The essay should use examples and arguments in favour of Hesiod being a posible philosophical text. Aratus and Nicander can also be used as examples but personally I believe Hesiod should be the prime focus as it does have philosophical tints on a more religious level.
I will add a basic structure of what I think the essay should be like but of course you may k ow better. we have to use footnotes to reference so technically there can be more references than sources. The essay should use both primary texts and modern scholarship as sources.
-Intro:
-Body:
How philosophy is defined then
Specify the traits that makes DRN philosophy vs regular didactic poetry (epicurean + instructions on approaches to life).
Compare what ancient greeks considered philosophy vs what we may consider philosophy. Social aspects that meant not really going against religion.
Continue with claim that Hesiod can be considered philosophy (both work and days and theogony. One is study of nature of existence the other of nature of reality).
Relate theogony to wider religious concepts and religious philosophy (reference other ancient texts like Aratus?).
Scholarly criticism and personal counter arguments.
Implications for society and implications for our study of the texts.
Conclusions