SAMPLE ESSAY 1

Read the following passage, and think about how the author uses:

•          Evidence, such as applicable examples, to justify the argument.
•          Reasoning to show logical connections among thoughts and facts.
•          Rhetoric, like sensory language and emotional appeals, to give weight to the argument.

The Importance of Studying Philosophy 

Consider the work that you must enjoy doing. How do you figure out what to do when complications arise? Relationships with family members, friends and other enrich our lives. What makes those relationships go well? Many forms of recreation contribute to living a good life. But is there any ultimate meaning or purpose to these temporary activities, or even to life itself? Studying philosophy equips us with the skills needed to understand these and many other important questions.

  “Philosophy” literally means the love of wisdom. It involves striving to understand the most fundamental question about life and all other disciplines. It provides us with the opportunity to engage ideas, to learn from great minds throughout history, and to contribute to our understanding of the world and ourselves. Studying philosophy builds our abilities to break down concepts, such as love and justice, to understand them, to communicate ideas effectively, and to discover good reasons that help us know what beliefs to accept. It enables us to have the Summum bonum, or the highest good, through the pursuit of what is true, good, and beautiful.

 Training in philosophy helps us to make progress in working through otherwise intractable problems. There are some issues about which there has been an ongoing debate, such as god’ s existence, immorality, and abortion. How do we handle these topics? We might avoid them, sweeping them under the rug, either in our interactions with others or even in our own minds. Other times, we resort to name-calling, getting emotionally heated or personal attacks. In the case of slavery, such responses led to an American civil war! These approaches only make matters worse, generating more heat than light and leading to hurt feelings, broken relationships, or worse. Taking a philosophical approach, however, focuses our attention on the issue at hand to understand it, to learn about different views, and to explore the reasoning behind those views, getting to the heart of the matter. This provides the possibility of finding resolution and implementing solutions. Regardless of how much disagreement remains, through respect for one another, we can maintain friendships and work together toward the common goal of learning more about what is true. If everyone consistently followed this path, imagine how much better our world would be!

The skills developed through studying philosophy train us to clear up confusions. Sometimes, when two people are discussing a significant life issue, they talk past one another and use the same terms in different ways. Learning to analyze concepts helps us to step back and clarify what we mean by the terms we use, to realize the assumptions we are making in holding certain views, and to make important distinctions. Through this process, we may discover that we did not even have a disagreement with someone, but that we were simply emphasizing different aspects of the same idea. Take, for example, the concept of equality. Most people recognize that this is an important value to uphold. But what do we mean by it in a certain context? We could be referring to people having equal value, equal opportunities, equal outcomes or equal treatment. Then, how does something like equal treatment apply in matters of friendship, for example? Answering that question requires a further investigation into the nature of friendship. Learning to key distinctions and clarifications like this in philosophy improves our ability to think well and in turn to live wisely.

Another way in which we can recognize the importance of philosophy is by considering how we have acquired the fruits of science and technology. The advances made in medicine, transportation, communications and so forth have been remarkable. But certain philosophical ideas have made modern science possible, such as that there are laws by which matter and energy operate over time and throughout space. In Isaac Newton’ s great work, Mathematical principles of Natural philosophy, it was through philosophical reflection about his observations that led him to revolutionary scientific ideas. Questions about how to best explain what we observe, what the laws of nature are, or what science itself is, are issues explored in the philosophy of science. Does philosophy involve working through difficult concepts and abstract arguments? Yes, but it is doable as we learn from others, standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. It is also well worth the effort, as it improves our understanding of the mundane to the most profound issues, and helps us know how to put that knowledge to good use.

Write a response that demonstrates how the author makes an argument to persuade an audience that a study of philosophy is worthwhile. In your response, analyze how the author uses at least one of the features from the essay directions (or features of your own choosing) to develop a logical and persuasive argument. Be certain that your response cites relevant aspects of the source text. Your response should not give your personal opinion on the merit of the source text, but instead, show how the author crafts an argument to persuade readers.

   Top Scoring response

Who is in favor of thoughtful consideration, complex problem solving and intelligent debate? Everyone is. More so, these skills have vast implications for society as a whole. In “The importance of Studying Philosophy,” the writer builds a contention for the study of philosophy on the grounds that it leads to peaceful resolution, allows us to consider other prospectives, and yields knowledge in other discourses. By making philosophy relevant, and even appealing, to each and every person, the writer effectively proves its worth, noting historical examples of its extensive and significant impact.

Beginning with a series of relatable life activities followed by abstract and ambiguous questions, the writer challenges the reader to deliberate on how philosophy could benefit his or her life. Rather than remaining an abstruse field of study, philosophy becomes tangible and even necessary. This technique enables the writer to encapsulate a wide audience before going into a more thorough discussion of philosophy’ s far-reaching consequences for humanity. Through the language of “knowledge”, “wisdom”, and “purpose”, the writer not only makes it clear that everyone benefits from the efforts of philosophers but also hints at the allure of studying philosophy oneself.

Since philosophy involves the “most fundamental question about life” and empowers us to have the “highest good,” it is not only relevant to everyone but supremely rewarding. It is in this way that the writer works to define the study of philosophy and depict it as a peaceful alternative approach to some of life’ s most difficult conflicts. From “God’ s existence, immortality and abortion” to slavery and equality, we all have a card in the game, the writer argues. In the example of the Civil war--- an infamously catastrophic historical event that everyone is familiar with—the writer invites the reader to consider what might have happened had the powers at hand taken a philosophical approach instead. In this way, the reader is made to see the practical power of this type of thinking.

Next, the writer moves onto instances that may be more manifold than a fundamental disagreement. There are many ways to disagree and sometimes, it is n’ t as clear cut as yes and no. The writer illustrates the concept of equality just how multifaceted social issues can truly be. The technique of asking several questions (what do we mean, what exactly are we referencing, how does it apply) effectively defends the breadth of such issues and supports the need for philosophical examination. It is through the skills developed in a Philosophy education, the author concedes, that one is equipped to “think well” and “live wisely”.

Lastly, the author appeals to philosophy’ s influence among other disciplines. Modern science, the author posits, would not be possible without philosophy. Any left doubting the field’ s worth are persuaded by its influence on Sir Isaac Newton—a household name that epitomizes advancement in the fields of physics and mathematics. By citing such a well-known scientist, the writer successfully postulates that the world would not be where it is today without the rigor of philosophical reflection. It is easy, for the reader to imagine how essential the study of philosophy may be to “medicine, transportation, communications” among other disciplines.

The author most notably informs the reader of the infinite advantage of philosophy. The author’ s straightforward presentation allows a clear and logical transition from the purpose of philosophy to its application in the thoughtful resolution of politicized issues, in differing particularities of the same idea, and in fields of science and technology. Yet, the argument, at times, fails to be complex in itself. Ultimately, the writer succeeds in building a defense for the study of philosophy through an exploration of its many assets but does so without mentioning why anyone might disagree or question the importance of philosophy, to begin with. Nonetheless, through historical examples and obscure concepts, the worth of philosophy is clearly proven and the attentive reader may just consider it as an intended major.