Philippine Christian University

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Dasmariñas City, Cavite
S.Y. 2019-2020

ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC

AND PROFESSIONAL
PURPOSES (grade 11 AND
12)
MARCH 16-20, 2020

MODULE
NAME:_________________________________________________
STRAND AND SECTION: _________________________________________________
Prepared by:
MAGTOTO, ARJAKE D.
ALFONSO, AHVIGAILE DIZON, JULIE ANN A.
P. PATAM, PAULENE S.
LACSON, MARJORIE C.
AMOR, EMERLYN S.

GUIDELINES IN WRITING A POSITION PAPER

 Philippine Christian University
Senior High School
Dasmariñas City Campus
A.Y. 2019-2020

TOWARDS THE END OF THE LESSON THE LEARNERS ARE EXPECTED TO:
1. identifies situations in which a position paper may be effectively used in our present society;
2. gathers manifestos and analyzes the arguments used by the writer/s.
3. defends a stand on an issue by presenting reasonable arguments supported by properly-cited factual
evidences; and
4. writes various kinds of position papers.

Lesson Proper:
1. Choose an issue. When choosing one, keep the following guidelines in mind.
a. The issue should be debatable – you won’t be able to take a stand if the topic is
not debatable.
b. The issue should be current and relevant.
c. The issue should be written in a question form and answerable by yes or no.
d. The issue should be narrow and manageable.
2. Begin the writing process by conducting an in-depth research on the issue.
3. Make sure to define unfamiliar terms when you first mention them.
4. Be aware of the various positions about the issue and explain and analyze them
objectively.
5. Reflect on your position and identify its weaknesses.
6. Cite valid and reliable sources to establish the credibility of your arguments.
7. View the issue in a different perspective so you can present a unique approach.
8. Limit your position paper to two pages.
9. Analyze your target readers and align your arguments to their beliefs, needs, interests,
and motivations.
10. Summarize the other side’s counterarguments and use various evidence and data to
refute them.
11. Use an active voice as much as possible to achieve a dynamic and firm tone.
12. Arrange your evidence logically using an inductive or deductive approach.
a. In an inductive approach, you discuss specific information first, and then look for
patterns to create a general conclusion. In essence, an inductive approach
entails a flow from specific to general ideas.
b. In a deductive approach, you take something general and then branch out and
think of specific things that could apply to it. Basically, this is a type of reasoning
where the flow of discussion starts with a general theory and moves to specific
hypothesis.
13. Check your argument for fallacies and eliminate them. Fallacies, or errors in reasoning,
weakens your argument.
14. Use ethical, logical, and emotional appeal. An ethical appeal relates to your credibility
and competence as a writer; a logical appeal appears to a rational approach in
developing an argument; while an emotional appeal uses arguments in a way that
evokes feelings.

Exercise 3

1 ALFONSO. AMOR. DIZON. LACSON. MAGTOTO. PATAM.

English for Academic and Professional Purposes (EAPP 19-20)
 Philippine Christian University
Senior High School
Dasmariñas City Campus
A.Y. 2019-2020

DIRECTION: Enumerate at least three specific issues in your community or in the

country which you feel strongly about and which you think can be effectively
addressed through a position paper. Choose one from the three and use it as your
topic in writing your own position paper.

1. ______________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________
Author: ________________________________________________________
Topic: ________________________________________________________
Date: _________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________

2 ALFONSO. AMOR. DIZON. LACSON. MAGTOTO. PATAM.

English for Academic and Professional Purposes (EAPP 19-20)
 Philippine Christian University
Senior High School
Dasmariñas City Campus
A.Y. 2019-2020

Exercise 4
Name: ____________________________________________________________
Strand and year: ___________________________________________________

DIRECTION: Get one position paper online that deals with any social issues
relevant to your strand. Read each manifesto carefully and analyze the arguments
used by the writer.

Use the following format in your paper: short bond paper, Arial, font size 11, 1”
margin on all sides, 1.5” spacing.

You may use the following guide in writing your analysis.

This argument analysis examines the article titled (title of the article) written by
(author). This article is about (briefly summarize the content of the article in 3 to 5
sentences). Specifically, this analysis identifies the position of the author/s, their
main arguments, and the evidence supporting these arguments. (Author) makes
(number of claims) and support them with various pieces of evidence.

The first main argument is (state the argument in your own words). To support this
argument, the author uses (number of evidence presented). (State all the pieces of
evidence presented by the author to support the first argument.). (State your
analysis of the argument and evidence presented. When presenting your analysis,
you may use phrases such as “first of all”, “the author assumes”, and “the author
fails to consider.”).

In conclusion, the author (state the author’s purpose). I agree that (state the
arguments of the author with which you agree). However, (state your major
arguments). (Insert your strong closing statement).

Use extra sheets of paper for your answers.

3 ALFONSO. AMOR. DIZON. LACSON. MAGTOTO. PATAM.

English for Academic and Professional Purposes (EAPP 19-20)