Reading and Writing

Skills
Quarter 2 :Module 5: Week 14
Purposeful Writing in the
Disciplines and for Professions

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Lesson 5
What is a Position Paper?

A position paper is a type of academic writing that presents one’s stand or viewpoint on a particular issue. The main objective of
writing a position paper is to take part in a larger debate by stating your arguments and proposed course of action.

Parts of a Position Paper

1. Introduction
 Write the specific issue, together with its importance and effect to the society.
 Use a lead that grabs the attention of readers.
 Define the issue and provide a thorough background.
 Provide a general statement of your position through a thesis statement.
 End the introductory paragraph with a position statement or a stand on the issue. Keep in mind that one could take only one side of
the argument.

2. Body
 The part may have several paragraphs. It may begin with short background information or a discussion of arguments on both sides
of the issue. In each paragraph, an explanation or observation to clarify the portion of the position statement must be written and
then followed by the supporting evidence.
 State your main arguments and provide sufficient evidence.
 The evidences that can be used are the primary source- quotation, interviews with field experts, recommendation from scholarly
articles and position papers, historical dates or events, and statistical data.
 Provide counterarguments against possible weaknesses of your arguments.

3. Conclusion
 On the last part of writing the paper, summarize and reinforce the concepts and facts presented without repeating the introduction
and its content. It is also optional to include the procedure used to deal with the issue and your suggested possible solution or
recommendation.
 Explain why your position is better than any other position.
 End with a powerful closing statement (e.g., a quotation, a challenge, or a question).

Choosing an Issue
1. The issue should be debatable. You cannot take any position if the topic is not debatable.
2. The issue should be current and relevant.
3. The issue should be written in a question form and answerable by yes or no.
4. The issue should be specific and manageable

Guidelines in Writing a Position Paper

1. Begin the writing process with an in-depth research about the issue at hand.
2. Be aware of the various positions about the issue and explain and analyze them objectively.
3. Reflect on your position and identify its weaknesses.
4. Establish your credibility by citing reliable sources.
5. Present a unique way of approaching the issue.
6. Limit your position paper to two pages.
7. Analyze your target readers and align your arguments to their beliefs, needs, interest, and motivations.
8. Summarize the other side’s counterarguments and refute them with evidence.
9. Define unfamiliar terms at first mention.
10. Use an active voice as much possible. This will make your tone dynamic and firm.
11. Arrange your evidence logically using an inductive or deductive approach.
12. Check your paper for fallacies and revise accordingly.
13. Use ethical, logical, and emotional appeals. Ethical appeals relate to your credibility and competence as writer; logical appeal refers
to the rational approach in developing and argument; emotional appeals pertain to feelings evoked during arguments. Make sure
to check your appeals to ensure that they are not fallacious.
Activity 1: Read the sample position paper. Then answer the questions that follow

Committee: General Assembly

Topic: Global Warming
Country: The Kingdom of Sweden
Delegates: *****************
Global warming’s effects and influence on the global climate
is visible all around us now. As time has passed in the past century, Arctic
ice has begun to gradually melt and sea levels have started to rise. If this
situation continues, then low-lying islandi nations such as Vanuatu and
Maldives will sink into the sea and will simply disappear.
 Also, climate is changing in many parts of the world because of global
warming. For example, acid rain damaging soils and forests, particularly in our
country, serious droughts in Australia, and abnormal weather patterns all over the
world. These things are not naturally occurring phenomena – they were caused by
human actions. Our nation is addressing global warming on a domestic level. For
example, we are separating household waste and recycling as much as we can, and
are imposing taxes on CO2 emissions. Our carbon dioxide emissions are 0.4% of the
global total.
We are raising public awareness of the environmental problems they will
face in the future, and we hope that our people will address this issue. But individual
nations cannot succeed – the only way to secure our future is if we can get a consensus
of nations to take action to reduce these effects. Humans caused this problem and
ultimately they must address and deal with it.
We must, as global citizens, address this problem actively. Thank you.

Reading Comprehension

1. What is the issue taken up in the position paper?

2. Do you agree with the assertions made in the article? Explain

3. Does the writer make a strong stand about the issue presented? How did he/she convince the reader to believe in his/her claim?

Activity 2: Write a position paper. Research evidences to support your claim on the issue provided below.

Should parents limit teenager’s use of Social Media?

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Lesson 6

What comes to your mind when you hear the word résumé? Do you think it is important for you to learn how to write a résumé?
Why?

Résumé Formats

When you apply for a job or for any work, hiring administrators like the managers usually require applicants to submit a résumé. To give
them an overview of yourself, you need to know the different formats in making a résumé so that it fits their standard. Below are the three
types of résumé format for you to follow.

1) Chronological Format

The chronological format is used to emphasize the applicant’s work experiences progress. It starts with the complete work
experiences, followed by the educational background. It is best used if the applicant is applying for a job related to his previous
experiences, and has ten to fifteen years work experiences.

Heading

--------------------------------------------------

Objective:

Work Experience:

Educational Background:

Skills/Expertise:

Voluntary Activities/Involvement:

2) Functional Format
Functional format, on the other hand, focuses on the skills, not on the work history. It is best used if the applicant changed
career or if re-entering the industry after a long absence. It is also used by the high school or college students entering the industry.

Heading

----------------------------------------------

Objective:

Professional Summary:

Work Experience:

Educational Background:

Skills and Expertise:

3) Combination or Hybrid Format

Combination or Hybrid combines the chronological and functional format. It works best if the applicant is aiming
for a career change or wants to present both skills and accomplishment

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 Heading

--------------------------------------------------

Objective:

Professional Summary:

Expertise and Achievements:

Work Experience:

Educational Background:

Writing your Resume

Below are the important features of a resume.

