The ideal philosophy essay is always a philosophical exercise, an attempt at philosophizing rather than simply talking about philosophy. Of course we do well to understand the great thinkers and questions that came before us, but having listened and understood the "conversation" at hand, we're bound to reflect and make our own contributions ...
For more information on the various ways to write the philosophy essay, you may refer to the following explanations:
A Brief Guide to Writing a Philosophy Paper
For philosophy essays worth reading, students may refer to the following selections ...