Leigh Elijah N.

Villasencio September 21, 2017

11 – Spitzer EAPP

1. Difference Between a Concept Paper and a Position Paper

Concept papers are summaries of projects that reflect the interests, experience and expertise of
the writer or researcher. Concept papers generally serve the purpose of providing in-depth discussion of a
topic that the writer has a strong position on, usually with the intent of obtaining support for that project.
Concept Paper acts as a proposal for a certain project; it allows the researcher the opportunity to define
the focus of his/her research and obtain early feedback on the research idea.
A position paper is an essay that presents an opinion about an issue – typically that of the author
or some specified individual. Position papers are published in academia, in politics, in law and other
domains. A position paper presents an arguable opinion about an issue. The goal of a position paper is to
convince the audience that your opinion is valid and worth listening to. Ideas that you are considering
need to be carefully examined in choosing a topic, developing your argument, and organizing your paper.
Position papers range from the simplest format of a letter to the editor through to the most
complex in the form of an academic position paper. Position papers are also used by large organizations to
make public the official beliefs and recommendations of the group.
2. Procedures on Making a Concept Paper and a Position Paper

Concept Paper
The Research Concept Paper is completed prior to the dissertation proposal and serves as a
development tool and summary of the planned dissertation. The essential point of the Concept Paper is to
explain the importance of a research project.
The Concept Paper, although highly abridged, is comprised of many of the same items found in a
dissertation. These specific elements of the Concept Paper may vary depending upon the academic
program and the chosen degree.
Main Elements of a Research Concept Paper
 Title page — provides a tentative title for the dissertation. The title of the Concept Paper should
be able to stand alone and can fully describe the project by summarizing the main idea of the
manuscript. The title should concisely identify the variables being investigated and the
relationship among those variables. Avoid words that do not add substance or words that are
misleading. The title of the Concept Paper may become the title of the dissertation.
 Statement of the Problem — provides the purpose for the research. This section of the Concept
Paper introduces the problem under investigation, addresses why the researcher wants to
investigate this problem, and how the research findings may help. Supporting documentation,
including statistical data if available, should be used to emphasize the need for this research. It
serves to gain the reader’s attention and support. The first few sentences of the Concept Paper
should intrigue the reader to spike his or her interest and encourage further reading.
 Preliminary Literature Review — provides identification of major literature that supports and
validates the topic; focuses on areas that offer support for new research. This section of the
Concept Paper provides enough of a description of previous research to plant seeds in the mind of
the reader suggesting more information is needed. A strong Concept Paper is based on a wide-
range literature review that is condensed into a summary of key points.
  Goal Statement -- provides a broad or abstract intention, including the research goals and
objectives. This part of the Concept Paper tells the reader “who, what and when” regarding the
research goal.
 Research Questions -- provides a preliminary view of the questions the student will investigate.
Questions are based on theory, past research, experience, and need. These questions will direct
the research methodology; their inclusion in the Concept Paper links the research problem with
the methodology. For some, composing the research questions may be the most difficult part of
the research project, or possibly the most difficult aspect of writing the Concept Paper. The
questions will direct everything that will be done; therefore, it is important that they are accurate
and focused to the main research problem. These research questions will specifically direct the
research and the type of analyses conducted, as such their compatibility is essential.
 An Abridged Methodology -- provides the student’s best idea on how to conduct the research and
analyze the data. The goals and objects identified in previous sections of the Concept Paper
should relate to the research methods described in this section. For the Concept Paper, the
methodology is simplified or summarized, serving as a general outline of the methods that will be
employed.
 Timeline -- provides a range of time for completion of the project, highlighting key elements for
each stage of the project. This element is unique to the Concept Paper and provides the student
structure for managing sections of the project within a realistic time frame.
 References -- provides references to the material cited in the literature review and elsewhere in
the Concept Paper.

