How to write a
Position Paper
What is a Position Paper?
A position paper is a kind of
academic writing in which the
student researches a controversial
issue and writes a paper that
explains his/her stand or viewpoint
on it.
The purpose of a position paper is
to generate support on an issue. It
describes a position on an issue and
the rational for that position.
The position paper is based on facts
that provide a solid foundation for
your argument.
Goal of a Position Paper
The main goal of a position paper is
to take part in the larger debate on
the issue by stating and supporting
your opinion or recommended
course of action.
In the position paper you should:
Use evidence to support your position
such as statistical evidence or dates
and events
Validate your position with authoritative
references or primary source quotations
Examine the strengths and weaknesses
of your position.
Evaluate possible solutions and suggest
courses of action
Goal of a Position Paper
You are is required to research
other papers on the issue, analyze
them in depth, and formulate your
own argument on the matter.
Real world examples include ethical
dilemmas involving existing or soon
to be formulated policy/law and
arguments for/or against legislation
that may affect society.
Analyzing Other Position Papers
The best way to start a successful position
paper is research. Here are some
strategies to effectively analyze other
positions or arguments:
1. Did the writer analyze the controversy
and discuss what others have said about
it?
Analyzing Other Position Papers
2. What are the various positions on the
issue? What are the strengths and
weaknesses of each? Did the writer cite
sources of information and provide a
reference list for readers who want to read
those?
3. Did the writer explain and fairly analyze
the strengths and weaknesses of the
various sides of the issue?
Analyzing Other Position Papers
4. How deeply into the argument was the
writer able to go?
5. If there were only two different opinions
did the writer carefully explore the
strengths and weaknesses of each, or did
he/she just disprove one side without
going into the details?
6. What is the writer's position on the
issue? What is he/she arguing that we the
reader should or should not do
7. What are the writer's reasons for
his/her opinion? How well does the writer
support the recommended course of
action?
8. Did the writer see the objections to or
weaknesses in his/her own argument? Did
he/she argue strongly for a particular
point of view or direction?
9. Was the paper persuasive? Why or why
not?
Strategies for Structuring
your Position Paper
1. Define the issue and provide as
thorough a background as possible.
State your own position.
2. Discuss and analyze the various
positions you have researched. Ensure
that both strengths and weaknesses are
taken into account.
3. Discuss your position and analyze
its strengths and weaknesses.
Discuss its relevance to other
positions and why you have chosen
it. Provide counters against
potential criticisms of and
weaknesses in the argument.
4. Give reasons why your position and/or
suggested course of action is the optimum
one for all parties involved.
A successful position paper is one that
persuades its audience towards its
argument.
Reading your paper objectively and
asking the same questions of it as you
asked of the ones you researched, will
help you avoid the same weaknesses in
argument that you may have noticed in
Structure typical of a position paper
An introduction
Identification of the issue
Statement of the position
The body
Background information
Supporting evidence or facts
A discussion of both sides of the issue
A conclusion
Suggested courses of action
Possible solutions
The introduction
should clearly identify the issue and
state the author’s position. It should
be written in a way that catches the
reader’s attention.
It should include background
information.
Background Information:
Discuss the topic in general.
Include:
History of the issue and the problems
Pick only the most important points to include in your position
paper
This section should be concise. Even if your background is
shorter than half a page, it’s ok because it is better to have a
shorter yet more informative background section than it
would be to have a longer but repetitive background.
it is completely from an objective standpoint, no exceptions.
Unbiased, general viewpoint of the community.
Even if you are directly involved with the topic at hand, you
still have to write the section as an outsider.
The body
may contain several paragraphs. Each
paragraph should present an idea or
main concept that clarifies a portion of
the position statement and is
supported by evidence or facts
Evidence can be primary source
quotations, statistical data, interviews
with experts, and indisputable dates
or events.
The body
Evidence should lead, through
inductive reasoning, to the main
concept or idea presented in the
paragraph.
The body may begin with some
background information and should
incorporate a discussion of both sides
of the issue.
The conclusion
should summarize the main
concepts and ideas and reinforce,
without repeating the introduction
or body of the paper.
It could include suggested courses
of action and possible solutions.
Position Paper Outline:
Position Papers are usually 1-2 pages in length.
Double-spaced
12 pt. Times New Roman
1” margin on all sides
ABSOLUTES:
NO BULLSH*T
NO First Person
NO Slang
NO Contractions
NO Plagiarism
NO PROCRASTINATION – meet the deadline
