Getting Started

Position Papers

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Goal: Create a persuasive position paper that makes clear claims supported by good reasons and credible evidence.

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You’re going to have to take a stand on some sort of issue.

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Selecting a Topic:• Issues you really care about.

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Selecting a Topic:• Issues you really care about.• Issues other people would or could really care

about.

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Selecting a Topic:• Issues you really care about.• Issues other people would or could really care

about.• Issues you already know something about.

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Try to think of issues that encompass multiple perspectives or have aspects that make it difficult for people to agree on what should be done or how they should feel.

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Try to think of issues that encompass multiple perspectives or have aspects that make it difficult for people to agree on what should be done or how they should feel.

Try to avoid broad topics on which people’s viewpoints are highly emotional and entrenched.

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Keep These Questions in Mind:• Do I enjoy reading about this topic?

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Keep These Questions in Mind:• What does this topic make me think about?

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Keep These Questions in Mind:• Where was this article published? Where might

I publish my own position paper, as an essay, a letter, a brochure, or a posting on a Web site? Who would my readers be? What am I interested in that they would be interested in as well?

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Keep These Questions in Mind:• What was the author’s purpose in writing this

piece? In other words, what did the author think readers should do or feel about the topic?

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Other Ideas:• Brainstorm.• Work with a small group to create a list of

potential topics.• Work with a few other students to identify two

or three topics that have promise.

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Other Ideas:• Choose a topic from the list.• Brainstorm a list of statements about the topic.• Explain what you know.

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Once You Have Identified a Topic:

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Once You Have Identified a Topic:• Examine your own experience.

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Once You Have Identified a Topic:• Examine your own experience.• Find out what others are saying about your

topic.

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Once You Have Identified a Topic:• Examine your own experience.• Find out what others are saying about your

topic.• Do some reading.

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Once You Have Identified a Topic:• Examine your own experience.• Find out what others are saying about your

topic.• Do some reading.• Conduct a brief reality check.

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Analyzing Context:

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Analyzing Context:• Audience knowledge, values, and needs.

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Analyzing Context:• Audience knowledge, values, and needs.• Audience expectations for content.

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Analyzing Context:• Audience knowledge, values, and needs.• Audience expectations for content.• Audience expectations for layout.

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Analyzing Context:• Audience knowledge, values, and needs.• Audience expectations for content.• Audience expectations for layout.• Circumstances.

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Analyzing Context:• Audience knowledge, values, and needs.• Audience expectations for content.• Audience expectations for layout.• Circumstances.• Purposes.

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Still not sure how to proceed?• Review the Student Context Analysis in the text

on pages 226-227.

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Reminder: Library week is coming up. You must have your individual and group

topics identified by that time.