1) Heading

The resume heading includes the applicant’s complete name, current address and contact details such as cell phone number
or e-mail address. The heading can be written in the centre or on the left-side. Make sure that the formatting style, especially the font type,
looks professional.

 Example:
Ronan T. Kina-adman
Los-libertadores St. Comon, Mambajao, Camiguin
Phone: (088) 387-000
Mobile: (+63) 967 570 1927
e-mail: ronankinaadman@yahoo.com

 Explanation:
The heading contains basic information about the applicant.

2) Objectives

An objective also referred to as job objective or career objective, reflects the applicant’s career goals and intention for applying
for the job. Remember to write a direct and specific objective that contains what you want to achieve in your career and what the employer
could expect from you.

 Example:
To land a job as hotel chamberlain, making every room a home of their own.

 Explanation:
The objective given as an example includes the position and its detailed description.

3) Professional Summary

Professional summary, also referred to as ‘career summary’ or ‘career profile’, showcases your knowledge and abilities. It
includes short recent job summary, together with your soft skills (e.g. problem-solving capability, adaptability to change, etc.).

 Example:
Good cleaner, a flexible and hardworking. Hotelier with one year experience in providing customer service, preparing beds
and maintaining cleanliness of the hotel rooms.

 Explanation:
This highlights the most valuable and recent job experience of the applicant.

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4) Expertise and Achievement

This also refers to the ‘professional skills’ and ‘qualification’ of the applicant. It includes personal and technical skills including
the certifications and recognition received.

 Example:
Order Taking Skills

Received recognition as best housekeeper dated October 2004

excellent in finishing room make up on time

 Explanation:
This is the part where the applicant, with or without experience, can write a detailed description of his abilities and skills.

5) Work Experience

This is also called "employment history," "relevant experience", or "work history." Work experience is a part of a résumé where the
applicant states all previous employment. If you have no work experience yet, write first the educational background, and include the
optional part Training and Seminar Attended.

 Example:
Housekeeper
Camiguin Highland Resort
(August 2002- October 2005)

 Explanation:
The example shows the applicant’s job title, the employer and the length of service.

6) Educational Background

The educational background section can also be labelled as Academic, Academic Qualification or Education and Certifications.
Write the degree together with your major, minor or concentration (if there is any), school and year attended.

 Example:
TESDA
Camiguin School of Arts and Trades
2001-2002

 Explanation:
The inclusion of educational background from preschool to junior high school is not required in this part. Mentioning only the details
on where and when the applicant got his senior high school and college degree would be enough.

Tips

 Pass the resume with a cover letter. A cover letter gives the employer an overview why they are receiving the resume, job posting
the applicant is applying for and the matching skills related to the position.
 A resume is used to apply for a job that contains a summary of an applicant’s personal information, educational background, skills
and work experiences while a Curriculum Vitae (CV) is used to apply for an academic training or grant that contains a detailed
description of a person’s educational background, academic credential, and achievement.
 It is optional to include the following sections on the resume: Training and Seminars Attended, Activities and
Honors and References.

Here’s a sample resume you can refer to:

Sample Resume – Middle School- Minimal Work Experience

Ima J. Gaudia
Andalucia Street, Opol, Misamis Oriental

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 home: 904.555.5555
cell: 566.486.2222
email: studentiam@fakemail.com
Education
Currently enrolled in My Town Middle School
My Town, Florida

Work Experience
Pet Sitter
2005 – Present
• Provide pet sitting services including dog walking, feeding, and yard care.

Child Care
2005 – Present
• Provide child care for several families after school, weekends and during school vacations.

Achievements
• National Honor Society: 2005, 2006, 2007
• Academic Honor Roll: 2005-2007

Volunteer Experience
• Big Brother / Big Sisters
• Food Drives
• Run for Life

Interests / Activities

• Member of My Town Tennis Team

• Girl Scout
• Piano

Computer Skills

• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Activity 1: Fill in the following tables of your own data. After filling in the desired information, make a formal resume based on your
details.

FUNCTIONAL FORMAT

1.Heading 2.Objective 3.Professional Summary 4.Work Experience 5.Eductional background 6.Skills and Expertise

Chronological Format

1.Heading 2.Objective 3.Work Experience 4..Eductional background 5.Skills and Expertise 6.Voluntary Activities and Involvement

Combination or Hybrid

1. Heading 2.Objective 3. Professional 4. Expertise and Achievements 5.Work Experience 6. Educational Background

Activity 2: Write T if the statement is true and F if false.

_________ 1. A good position paper considers all possible views on the issue at
hand.
_________ 2. An issue is a crucial component of a position paper.
_________ 3. An issue is debatable if it cannot be answered by yes or no.
_________ 4. Audience analysis will help you write a more persuasive position
paper.
_________ 5. One way to establish your credibility as a writer is to boast about your
credentials.

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_________ 6. Opinions are better than facts in supporting arguments.
_________ 7. Statistics can be used as evidence to support an argument.
_________ 8. The main goal of a position paper is to inform readers.
_________ 9. The strongest type of appeal in a position paper is logical appeal.
_________ 10. Your position should be restated in the concluding paragraph.
_________ 11. The content of a position should have only one paragraph.
_________ 12. The most important thing in writing your position paper is how many
sources you have that would support your argument.
_________ 13. A position paper must answer specific questions vital in presenting
your argument.
_________ 14. The purpose of a position paper is to generate more issues.
_________ 15. In the position paper, you should validate your position with
authoritative references or primary source quotations.

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