WRITING THE POSITION PAPER

A. DEFINITION

• A position paper expresses a debatable viewpoint on a topic.

• A position paper aims to persuade the audience that your point of view is
valid and worth hearing.
• To introduce the issue, develop your argument, organize your work, and
thoroughly study your considering ideas.
• It is critical to address both sides of the issue and explain it in a way that
your audience can grasp.
• Your task is to pick one side of the argument and persuade your audience
that you are well-versed in the subject at hand.
• It is critical to back up your statements with proof and respond to
counterclaims to demonstrate that you understand both perspectives.
 B. SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

• It would be best if you did some background study on the

topic.
• While you may already have an opinion on the subject
and a preference for which side of the debate to take, you
must make sure that your viewpoint is well-supported.
• Making a list of the pro and con sides of the topic, as well
as a list of supporting evidence for both sides, will assist
you in assessing your capacity to support your
counterclaims.
 B. SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

• Factual Knowledge - Information that is verifiable

and agreed upon by almost everyone.
• Statistical Inferences - Interpretation and examples
of an accumulation of facts.
• Informed Opinion - Opinion developed through
research and expertise of the claim.
• Personal Testimony - Personal experience related
to a knowledgeable party.
 C. YOUR AUDIENCE

• Who is your audience? (Assume your

audience knows nothing about the topic)
• What do they believe?
• Where might they stand on the issue?
• How are their interests involved?
• What evidence is likely to be effective with
them?
 D. DETERMINING YOUR VIEWPOINT

• How do you feel about the topic?

• Can you assert an argument for your position
on the topic, resulting in a reasonable
(supportable) outcome?
• Do you have enough material to support your
opinion?
 E. ORGANIZATION

• Your introduction should lead up to a thesis that

organizes the rest of your paper. There are three
advantages to leading with the thesis:
• The audience knows where you stand.
• The thesis is in the two strongest places, first and last.
• It is the most common form of academic argument
used.
 F. FORMAT/ SAMPLE OUTLINE

• 1. Introduction

• Introduce the topic.

• Provide background on the topic.
• Assert the thesis (your view of the issue)
 F. FORMAT/ SAMPLE OUTLINE

• 2. Counter Argument

• It always helps your argument to look at the argument

the other side will give.
• Summarize the arguments against your position.
• Provide supporting information for those arguments.
• Rebut those arguments.
 F. FORMAT/ SAMPLE OUTLINE

• 3. Your Argument

• Assert point #1 of your position.

• Give your opinion.
• Provide support.
• . Assert point #2 of your position.
• Give your opinion.
• Provide support.
• Assert point #3 of your position (if you have a third point)
• Give your opinion.
• Provide support.
 F. FORMAT/ SAMPLE OUTLINE

• 4. Conclusion

• Restate your Argument.

• Indicate what the result should be.
• See sample in ION