How to approach the John Locke Essay Competition
Each year, the John Locke Essay Competition attracts thousands of ambitious students from around the world. The questions are deliberately open-ended, the judging panel includes leading academics, and the competition rewards clarity of thought rather than exam technique.
This is precisely what makes the competition challenging.
Many strong students approach the essay as if it were a school assignment: they research extensively, summarise multiple viewpoints, and attempt to sound sophisticated. The essays that stand out, however, usually begin somewhere else entirely - with careful thinking about the question itself.
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Below is a structured way to approach the competition:
1. Start by breaking down the question
John Locke questions are designed to provoke thinking rather than test knowledge.
Consider a typical example: Is democracy the best form of government? At first glance, the question appears straightforward, but strong essays begin by breaking it down carefully and defining each key term. What exactly counts as democracy? What does best mean - fairness, stability, efficiency?
Each word in the question should be interrogated, and students should consider different ways the question might be interpreted. Techniques such as defining key terms or briefly mind-mapping possible approaches can help reveal angles that might otherwise be missed.
Spending time unpacking the question before beginning research is often one of the most valuable steps in the process.
2. Develop a clear thesis
Once the question has been analysed, the next step is forming a central argument.
Students sometimes avoid committing to a position because they feel the essay should remain perfectly balanced. In reality, the strongest essays usually present a clear thesis that the rest of the essay defends.
For example, rather than broadly discussing democracy, a stronger argument might be:
Democracy may not always produce the most efficient decisions, but it remains the most legitimate form of government because it distributes political authority among citizens.
Original and even bold claims can be compelling, provided they are well-supported and logically argued. What matters most is that the essay has a clear intellectual direction and a confident voice.
3. Use research to refine your thinking
John Locke essays are not judged by the number of sources cited. What matters is how ideas are used within the argument.
A common mistake is conducting extensive research before forming a view. This often leads to essays that summarise perspectives without analysing them. A more effective approach is to begin with a provisional argument, then use reading to refine it.
Ideas should be drawn or “teased” out of sources, rather than simply reported. This often means comparing perspectives, challenging arguments, or agreeing with certain elements while questioning others.
Using a range of sources can also strengthen the essay - engaging with thinkers from different eras, viewpoints, and mediums such as books, articles, lectures, or podcasts. However, no single source should dominate the argument. The goal is not simply to demonstrate reading breadth, but to put that breadth to good use by engaging thoughtfully with the ideas it presents.
4. Structure the essay around reasoning
Clear structure is essential.
Strong essays usually follow a logical argumentative pattern. The introduction clarifies key terms and presents the central thesis. Each subsequent section then develops one step of the argument - presenting evidence, refining reasoning, or considering an objection.
For example, an essay might first establish how a key concept in the question should be understood. The next section could present the main argument supporting the thesis, followed by a section that considers a potential counterargument and responds to it.
Organising the essay in this way allows the argument to unfold clearly and demonstrates intellectual maturity while maintaining a clear direction.
5. Take counterarguments seriously
One feature that distinguishes strong essays is careful engagement with opposing views. Rather than dismissing alternative perspectives quickly, the essay should explore them seriously.
For instance, if arguing that democracy is the most legitimate political system, the essay might consider the criticism that democracies often produce inefficient policy decisions. The task is then to evaluate whether legitimacy depends more on outcomes or participation.
Addressing counterarguments shows the ability to think critically and weigh competing ideas.
Finally, revision is often where an essay becomes significantly stronger. Tightening the thesis, clarifying reasoning, and refining structure can make a substantial difference to the overall argument.
At this stage, it is also important to ensure that the essay presents a cohesive perspective that draws the different strands of the argument together. Returning to the introduction can be helpful: does it still reflect the direction the essay ultimately takes? The introduction and conclusion should work together to frame the argument clearly.
Drafting, redrafting, and polishing are therefore essential parts of the process.
The John Locke Essay Competition is demanding, but its real value lies in the thinking it encourages. Analysing a difficult question, developing a clear argument, and defending it carefully mirrors the kind of academic work expected at leading universities.
If you would like guidance on developing essay ideas or structuring an argument for the competition, you can contact the Doxa team here: https://doxa.co.uk/contact-us