Position Paper
Write a position paper to
Organize and outline your viewpoint on an issue
Formally inform others of your position as a foundation to build resolution to difficult problems
Present a unique, though biased, solution or a unique approach to solving a problem
Frame the discussion to define the "playing field."
Establish your credibility
Let your passion be demonstrated in the force of your argument rather than in the use of
emotional terms
 Guide you in being consistent in maintaining your position in negotiation
Guidelines:
 Format should be consistent with guidelines determined by the sponsoring organization or
committee
 Include topic, date, purpose, etc., and should readily identify you as the author
 If the paper represents a group, organization, committee, do not write in the first person (not I,
my, mine, etc. but rather we, our, etc.)
 Limit yourself to two pages following the format established by previous successful position
papers
Research:
 Develop supporting evidence for both sides including factual knowledge, statistical evidence,
authoritative testimony
 Identify the issues and prejudices keeping in mind your audience. List these as appropriate and
anticipate counterclaims
 Assume familiarity with basic concepts, but define unfamiliar terms/concepts or state meanings
that define your point of departure
 Refer to those who agree with your position to assist you in developing your argument
  Familiarize yourself with those who disagree with you to prepare your defense. Summarize
their argument and evidence, then refute
Introduction:
Consider your audience:
start with a topic sentence or two that attracts attention and summarizes the issue
Inform the reader of your point of view
Development:
Focus on three main points to develop
Each topic is developed with
 a general statement of the position
 an elaboration that references documents and source data
 past experiences and authoritative testimony
 conclusion restating the position
Establish flow from paragraph to paragraph
 Keep your voice active
 Quote sources to establish authority
 Stay focused on your point of view throughout the essay
 Focus on logical arguments
 Don't lapse into summary
in the development--wait for the conclusion
Conclusion
 Summarize, then conclude, your argument
 Refer to the first paragraph/opening statements
as well as the main points
o does the conclusion restate the main ideas?
o reflect the succession and importance of the arguments
o logically conclude their development?
3.) Sample

 Concept Paper

OPERATION: TKP (TUNAY NA KULTURANG PINOY)

“BUILDING BETTER CULTURAL PRODUCTS IN THE REGIONS FOR PHILIPPINE TOURISM”

I. INTRODUCTION

For many years, we have been looking silently but deeply and seriously into the state of
our cultural festivals in the light of culture being historically considered as an important
component of the Philippine tourism industry. There are two (2) schools of thought that
define the strong interrelationship of culture and tourism. One believes that culture
must be kept in its purest form, unadulterated and keeping it completely from any
commercial influences. This puritanical stance was the undaunted position of nationalist
culturalism in the country. The other one is a kinder thought – allowing culture to be
used for tourism and trade promotional purposes. This belief attracts danger however -
one that might unconditionally destroy culture and kill it in the end.
 But as a policy, the Department of Tourism recognizes the intrinsic value of culture in
the life of the Filipino people. Culture is the soul of the nation. It is a whole package of
patrimonial qualities that differentiate a Filipino from his Asian brothers and sisters.

And from this perspective itself, this department hopes to put culture to where it should
rightfully belong. CULTURE MUST BE PRESERVED but must be relevant to the changing
times. IT MUST BE CULTIVATED without sacrificing its true meaning to the everyday life
of the people. IT MUST BE USED TO PROMOTE TOURISM WITH SENSITIVITY –
portraying our own culture as the mirror of the unique soul and character of the Filipino
nation.

This is the very background on which this new program of the DOT will be undertaken.
OPERATION: TKP (Tunay na Kulturang Pinoy) seeks to review and re-do all cultural
events and festivals that have been created in the regions to make sure that they reflect
the community’s dreams and joy, true beliefs and creative expressions. In other words,
under this new program, culture must be correct in its form and meaning. The songs, the
dances, the symbols, the rituals should be done because they all had their place in the
community’s past.

And from this perspective, culturally correct and historically accurate festivals must be
the background portraits of the destinations in the country. Festivals must depict the
true and real picture of the beautiful tourist destinations that we have in the various
regions of the Philippines. They must excite the tourists to come to our islands. And they
must help paint a fresh and colorful portrait of the country in the minds of the visitors.

