Unit 9: The Position Paper

Lesson 1: Features and Purposes of a

Position Paper

Contents
Engage 1
Introduction 1
Objectives 2

Explore 2

Explain and Elaborate 3

What Is a Position Paper? 3
Purposes of a Position Paper 4
Features of a Position Paper 5

Extend 9
Activity 1 9
Activity 2 10

Evaluate 11

Wrap Up 13

Bibliography 14
Unit 9.1: Features and Purposes of a Position Paper

Engage

Introduction

Fig. 1. Sometimes we try to convince our friends to watch the same shows we do.

Do you have a particular belief or opinion that you stand by strongly? It can be something as
simple as thinking that a particular TV series is better than another, to believing that a
certain politician would make for a better president than another. It could also be believing
that a certain course of action is the best solution to a specific problem. When we want to
defend a particular belief of ours and maybe even gain more support for it, we can do so by
writing a position paper. What exactly is a position paper? What are its parts and features?

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Unit 9.1: Features and Purposes of a Position Paper

Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● Understand the use and purpose of a position paper.
● Identify the features and structure of a position paper.

DepEd Competencies
● Define what a position paper is. (CS_EN11/12A-EAP-IIa-d-1)
● Identify situations in which a position paper may be effectively used in our present
society. (CS_EN11/12A-EAP-IIa-d-2)

Explore

15 minutes

With a partner, choose a current local issue and think of two possible sides people might
take regarding the issue.

Guide Questions

1. Explain the issue you have chosen and give the two sides that could emerge from it.

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Unit 9.1: Features and Purposes of a Position Paper

2. Explain one side and give reasons why people would take this side.

3. Explain the other side and give reasons why people would take this side.

Explain and Elaborate

What Is a Position Paper?

A position paper is another form of academic writing that is typically written after reading
about and having a discussion on a particular issue. Much like other forms of academic
writing, a position paper is usually written in formal academic language and has an
introduction, a body, and a conclusion. The body is the longest part of the position paper, as
this contains your gathered evidence in support of your chosen side in an issue.

Writing a position paper entails a lot of research and gathering information and evidence, as
these details are needed in order for you to make your paper more convincing. As such,
standard rules for citing sources, paraphrasing, quoting, and avoiding plagiarism apply.

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Unit 9.1: Features and Purposes of a Position Paper

Remember
A position paper is not simply a reporting of the issue at hand. It
involves actively choosing a side and supporting it, even if it means
encountering resistance and opposition.

Purposes of a Position Paper

You might think you will only be doing it as a requirement in class, but there are times when
writing a position paper is relevant and useful in various situations. Remember, its general
purpose is to generate support for a side or position. In today’s society, there are many
instances in which generating more support could be useful.

Position papers are always tied to a particular issue or event, and more often than not,
there are multiple sides to these issues that spark debate and discussion. Writing a position
paper for the side you have chosen adds your voice in support of that position, and that
could lead to even more support from others. For example, during election season, you
could campaign for your preferred politician, at least among your community or among
your peers, by writing a position paper supporting your candidate. Another example is if
your village or barangay is facing a problem, like neighborhood cleanliness, and multiple
solutions have been brought forward and suggested. You could present your position in
support of a particular solution to convince those with the power to implement these
solutions to give your preferred one a shot.

There are many other scenarios in which a position paper could prove useful, like arguing
for or against a school policy, choosing a product to support, praising or condemning a
person’s actions, and more. A well-written position paper, especially when backed up by
accurate and relevant evidence, could convince people to see your side.

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Unit 9.1: Features and Purposes of a Position Paper

Tip
Whenever a particular issue becomes controversial and causes
sides to form, that is an indication that a position paper could be
written about that issue.

Features of a Position Paper

As mentioned earlier, a position paper, like most other academic papers, also follows the
structure of having an introduction, body, and conclusion.

What are the important features of a position

paper?

Introduction
The introduction of your position paper should accomplish the following:
● Introduce the topic or issue.
● Provide background information on the issue to explain its importance.
● Give and assert your thesis statement, which is your view or take on the issue.

Your introduction should be able to indicate both the topic or issue and your stand on it,
which is your thesis statement. It should also be able to bring your readers in and get them
interested in what you have to say. An effective way of introducing a topic is by giving its
context and providing a background that will put it into perspective. Discuss the area in
which your topic fits and then lead into your more specific point of discussion.

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Unit 9.1: Features and Purposes of a Position Paper

Example 1
Here is an example of a short introduction for a position paper that discusses a school’s
uniform policy.

Most schools implement a school uniform policy. It is rare for schools, especially for their
students in primary, elementary, and high school, to let their students wear whatever they
want. It is practically status quo by now, and very few schools, if any at all, have removed
their policy for mandatory school uniforms. Requiring school uniforms, however, is an
outdated and restrictive school policy that does more harm than good, so it should be
abolished.

Explanation
The introduction starts by stating and explaining the main issue, which is the school policy
of requiring uniforms. After the short context, it then states the thesis statement, and
therefore the author’s stand. It clearly states that the paper is against the school policy,
defining the path the paper’s body will mostly likely take.

Body
The body of your position paper, which should be the longest part of your paper, contains
your arguments in support of your chosen position. This is also where your evidence
supporting your arguments can be found. The body can also contain a section or paragraph
talking about counterarguments, where you address the point or points of the opposite side
and give counterpoints on why you still choose your side.

It is a good idea to have at least three main points that defend your position, and they can
be separated into different paragraphs. Each paragraph should contain the main point, your
educated and informed opinion on the issue given this point, and support or proof from
various sources that help defend your point.

