Position Paper - Myers

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A Position Paper is a common type of academic argument writing assignment. Typically, a Position Paper
is written after reading about and discussing a particular issue. Quite often, the readings cover more
than one issue, and as a writer you must choose a particular area of focus. The central goal of writing a
position paper is not only to state and defend your position on the issue but also to show how your
stance relates to other positions. As we write the Position Paper, we will continue to practice skills such
as articulating a thesis statement that contains an overall claim, developing an argument with reasons
and evidence, and using transitions and reader cues for coherence. We will also introduce the following
skills:

identifying issues in a set of readings

collecting information from readings on a particular issue

positioning one's claim in relation to other positions on the issue

documenting sources using MLA in-text citations and works cited

choosing an effective organizational strategy

researching the library and Internet for sources

Purpose of the paper: To argue your position on an issue raised in at least two of the articles we have
read, showing how your position relates to those of the authors

Audience: An academic audience that includes the authors of the readings and others interested in the
issue upon which you are focusing.

Strategies:

Focus on a narrowly defined issue found in at least two of the readings. Use a specific, clearly stated
thesis to introduce the focus. Introduce the issue early in the discussion.

Develop your argument by defending your claim and showing how it relates to the positions of your
sources. Show the positions of three authors, at least two of which must be from the list below of class
readings. You must refer to all class readings that address the issue upon which you focus. Use clearly
stated reasons and relevant, effective evidence. Reasons should represent sound logic. Evidence may be
drawn from the readings, personal experience, and outside sources such as interviews, surveys, or
written sources.

Organize your paper in a way that effectively conveys information to your readers, is easy to follow, and
presents your position in relation to those of the authors.

Document all outside sources (both written and field sources) using MLA in-text citations and works
cited.
Write in a style that is clear, readable, appropriate to audience, and free from distracting errors in
spelling, grammar, and usage.

Readings:

John Henry Newman, "The Idea of a University"

Caroline Bird, "Where College Fails Us"

Allan Bloom, "The Student and the University"

Mike Rose, "The Politics of Remediation"

Paul Levitt, "The Unprepared Undergraduate"

Deborah Tannen, "How Male and Female Students Use Language Differently"

Requirements:

Length: 4-6 pages

Workshop and final draft: typed, double spaced, 1-inch margins, 10-12 point legible font

Find an article from a periodical or the Internet relevant to your issue.

Submit final draft in pocket folder with all drafts, workshop comments, notes, collecting, photocopy(ies)
of outside written source(s), homework not yet collected, postscript.

Syllabus of Daily Assignments

Thurs., Feb. 25: Research Orientation.

Assignment DUE: Academic Response Paper. Read pp. 232-33; 531-46 in PHG.

Tues., March 2: Identifying issues in readings. Research time.

Assignment DUE: Read Position Paper assignment carefully. Make a list of at least 5 themes or topics
that are covered in at least two of the readings.

Thurs., March 4: Evaluating Sources. Collecting strategies.

Assignment DUE: Bring a copy of an article relevant to the issue you wish to address in your paper. Write
a summary of the article which focuses on the article's position on your issue and how it relates to at
least two other articles we have read. Review pp. 543-45 ("Evaluating Internet Resources"); p. 547
("Evaluating Library Resources").

Enjoy Spring Break!

 Tues., March 16: Exploring your position: the zero draft.

Assignment DUE: Bring all collecting, notes, etc. gathered up to this point.

Thurs., March 18: Introduce Interview Assignment. Using field sources in your position paper. Avoiding
Logical Fallacies.

Assignment DUE: Read about interviews and surveys, pp. 235-37; fallacies, pp. 456-58.

Tues., March 23: Organizing for effectiveness.

Thurs., March 25: Class canceled for individual conferences. Bring draft to conference appointment.

Tues., March 30: Documenting sources.

Assignment DUE: Interview report. Bring PHG and all sources you're using in paper.

Thurs., April 1: Peer review workshop.

Assignment DUE: Revised draft of paper.

Tues., April 6: Introduce Research Paper

Assignment DUE: Position Paper.

https://writing.colostate.edu/guides/teaching/co301aman/pop8a1.cfm

5 Steps to Writing a Position Paper

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English
 Writing
o Writing Research Papers
o Writing Essays
o Journalism
 English Grammar
byGrace Fleming
Updated October 27, 2018

In a position paper assignment, your charge is to choose a side on a particular

topic, sometimes controversial, and build up a case for your opinion or position.
You will use facts, opinion, statistics, and other forms of evidence to convince
your reader that your position is the best one. To do this, you'll collect research
for your position paper and craft an outline in order to create a well-constructed
argument.

Select a Topic for Your Paper

Your position paper centers around a topic that is supported by research. Your
topic and position have to hold up when challenged, so it's helpful to research a
few topics and pick the one you can best argue, even if it may not reflect your
personal beliefs. In many cases, the subject matter and your topic are not as
important as your ability to make a strong case. Your topic can be simple or
complex, but your argument must be sound and logical.

