Position Paper

What is a Position Paper?

Like a debate, a
position paper
presents one side of
an arguable opinion
about an issue.
The goal of a position
paper is to convince the
audience that your
opinion is valid and
defensible.
 Importance….

 It is very important to ensure that you

are addressing all sides of the issue and
presenting it in a manner that is easy
for your audience to understand.
 The position paper is something you
want to excel at, and to do this, several
criteria must be met.
 The position paper is meant to give
delegates an opportunity to organize
their research into an organized policy
statement.
 In position paper, you have to take one
side of the argument and persuade your
audience that you have a well-founded
knowledge of the topic being presented.
 It is important to support your
argument with evidence to ensure the
validity of your claim, as well as to
refute the counterclaims to show that
you are well informed about both sides.
Remember: The position paper is written
based on facts that provide a solid
foundation on the topic.
 FOUR STEPS IN
WRITINGA
POSITION PAPER
 I. OUTLINE THE TOPIC IN GENERAL

 The purpose of outlining the topic in general

and providing insight into the root of the
conflict.
 As the subject of the paper is FreeTrade, the
write-up begins by first stating the areas of
concern, discussing some of the positive
aspects of globalization, as well as
emphasizing the controversial nature of the
topic at hand.
 I. OUTLINE THE TOPIC IN GENERAL

Your opening paragraph should

,as this paper attest to, a brief
summary of the current
perception held toward the
status qou. It should state the
problem and express why it is
significant.
II. IDENTIFY AND DESCRIBE YOUR LOCATION-
HOW HAS YOUR PLACE BEEN AFFECTED?

 Where your background research on

your location pays off?
 Firstly, you should identify and
describe your country. Be sure to state
how your nation relates to the topic for
discussion, specifically citing how your
state has been affected.
II. IDENTIFY AND DESCRIBE YOUR LOCATION-
HOW HAS YOUR PLACE BEEN AFFECTED?

 It is imperative to emphasize the extent

to which change has taken place. Hold
off any normative judgements in this
section, the purpose of this paragraph
is not to evaluate the institution or
development in reference to your
country, but rather, to merely discuss
how it has altered domestic dynamics.
III. YOUR COUNTRY’S POLICIES AND PROPOSED
SOLUTIONS

 Where you outline your country’s policies and what

factors contributed to those policies being
established in the firs place.
 At this point, you are to address the relative
benefits (if any) and detriments of the
development, specifically relating to your nation
and the actions you have taken to maximize or
minimize these effects.
III. YOUR COUNTRY’S POLICIES AND PROPOSED
SOLUTIONS

 You are to explain why your country has

acted in a certain fashion historically and
why it will continue to follow this course of
action.
 Outline your state’s particular interest in the
issue being discussed, and begin to discuss
what needs to be changed about the current
interpretation of the situation.
III. YOUR COUNTRY’S POLICIES AND PROPOSED
SOLUTIONS

Cite the areas needing reform

and provide suggestions as to
how this revision process should
be accomplished. Following this,
you may want to focus on one
area of particular concern for
your country.
III. YOUR COUNTRY’S POLICIES AND PROPOSED
SOLUTIONS

 Depending on your topic area, this

could be anything from the affect of
a war on a nation’s health care
infrastructure to how creating new
national boundaries may affect
resources along the potential
borders.
III. YOUR COUNTRY’S POLICIES AND PROPOSED
SOLUTIONS

Be sure to select an area of

concern that could
potentially form the basis of a
resolution, or at least one
that can stimulate prolonged
debate.
IV. TIE TOGETHER LOOSE ENDS

Finally a conclusion should

be written to restate your
country’s position and sum
up what you hope to achieve
throughout the duration of
the conference.
 IV. TIE TOGETHER LOOSE ENDS

 The position paper leaves the

committee chair with a first impression
of your delegation. Naturally, it’s
important to make that impression as
strong as possible. The staff looks for
original and critical thinking, a true
understanding of the nature of your
nation and both a function and applied
knowledge of your topic.
 IV. TIE TOGETHER LOOSE ENDS