A paragraph on counterarguments, while optional in a position paper, could be helpful in

proving your point. If you choose to address the other position, your paragraph or
paragraphs containing it should first summarize the counterclaims and provide information

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Unit 9.1: Features and Purposes of a Position Paper

on them as well. Then, you can proceed to refuting the counterclaims and providing
evidence for your own counterarguments, much like supporting one of your main points.

Writing and studying the counterpoints are also useful in strengthening your arguments for
your main points because knowledge on the counterpoints can help you focus your
research on facts that can refute those arguments. However, if you end up being swayed by
the counterarguments the more you look them up, there is no shame in adjusting your
position to fit your newfound knowledge.

Example 2
Here is a short example that can show how a paragraph in the body of the position paper
might look.

Students who are preteens or teenagers are usually still forming their personal identities.
According to a study by Arnett, many adolescents are still in the process of trying to
integrate their prior experiences and characteristics into a more stable identity (2000). Many
of them try out different activities, interests, and clothes in an attempt to find which ones
really suit them. Having these adolescents wear the same clothes five to six times a week
effectively stifles their creativity and self-expression. They will have a harder time exploring
and finding out their own fashion styles because they have very few chances to experiment.
In fact, a local study by professor Janine Vera states that from the five private schools that
she was able to conduct a survey in, 59 percent of high school students were against having
a school uniform policy, with 70 percent of them agreeing that it did not let them express
themselves fully (2014). Another study by psychologist Jacob Domingo backs this up by
stating that many adolescents and teens tend to use fashion as a way to express their
personal identity, and they feel that wearing uniforms for a majority of the week really
suppresses their individuality and sense of self (2018).

Explanation
This paragraph shows one of the author’s main points, and that is that school uniforms stifle
the creativity and individuality of students, especially adolescents. It is able to state the
author’s informed opinion that many students feel this way while backing it up with at least
three cited studies.

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Unit 9.1: Features and Purposes of a Position Paper

Conclusion
The conclusion of your position paper should be brief, and it should mostly contain a
restatement of your thesis statement. It should also give a plan of action given your
position, but it should not introduce any new information.

Example 3
The example below is a sample concluding paragraph, related to the sample introduction
and paragraph from the body.

With more and more proof emerging that school uniforms are more of a burden than a
boon to students, parents, and even teachers, the policy that mandates them should be
considered outdated and restrictive. Schools, especially those handling adolescents and
teens, should consider removing this policy and allowing students to wear casual clothes so
that they may express themselves more freely. Perhaps, if a compromise must be made,
then the policy can be modified to be a dress code policy instead of a school uniform policy.

Explanation
The concluding paragraph restates the thesis statement from the introduction and then
provides a plan of action. In this case, it is either to abolish the school uniform policy or turn
it into a dress code. While plans are suggested, no new major information is introduced.

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Extend

Activity 1
Go back to the issue and the sides that you and your partner brainstormed for the Explore
section. Choose one side and provide a brief explanation on why you would take that side.

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Guide
● For this activity, try to come up with three main points that will defend the side you
chose.
● While you do not need to do research yet, make sure that the points you come up
with can be backed up with evidence and facts that you can find without much
difficulty.

Activity 2
Given the arguments you came up with in the first activity, come up with a counterargument
that can refute one of those arguments and explain it.

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Unit 9.1: Features and Purposes of a Position Paper

Guide
● It is important to also take the counterarguments seriously and fairly.
● Develop them without bias so that when you refute these counterclaims in your
paper, your points will come out even stronger.

Evaluate

A. Answer the following questions in complete sentences

using your own words.

1. What is a position paper?

2. What is the general purpose of a position paper?

3. What should the introduction of the position paper do?

4. What should the conclusion of the position paper do?

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5. What is the advantage of adding a paragraph on counterarguments to the body?

B. Read the instructions for the following items carefully.

Write your answers and explain them comprehensively on
the space provided.

1. Why are position papers important, especially in our society today?

2. What possible difficulties could you encounter in writing a position paper?

3. Why is a position paper also a form of academic writing that is heavy on research?

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4. How does a position paper differ from a critique or review paper?

5. Give your own example of a scenario in which a position paper could be useful. Explain
your answer.

Wrap Up
___________________________________________________________________________________________

● A position paper is a form of academic writing that generates support for a

particular side on an issue that has been discussed or read about.
● A position paper is written to address an issue and defend a particular stand on it.
● The features of a position paper are the introduction; the body, which has your
main points and possible counterarguments; and the conclusion.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

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Unit 9.1: Features and Purposes of a Position Paper

Bibliography
Guidelines for Position Papers & Issue Briefs. Young Adult Library Services Association.
Accessed May 12, 2020.
http://www.ala.org/yalsa/aboutyalsa/yalsahandbook/whitepapers.

A Handy Guide to How to Write a Position Paper. A Research Guide for Students. Accessed May
12, 2020. https://www.aresearchguide.com/write-a-position-paper.html.

Position Paper. Bowie State University. Accessed May 12, 2020.

https://bowiestate.libguides.com/c.php?g=442189&p=3014828#s-lg-box-9271899.

Position Paper - Myers. Colorado State University. Accessed May 12, 2020.
https://writing.colostate.edu/guides/teaching/co301aman/pop8a1.cfm.

Writing a Position Paper. Simon Fraser University. Accessed May 12, 2020.
https://www.sfu.ca/cmns/130d1/WritingaPositionPaper.htm.

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