English for Academic and Professional Purposes

MODULE NO.7

The
Position
Paper
Objectives
Understand the importance of
persuasion
Break down the assertions and
evidence of persuasive materials
Construct solid arguments to forward a
position paper
Analyze arguments and create rebuttals
for argument as well
Position Paper
is a type of academic writing in which the author
presents his or her position on a debatable issue
and defends or supports it with evidence.
Criteria before writing
a. Is the issue controversial?
b. Are there at least two distinct positions?
c. Are you personally interested in one of these positions?
d. Can you manage the scope effectively?
Identify your audience
a. Who is likely going to read the paper?
b. What are the general interests of the audience regarding the issue at
hand?
Identify your audience
c. What is the stand of the majority of the audience on the issue?
d. How does the issue affect the audience in general?
e. What kind of evidence would convince the audience to take the writer’s stand?
Features of a
Position Paper
1. It uses formal language
2. It defines an issue
3. It states the writer's position explicitly
4. It makes claims/assertions that support
5. It disputes counterclaims
6. It uses logical pattern in presenting the
arguments
Prewriting
1. The author chooses a topic for his/her/their position paper.
2. The author researches the topic.
3. The author chooses a position on the issue.
4. The author makes an outline.
Post-writing
Revision is important because it is necessary for the
author to go over his/her/their work and spot the
mistakes and take the chance to improve
his/her/their paper.
Performance Task
Your task is to write a position paper about your
stand on a particular issue to be printed or posted
on a student council managed website or social
media page.
 Role:
You are an aspiring student leader who is asked to
give an opinion for the student council’s social
media page and website.

Audience:
Your target audience are members of the school
community: students from junior and senior high
school and teaching and non-teaching personnel.
 Situation:
The student council is looking for aspiring student
leaders who are capable of providing a voice for
the student body through writing about causes
and advocacies. You were tapped by the student
council to do a write-up this time, and you have
the perfect issue to discuss in your position paper.
Thank
you!