In “Why Anything? Why This?” Parfit presents the Axiarchic view argue against or in favour of by either (i) raising a couple objections to it, or (ii) defending it from the objections Parfit discusses.
Try and keep the introduction paragraph between 8-12 lines- not sentences.
Start with an Introduction in which you motivate your question (i.e. say something about its interest or importance) and state what you will be doing in the paper, section by section; middle sections clearly labelled and doing different jobs (e.g. one section might present X’s arguments for blah, and the next section might present a number of objections and possibly replies/defenses/further thoughts….); and finally a Conclusion that sums things up and gives/repeats the take-home message.
In the main body of your paper, avoid making mere lists of points. If you have a number of objections or points you want to consider, ask yourself how best to order them (e.g. weakest ones first, perhaps, then stronger ones that enable you to build to a general diagnostic point about the root problem with the view being considered maybe?)
I’ll put the text Why anything? Why this? by Derek Parfait where he talks about the Axiarchic view.
