Writing a Position PaperWriting a Position PaperA position paper presents an A position paper presents an arguable opinion about an issue. The arguable opinion about an issue. The goal of a position paper is to goal of a position paper is to convince the audience that your convince the audience that your opinion is valid and worth listening opinion is valid and worth listening to. to.

Writing a Position PaperWriting a Position Paper

Ideas that you are considering Ideas that you are considering need to be carefully examined in need to be carefully examined in choosing a topic, developing your choosing a topic, developing your argument, and organizing your argument, and organizing your paper. paper.

All sides of the issue must be All sides of the issue must be addressed and presented it in a addressed and presented it in a manner that is easy for the audience manner that is easy for the audience to understand. to understand.

Writing a Position PaperWriting a Position PaperWriter’s role is to take one side of Writer’s role is to take one side of the argument and persuade the the argument and persuade the audience that you have well-founded audience that you have well-founded knowledge of the topic being knowledge of the topic being presented. presented.

Argument must be supported with Argument must be supported with evidence to ensure the validity of evidence to ensure the validity of claims, as well as to address the claims, as well as to address the counterclaims to show that writer is counterclaims to show that writer is well informed about both sides.well informed about both sides.

Issue CriteriaIssue Criteria

To take a side on a subject, you should first To take a side on a subject, you should first establish the arguability of a topic that establish the arguability of a topic that interests you. Ask yourself the following interests you. Ask yourself the following questions to ensure that you will be able to questions to ensure that you will be able to present a strong argument:present a strong argument:

Is it a real issue, with genuine controversy Is it a real issue, with genuine controversy and uncertainty? and uncertainty?

Can you distinctly identify two positions? Can you distinctly identify two positions?

Are you personally interested in Are you personally interested in advocating one of these positions? advocating one of these positions?

Is the issue narrow enough to be Is the issue narrow enough to be manageablemanageable? ?

Analyzing an Issue and Analyzing an Issue and Developing an ArgumentDeveloping an ArgumentSelect a topic.Select a topic.

Do some research on the subject Do some research on the subject matter. matter.

Ensure that your position is well Ensure that your position is well supported. supported.

Listing out the pro and con sides of Listing out the pro and con sides of the topic.the topic.

Support counterclaims, along with a Support counterclaims, along with a list of supporting evidence for both list of supporting evidence for both sides.sides.

Supporting evidence for Supporting evidence for counterclaimscounterclaims

1.1. Factual Knowledge - Information that Factual Knowledge - Information that is verifiable and agreed upon by is verifiable and agreed upon by almost everyone. almost everyone.

2.2. Statistical Inferences - Interpretation Statistical Inferences - Interpretation and examples of an accumulation of and examples of an accumulation of facts. facts.

3.3. Informed Opinion - Opinion Informed Opinion - Opinion developed through research and/or developed through research and/or expertise of the claim. expertise of the claim.

4.4. Personal Testimony - Personal Personal Testimony - Personal experience related by a experience related by a knowledgeable party. knowledgeable party.

Audience & Position PaperAudience & Position PaperOnce you have made your pro and con Once you have made your pro and con lists, compare the information side by lists, compare the information side by side. Considering your audience, as side. Considering your audience, as well as your own viewpoint, choose the well as your own viewpoint, choose the position you will take. In considering position you will take. In considering the audience, ask yourself the the audience, ask yourself the following questions:following questions:1.1. Who is your audience?Who is your audience?2.2. What do they believe? What do they believe? 3.3. Where do they stand on the issue? Where do they stand on the issue? 4.4. How are their interests involved? How are their interests involved? 5.5. What evidence is likely to be What evidence is likely to be

effective with them? effective with them?

Viewpoint & Position PaperViewpoint & Position Paper

In determining your viewpoint, ask In determining your viewpoint, ask yourself the following:yourself the following:1.1. Is your topic interesting? Is your topic interesting? 2.2. Can you manage the material Can you manage the material

within the specifications set by the within the specifications set by the instructor? instructor?

3.3. Does your topic assert something Does your topic assert something specific and propose a plan of specific and propose a plan of action? action?

4.4. Do you have enough material to Do you have enough material to support your opinion? support your opinion?

Organization of Position PaperOrganization of Position Paper

Your introduction should lead up to a Your introduction should lead up to a thesis that organizes the rest of your thesis that organizes the rest of your paper. There are three advantages to paper. There are three advantages to leading with the thesis:leading with the thesis:1. The audience knows where you 1. The audience knows where you

stand.stand.2. The thesis is located in the two 2. The thesis is located in the two

strongest strongest places, first and last.places, first and last.

3. It is the most common form of 3. It is the most common form of academic argument used.academic argument used.

Outline for a position paper:Outline for a position paper:  I. IntroductionI. Introduction___A. Introduce the topic___A. Introduce the topic___B. Provide background on the topic___B. Provide background on the topic___C. Assert the thesis (your view of the ___C. Assert the thesis (your view of the

issue)issue)  II. Counter ArgumentII. Counter Argument___A. Summarize the counterclaims___A. Summarize the counterclaims___B. Provide supporting information for ___B. Provide supporting information for

counterclaimscounterclaims___C. Refute the counterclaims___C. Refute the counterclaims___D. Give evidence for argument___D. Give evidence for argument  

Outline for a position paper:Outline for a position paper:  III. Your ArgumentIII. Your Argument___A. Assert point #1 of your claims___A. Assert point #1 of your claims_____1. Give your opinion_____1. Give your opinion_____2. Provide support_____2. Provide support___B. Assert point #2 of your claims___B. Assert point #2 of your claims_____1. Give your opinion_____1. Give your opinion_____2. Provide support_____2. Provide support___C. Assert point #3 of your claims___C. Assert point #3 of your claims_____1. Give your opinion_____1. Give your opinion_____2. Provide support_____2. Provide support  IV. ConclusionIV. Conclusion___A. Restate your argument___A. Restate your argument___B. Provide a plan of action___B. Provide a plan of action