ELP 1 (MODULE 2)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

PERFORMANCE TASK

This performance task measures how well you can put together the skills you have learned from lesson
1 to lesson 4 of the module.

Name: _______________________________________ Program and year: __________________

Date: ___________________________ Score: ________ Remark: _____________

Instructions:

Write a position paper based on your one chosen topic given below. It is usually one page in length. A
sample template is provided that outlines the major parts of position paper. Make use of Microsoft Word if yellow
paper is not available. If done, submit or send your final output thru your instructor’s messenger or gmail account.

Similar to a debate, a position paper introduces one side of a debatable opinion about a problem. The
major goal of a position paper is to persuade the audience that your opinion is valid and strong. Concepts that you
are considering need to be wisely studied in selecting a topic, developing your argument, and organizing your
paper. It is very significant to make sure that you are considering all sides of the problem and presenting it in a
way that your audience could understand. Your task is to take one side of the argument and encourage your
audience that you have logical knowledge of the given topic. It is necessary to support your argument with evidence
to guarantee the validity of your statements, as well as to contradict the counterclaims to show that you are really
knowledgeable about both sides.

Below are the topics that you could choose.

 Covid Vaccine Distribution

 Racial Discrimination
 Sexual Harassment
 Vaccinating Children
 Marijuana for Medical Purposes
 Gender Equality
 The Role of Technology in Education
  Social Media changing Family Relationships
 Global Warming Problem
 Teenage Pregnancy

POSITION PAPER OUTLINE

I. INTRODUCTION
A. Identification of the issue and background
B. Statement of the position
II. BODY (A comprehensive breakdown of issues)
A. Your countries actions in respect to the problem
B. Supporting evidence or facts
C. UN actions and agreements in respect to the issue
III. CONCLUSION (summary or restating the key points)
A. Suggested courses of action
B. Possible solutions

Here is the rubric for your guidance. (Adopted from N. Sledge of scholastic.com retrieved 2021)

4– 3- 2– 1–
CATEGORY ABOVE MEETS APPROACHING BELOW SCORE
STANDARDS STANDARDS STANDARDS STANDARDS
ATTENTION The The The author has The
GRABBER introductory introductory interesting introductory
paragraph has paragraph has introductory paragraph is
a strong hook or a hook or paragraph but not interesting
attention attention the connection to and is not
grabber that is grabber, but it is the topic is not relevant to the
appropriate for weak, rambling clear. topic.
the audience. or inappropriate
This could be for the audience
strong
statement, a
relevant
question,
statistic, or
question
addressed to
the reader.
FOCUS OR The thesis The thesis The thesis The thesis
THESIS statement statement statement statement does
STATEMENT clearly names names the topic outlines some or not name the
the topic of the of the essay. all of the main topic and does
essay and The author’s points to be not preview
outlines the position is discussed but what will be
main points to stated does not name discussed.
be discussed. the topic.
The author’s
position is
strongly and
clearly stated.
SUPPORT OR Includes 3 or Includes 3 or Includes 2 Includes 1 or
POSITION more pieces of more pieces of pieces of fewer pieces of
evidence (facts, evidence (facts, evidence (facts, evidence (facts,
statistics, statistics, statistics, statistics,
examples, real- examples, real- examples, real- examples, real-
life life life experiences) life
experiences} experiences) that support the experiences)
that support the that support the position
position position statements
statement. The statement
writer
anticipates the
reader’s
concerns,
biases or
arguments and
has provided at
least 1 counter
argument.
EVIDENCE All of the Most of the At least one of Evidence and
AND evidence and evidence and the pieces of examples are
EXAMPLES examples are examples are evidence and not relevant
specific, specific, examples are and/or are not
relevant and relevant and specific, relevant explained.
explanations explanations and explanations
are given that are given that are given that
show how each show how each show how each
piece of piece of piece of
evidence evidence evidence
supports the supports the supports the
author’s author’s author’s position.
position. position.
SEQUENCING Arguments and Arguments and A few of the Many of the
support are support are support details support details
provided in a provided in or arguments are or arguments
logical order fairly logical not in an are not in an
that makes it order that expected or expected
easy and makes logical order, logical order,
interesting to reasonable distracting the distracting the
follow the easy to follow reader and reader and
author’s train of the author’s making the making the
thought. train of thought. essay seem a essay seem
little confusing. very confusing.
 WRITING Piece is clearly Author paid Errors may be Errors make it
MECHANICS written with no attention to present and may difficult to read
grammar, writing slightly take and/or
spelling, conventions; away from the understand the
punctuation, or minor errors do clarity; yet the paper.
capitalization not distract from writer ‘s meaning
errors. meaning. can be
determined.
CLOSING The conclusion The conclusion The author’s There is no
PARAGRAPH is strong and is recognizable. position is conclusion –
leaves the The author’s restated within the paper just
reader solidly position is the closing ends.
understanding restated within paragraph, but
the writer’s the first two not near the
position. sentences of beginning. The
Effective the closing essay body is
restatement of paragraph and not summarized.
the position is followed by a
statement summary of the
begins the essay body.
closing
paragraph and
is followed by
an effective
summary of the
essay body.

Overall score: __________

“A position paper isn’t just your opinion. It supports an argument and uses evidence to back it up.” – @Kibin