 Be sure to demonstrate this through

presenting a concise yet effective paper.
As expressed before, be sure to dedicate
equivalent energy to position papers for
both topic areas. They are equally
important in the eyes of the committee
and the directors (the people who will
be evaluating your write-ups.)
 GENERAL SAMPLE OUTLINE OF POSITION
PAPER

I. INTRODUCTION
A. Introduce the topic
B. Get the reader’s attention by using a
“hook”
C. Provide background information on
the topic
D. Assert the thesis (your view of the
issue)
II. FIRST ARGUMENT OR REASON TO SUPPORT
YOUR POSITION
A. Topic sentence asserting point #1 of your claims
1. Give your educated and informed opinion
2. Provide support using reliable sources.
3. Comment on evidence given
4. Write a concluding sentence to wrap up your idea
III. COUNTER ARGUMENT (IT CAN
BE PLACE BEFORE CONCLUSION)
A. Summarize the counterclaims
B. Provide supporting information for
counterclaims
C. Refute the counterclaims
D. Get evidence for argument
IV. SECOND ARGUMENT OR REASON TO
SUPPORT YOUR POSITION
A. Topic sentence asserting point #2 of your claims
1. Give your educated and informed opinion
2. Provide support using reliable sources.
3. Comment on evidence given
4. Write a concluding sentence to wrap up your idea
V. THIRD ARGUMENT OR REASON TO SUPPORT
YOUR POSITION
A. Topic sentence asserting point #2 of your claims
1. Give your educated and informed opinion
2. Provide support using reliable sources.
3. Comment on evidence given
4. Write a concluding sentence to wrap up your idea
VI. CONCLUSION
A. Summary of main points or
reasons
B. Restate your argument
C. Provide a plan of action but do
not introduce new information.
CONSIDERATIONS
IN PREPARING
POSITION PAPER
 I. ISSUE CRITERIA

 Is it a real issue, with genuine

controversy and uncertainty?
 Can you identify at least two distinctive
positions?
 Are you personally interested in
advocating one of these positions?
 Is the scope of the issue narrow enough
to be manageable?
II. CONSIDERING YOUR AUDIENCE AND
DETERMINING YOUR VIEWPOINT

 Is your topic interesting? Remember that

originality counts.
 Can you manage the material within the
specifications set by the instructor?
 Does your topic assert something specific,
prove it and where applicable, propose a
plan of action?
 Do you have enough material or proof to
support your opinion?
 III. STATING YOUR THESIS

 A THESIS is a one sentence statement about your topic.

It’s an assertion about your topic, something you claim to
be true. To make your topic into a thesis statement, you
need to make a claim about it, make it into a sentence.
Example:
Orig topic:an important issue in my major field
Focused topic: media tech education for communication
majors
Thesis: Theories of media technology deserve a more
prominent place in this University’s Communication
program.
IV.WRITING WITH STYLE AND CLARITY

1. DICTION – refers to the choice

of words for the expression of ideas:
the construction, disposition and
application of words in your essay,
with regard to clearness, accuracy
and variety, etc,: mode of expression
and language.
IV.WRITING WITH STYLE AND CLARITY

2. Paragraphs
o creating clear paragraphs is essential.
Paragraphs come in many sizes and patterns
that no single formula could possibly cover
them all.
o It is developing and framing an idea or
expression.
o Carefully and clearly organize the order of
your paragraphs.
IV.WRITING WITH STYLE AND CLARITY

3. Transitions it tells the reader

what to do with the information you
present them. Its function is to give
signal for readers how to old and
new ideas as they read through what
you have written. Basically, it
provides readers a directions how to
logically coherent to arguments.
IV.WRITING WITH STYLE AND CLARITY

4. Grammar and spelling - make

sure that your paper is free from
grammar and spelling mistakes.
Mechanical errors are usually the
main reason for lack of clarity in
essays, be thoroughly proof read
your paper before handling it in.
IV.WRITING WITH STYLE AND CLARITY

5. Plagiarism and academic

honesty-plagiarism is a form of
stealing: as with other offenses
against the law, ignorance is no
excuse. Give credit where credit is
due even if you have changed the
wording or just summarized the
main points.
Choose your topic…..

1. Legality of Divorce in the

Philippines
2. The use of mother tongue
language in teaching-learning
process
3. Duterte administration
4. One child policy in the Philippines