep it relevant to the question

Refute the counterclaims

Use meaningful headings

Avoid irrelevant material - avoid long quotes/descriptions

Be clear how the argument supports your view

Anticipate counter arguments - give your view

Signpost between sections

Short, clear, sentences. Use correct terminology, avoid obscure terms.

What person should you use? You can use first person in arguing what you will do. You could also use "this essay"

Do not use "I THINK", or "I FEEL" - they should be avoided. You need to give reasons for people to accept your views.

Conclusion

Summarise how the arguments support your answer to the question. No new material in this conclusion

Keep them clear!

Referencing

OSCOLA - It's a legal citation style Its 4th edition is on the KLE

It's footnotes rather than end notes

References count towards word count!!!

use single quotation marks usually, unless quote within a quote, or you're trying to distance from a use of work

If it's a quote over three lines, the quote should be in its own paragraph

You still have a bibliogrphy at the end of the essay

You can use "and others" for multiple author names

You can use ibid if the reference above is identicle

If you're using the same essay again and again, you can put the author name, and number of footnote