WRITING A

POSITION PAPER
 it is an essay or report presents an arguable
which expresses a opinion about an issue
position, conclusion or
recommendations
concerning a contested
issue

its purpose is to
generate a support on
an issue and convince
based on facts that the audience that your
provides a solid

POSITION
opinion is valid and
foundation for the worth listening to
arguments

PAPER
types of position paper
 COUNTER- COMPARATIVE HISTORICAL
ADVOCACY INTERPRETIVE
ARGUMENT

Presents an Presents an Compares and Examines a Provides an

argument in argument contrasts two historical interpretation
support of a against a or more event, policy, or or analysis of a
particular particular options, perspective and particular
issue, policy, or issue, policy, or policies, or presents an issue, policy, or
proposal. It proposal. It proposals. It proposal. It
argument
seeks to seeks to seeks to seeks to
based on the
persuade the convince the convince the persuade the
analysis of the
reader to take reader that one reader to adopt
reader to reject historical
a particular option is better a particular
a particular context.
action or adopt than the perspective or
a particular
perspective or
others. understanding
perspective. course of
action. of the topic.
 POLICY VALUE PREDICTIVE PERSONAL

Outlines a Argues for or Makes Presents an

specific policy against a individual’s
proposal and predictions
particular personal
presents an value or set of about future perspective or
argument in values. It seeks events or opinion on a
support of it. It to convince the trends and particular
may also reader that a presents an issue. It may
address particular
argument draw on
potential
value or set of personal
objections to
values is more for why experiences or
the proposal
important or those beliefs to
and offer
solutions to better than predictions support the
address those others. are likely to argument.
objections. come true.
 PURPOSE OF POSITION PAPER
ADVOCACY Position papers are often used to promote a particular
point of view or to advocate for a specific policy or action.

Participants are often required to write position papers outlining

DEBATE their argument. These papers help the debaters clarify their
position and provide evidence to support their claims.

Position papers can be used to educate the public, policymakers,

EDUCATION and other stakeholders about complex issues by presenting a clear
and concise argument supported by evidence.
 PURPOSE OF POSITION PAPER
Position papers can be used by decision-makers to make informed
DECISION- decisions about policies, programs, or initiatives based on a well-
MAKING reasoned argument.

Position papers can be used as a starting point for

RESEARCH
further research on a particular topic or issue.
WRITING A POSITION PAPER

Support your argument

Carefully examine the Ensure that you are with evidence to ensure
ideas that you are addressing all sides of the validity of your claims
as well as to address the
considering in choosing the issue and present it
counter claims to show to
a topic, developing your in a manner that is your audience that you
argument and understandable for your have well-founded
organizing your paper audience knowledge on the topic
being presented
Issue Criteria
establish first the plausibility of a topic that
interest you before taking sides on a subject
Is it a real time issue, with genuine controversy
1 and uncertainty?

2 Can you distinctly identify two positions?

Are you personally interested in advocating one

3 of these positions?

4 Is the issue narrow enough to be manageable?

In writing your supporting evidence, the
following should be taken into consideration:
Analyzing an Issue
FACTUAL INFORMED
and Developing an
KNOWLEDGE OPINION Argument
Information must be Opinion must be
verifiable and agreed developed through Do some research after selecting
upon by almost everyone research your topic. Ensure that your
position is well supported with
facts and not just from your
STATISTICAL PERSONAL mere opinions. Listing out the
INFERENCES pro and con sides of the topic
TESTIMONY will help you examine your
There must be abilities to support your
Personal experiences counterclaims, along with a list
interpretation and
related by a of supporting evidence for both
examples of an
accumulation of facts knowledgeable party sides.
 Once you made your pro and cons lists, compare the information side by side.
Consider your audience as well as your own viewpoint and choose the position
you will take

1 Who is your audience?

Is your topic interesting? 1
2 What do they believe?
Does your topic assert something
specific and propose a plan of 2
3 Where do they stand on the issue?
action?
4 How are their interests involved?
Do you have enough material to
What evidence is likely to be support your opinion?
3
5
effective?

in considering your in determining your

audience, viewpoint,
 SECTIONS OF A POSITION PAPER

INTRODUCTION BODY CONCLUSION

 Contains both sides of the  Summarize the main
 Clearly introduce the issue. Each paragraph concept and restate
topic and provide
should present a main your argument
background
concept that clarifies a
portion of the position  Provide a plan of
 Assert the thesis or
statement and is action and possible
your position of the
supported by evidence. solutions
issue
 Your Argument
 assert points of your claims
 give your opinion
 provide support
Counter Argument
 summarize the counterclaims
 provide supporting information
 refute the counterclaims
 give evidence for argument
BODY
 ADVANTAGES OF POSITION PAPER

Organizing thoughts: Writing a position paper requires careful

1 consideration of the issue at hand, and the process of organizing
thoughts and arguments can help you clarify your own position.

Demonstrating expertise: Position papers are often used in academic

and professional settings to demonstrate expertise on a particular
2 topic. Writing a well-researched and well-written position paper can
help establish your credibility and expertise in a given field.
 ADVANTAGES OF POSITION PAPER

Facilitating discussion: Position papers can be used to facilitate

discussion and debate on a particular issue. By presenting different
3 perspectives on an issue, position papers can help foster dialogue and
lead to a better understanding of the topic at hand.

Providing a framework for action: Position papers can also be used to

provide a framework for action. By outlining specific steps that should
4 be taken to address an issue, a position paper can help guide decision-
making and policy development.
 be clear and explicit

write in present tense

Do’s and
Don’ts avoid first person pronoun

avoid superlatives
THANK YOU!