POSITION

PAPER
 Position Paper
• -It shows people’s views and sentiments on a certain issue
 Position Paper
• also called an argumentative paper or a manifesto, is an essay
that presents a person’s or group’s position or stand on a
particular issue.

•
• Its goal is to convince the reader of the acceptability of the
writer’s position and it does so by:

• -presenting rational support to a writer’s position, through the

use of evidence
• - presenting counter-evidence to or flaws in the arguments of
the opposing position
• -using emotional appeals
 Uses of a Position Paper
• -used in any kind of situation in which there is a significant
issue to be addressed.

• 1. expressing a group’s or a person’s sentiments on an issue,

• 2. it also helps others to become more aware of certain
problems in society
• 3. involved in finding a solution to a problem
Components of a Position
Paper
• 1. Issue
• 2. Thesis
• 3. Reasons
• 4. Support
• 5. Opposing viewpoints or counterarguments
 1. Issue
• An issue is an idea or question over which people are divided :
it’s also called a controversy.

• That means people have different points of view on the matter.

 2. Thesis
• Your thesis, also called the claim, is a statement that expresses
your stand or position on an issue.

• This expresses how you feel about an issue: are you in favor of
or against it?
 3. Reasons
• A position paper seeks to persuade readers to have the same
position on an issue as the writer does.

• Thus, it’s important for the writer to state the reasons in order
to explain to the reader why his or her position is logical ,
acceptable and believable.

• Another term for reasons is arguments.

 4. Support
• Support refers to evidence or ideas to substantiate to reasons.

• Support may be classified into the following types

• 1. Facts – figures and the writer’s own observations or reports
from scholarly studies
• 2. Comparisons – similarities or differences between two
ideas, concepts, or situations
• 3. Examples – real life demonstrations of an idea
• 4. Opinions – the author’s feelings or generalizations
 5. Opposing viewpoints
or counterarguments
• It gives the arguments opposing your stand.

• You refute by showing weaknesses in the counterargument

 PLASTIC BAN IS BAD FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT
As of the start of 2014, nearly all of the cities in Metro Manila
had implemented a ban on plastic bags, in compliance with the
“Total Plastic Ban Act of 2011”. This Act prohibits the sale and
use of conventional (high density polyethylene or HDPE) plastic
bags in business establishments, such as grocery stores, fast food
outlets and restaurants, mall stores and markets, and penalizes
violators with amounts ranging from Php 500 to Php 5,000,
including imprisonment. Businesses are allowed to use only
paper bags or biodegradable plastic bag as substitute. While this
measure appears to be eco-friendly, the fact is that the plastic ban
does more harm than good.
• It is easy to believe that paper bags are more environment-
friendly than conventional plastic bags. After all, paper is
natural; plastic is synthetic . Paper bags degrade easily;
plastics, we are told, stay in the environment for many years.
However, all these are just myths. And anyone who cares
enough to do basic Internet research can find out what science
actually proves.
• The website “All About Bags” (http://www.allabout
bags.ca/papervplasticstudies.html) compiles a number of research studies, both
by private research organizations and governments, and shows the following:
• 1. Research done by the Scottish Government
• in 2005 shows that compared to
• conventional plastic bags, paper bags have
• a more negative impact on water sources.
• Paper bags consume four times more water
• in their production stage, and contribute 14
• times greater in the eutrophication of bodies of
• water . In addition, the report says that because
• paper bags can be as much as 10 times heavier than
• plastic bags, the former eats up more landfill space
• and costs more to transport.
• 2. The ULS Report in 2007 shows that the
• production of conventional plastic bags
• compared to that of paper bags, produces
• significantly less greenhouse emissions (39% for
• plastic vs 68% for paper). It also consumes
• less water: 58 gallons per 1,500 plastic bags
• versus an overwhelming 1,004 gallons per
• 1,000 paper bags.
• 3. A 2011 report from the UK Government says
• conventional HDPE bags shows the least
• negative impact on climate ( a measure
• called “ global warming potential”) compared
• to paper bags and even biodegradable
• plastic bags.
• These findings from credible research bodies prove one thing :
Plastic bans do not make sense. Plastic bans do not work. The
smart-and eco-friendly- thing to do now is to repeal the “Total
Plastic Ban Act of 2011.”
 Questions
• 1. What is the issue taken up in the position paper?
• 2. What is the writer’s claim or thesis on the issue?
• 3. What reasons are given to support this claim?
• 4. What kinds of support are given for the reasons?
• 5. What counterarguments are presented? How are these
refuted?
• 6. Do you find the position paper convincing? Why or why
not?
 Questions
• 1. What is the purpose of a position paper?
• 2. Give three examples of current issues in our society. Prove
that they are controversial by presenting based on your
knowledge, two opposing claims on the issue.
 Activity
• I- Share your answer to any of the questions below.

• 1. Was there a time when you wanted to express your side on

an issue but you could not? What hindered you from sharing
your position ?

• 2. Talk about a time when you publicly expressed your stand

on an issue. How did you feel about your experience?
• II- Get a copy of a position paper or manifesto from any
organization or person. Remember to take note of publication
details, like the writer’s or organization’s name, date of
publication, and the source that published the paper or
manifesto. Apply the same analytical questions that you used
in the previous exercise on “Plastic Ban is Bad for the
Environment”
•