This concept paper aims to re-introduce this new concept of tourism to the various local communities of
the Philippines and bring the people together in helping develop and propagate culture of tourism.

 Position Paper

A POSITION PAPER ON MINING IN THE PHILIPPINES

A destruction of environment due to mining. It has various advantages and disadvantages

that affects the environment and the lives of every human being in the Philippines. Mining
is the process of digging mines to obtain minerals, metals, and jewels that serves as the
livelihood to every human being. It gives people some of the resources needed for modern
civilization, but it can lead to environmental harm. Some are opposite and based on
opposition to destructive mining practices and others dislike mining in general. Humans
need a wide range of natural resources to create the products modern civilization needs.
While alternative forms of energy are becoming more worthwhile, most of the areas need
coal, natural gas, and uranium to provide energy. Similarly, oil is necessary for powering
vehicles and the transportation industry. Mining allows people to use these resources.

Mining is one of the resources that mostly common Filipinos choose as their source of
living. A mine is a pit of tunnel wherein a miner used to dig in getting minerals such as
coal, gold, and diamonds are taken. According to Josephine C. Maguad, Senior
Environmental Management Specialist of EMB- Department of Environment and Natural
 Resources (DENR) mining is an employment for economic growth in a certain country, it
increase also the revenue for the miners as well as for the government fund, it is a source
of livelihood for the people around a certain area, the social development for the
community and other stakeholders and in the larger community. She also mentioned that
it could also transform into other uses, used for natural resources, can alter and for
enhancement for the area, it is also for the rehabilitation to bring back healthy condition of
the soil after they used it. The people around the community need also to plant more trees
for renewable resources and for the carbon dioxide. So at the end of every mining, there
will be the possibility of gaining more nutrients from the soil. There are a lot of advantages
of mining that could give to the lives of every person. It is a little bit unfamiliar to those
people who are new about this matter. But, it helps a lot to the economic growth of the
Philippines as to the other stakeholders all over the country. It is indeed a stepping stone
to faster earnings. It is a development for the community certainly the rapid out-growth of
resources. She also discussed about the negativity of mining such as it decreases the
natural resource that is supplied by nature, if it is irresponsible and have mismanagement
in mining, there is also a possibility of pollution in land, air, and water. It is bound in the
Republic Act (RA) 7942 law or the Philippine Mining act that speaks about the
environmental act in land, air, and water if a single person is irresponsible and not
maintaining the growth of natural resources. Mining is definitely having a lot of
disadvantages that could trigger the crisis that is very rampant in the country. Just like
every time there is landslides and floods that softens the soil in the mountainous part.
The miners themselves need to take risks so that they could raise their own families and
help them out to survive. Just like if there is an earthquake, the lives of the miners will be
in danger because there is the possibility that the place will be destroyed and broken
down that could lead to death. It is a matter of taking risks and a matter of choice for them
because in some areas it is the easiest way to uplift their own lives as well as for their
family. According to a research of rappler.com, representatives from the mining sector
expressed their reservations about the plan to declare eight provinces as mining-free
zones during a Senate hearing. These areas are: Cagayan de Oro City, Catanduanes, Nueva
Vizcaya, Eastern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Biliran, Davao City, and Second District of Sorsogon.
Chamber of mines of the Philippines vice president for policy Ronald Recidoro said that
banning mining from those areas will “set a bad precedent” for the Philippine government
and also added that mineral resources are limited, finite and do not occur everywhere.
They are concentrated in only a few blessed provinces. This deprives the national
government of the chance to develop a national industrialization plan. Around 65% of the
Philippines cannot be mined under current laws and executive orders despite the vast
potential of the country as a source of minerals. Meanwhile, mining is destructive to the
environment but Representative Carlos Padilla of the lone district of Nueva Vizcaya is
prioritizing the agriculture over the mining.

The position paper talks about mining in our country, The Philippines. It discussed about the advantages
and disadvantages of mining. The writer presented facts about mining in our country. This made her
position paper a bit legit than a normal write-up about an issue.