How do I structure a philosophy essay?

Structuring philosophy essays can be tough if you're not used to writing them. You will need to develop a solid structure and a critical, analytical style. But don't despair - once you've got the hang of it, writing this kind of essay is much easier than you would think. Take, for example, a question like "The mind is a tabula rasa (blank slate) at birth. Discuss." Your structure should be as follows:

Introduction: explain key terms, situate the question within the school of philosophy to which it belongs, and summarise how you intend to argue - I will assess both the empiricist and the conceptualist schools of thought to determine which presents a stronger account of the origin of knowledge

Point one: Locke argues that all knowledge is a posteriori because of [argument]. The strengths of this position are [strength], [strength].
CRITICISM: There are several objections to this theory. The first criticism is [criticism], and the second is [criticism].
Counter-criticism: However, the second criticism is rather weak, as Hume argues that [counter].

Point 2: Locke's position, although strong in some respects, is thus easy to criticise. We will examine an alternative theory, Plato's conceptual schemes.

And then criticise, counter-criticise, and in your conclusion state which position is most logical and stable as a philosophical argument.

It may seem complex at first, but philosophy is all about demonstrating that you have really considered the ramifications of each argument and its strengths and weaknesses. By displaying strong analytical skills through your writing, you will be on track to gain top marks in your exams.