1. Purpose

The two essays on the following pages were not written to illustrate a particular level of attainment. They have not been given a mark. Nor were they written to give the definitive correct answer to the set question. Writing essays is a skill and the kind of essay required in one subject can be different to the kind of essay required in another subject. In philosophy you would normally be expected to develop some kind of case, a position on a topic that might be debatable. It does, of course, mean knowing the relevant facts but it also means being able to make pertinent evaluative comments on what a text or philosopher says. The essays here are offered simply as examples as to how a philosophy essay might be written.

Should you want to see actual examples of essays written under exam conditions, the SQA Understanding Standards website provides examples of candidate evidence with commentaries explaining how the marks were awarded.