Conduct Preliminary Research

Preliminary research is necessary to determine whether sufficient evidence is
available to back up your stance. You don’t want to get too attached to a topic that
falls apart under a challenge.

Search a few reputable sites, like education (.edu) sites and government (.gov)
sites, to find professional studies and statistics. If you come up with nothing after
an hour of searching, or if you find that your position doesn’t stand up to the
findings on reputable sites, choose another topic. This could save you from a lot
of frustration later.

Challenge Your Own Topic

You must know the opposite view as well as you know your own stance when you
take a position. Take the time to determine all the possible challenges that you
might face as you support your view. Your position paper must address the
opposing view and chip away at it with counter-evidence. Consider having
friends, colleagues, or family debate the topic with you to get alternative points of
view that you might not have readily considered yourself. When you find
arguments for the other side of your position, you can address them in a fair
manner, and then state why they are not sound.
Another helpful exercise is to draw a line down the middle of a plain sheet of
paper and list your points on one side and list opposing points on the other side.
Which argument is really better? If it looks like your opposition might outnumber
you with valid points, you should reconsider your topic or your stance on the
topic.

Continue to Collect Supporting Evidence

Once you’ve determined that your position is supportable and the opposite
position is (in your opinion) weaker than your own, you are ready to branch out
with your research. Go to a library and conduct a search, or ask the reference
librarian to help you find more sources. You can, of course, conduct online
research as well, but it's important to know how to properly vet the validity of the
sources you use. Ensure that your articles are written by reputable sources, and
be wary of singular sources that differ from the norm, as these are often
subjective rather than factual in nature.

Try to collect a variety of sources, and include both an expert’s opinion (doctor,
lawyer, or professor, for example) and personal experience (from a friend or
family member) that can add an emotional appeal to your topic. These
statements should support your own position but should read differently than
your own words. The point of these is to add depth to your argument or provide
anecdotal support.

Create an Outline
A position paper can be arranged in the following format:

1. Introduce your topic with some basic background information. Build up to

your thesis sentence, which asserts your position. Sample points:

 For decades, the FDA has required that warning labels should be placed on
certain products that pose a threat to public health.
 Fast food restaurants are bad for our health.
 Fast food packages should contain warning labels.

2. Introduce possible objections to your position. Sample points:

 Such labels would affect profits of major corporations.

 Many people would see this as overreaching government control.
 Whose job is it to determine which restaurants are bad? Who draws the
line?
 The program would be costly.
3. Support and acknowledge the opposing points. Just be sure you aren't
discrediting your own views. Sample points:

 It would be difficult and expensive for any entity to determine which

restaurants should adhere to the policy.
 Nobody wants to see the government overstepping its boundaries.
 Funding would fall on the shoulders of taxpayers.

4. Explain that your position is still the best one, despite the strength of counter-
arguments. This is where you can work to discredit some of the counter-
arguments and support your own. Sample points:

 The cost would be countered by the improvement of public health.

 Restaurants might improve the standards of food if warning labels were
put into place.
 One role of the government is to keep citizens safe.
 The government already does this with drugs and cigarettes.

5. Summarize your argument and restate your position. End your paper focusing
on your argument and avoid the counter-arguments. You want your audience to
walk away with your view on the topic being one that resonates with them.

When you write a position paper, write with confidence and state your opinion
with authority. After all, your goal is to demonstrate that your position is the
correct one.

https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-write-a-position-paper-1857251

Writing Position Papers

Write a position paper to

Organize and outline your viewpoint on an issue

Formally inform others of your position

as a foundation to build resolution to difficult problems

Present a unique, though biased, solution

or a unique approach to solving a problem

Frame the discussion in order to define the "playing field."

This can put you in an advantageous position with those who may not be so well prepared as regards
the issues behind their positions

Establish your credibility

Here you are demonstrating that you have a command of the issues and the research behind them, and
can present them clearly

Let your passion be demonstrated in the force of your argument

rather than in the use of emotional terms

Guide you in being consistent in maintaining your position in negotiation

The better prepared you are

the more disadvantaged are your opponents and more likely they will defer to you

Guidelines:

Format should be consistent with guidelines determined by the sponsoring organization or committee

Include topic, date, purpose, etc., and should readily identify you as the author

If the paper represents a group, organization, committee, do not write in the first person (not I, my,
mine, etc. but rather we, our, etc.)

Limit yourself to two pages following the format established by previous successful position papers

Research:

Develop supporting evidence for both sides

including factual knowledge, statistical evidence, authoritative testimony

Identify the issues and prejudices keeping in mind your audience

List these as appropriate and anticipate counterclaims

Assume familiarity with basic concepts

but define unfamiliar terms/concepts or state meanings that define your point of departure

Refer to those who agree with your position to assist you in developing your argument

Familiarize yourself with those who disagree with you to prepare your defense.

Summarize their argument and evidence, then refute

Introduction:

Consider your audience:

start with a topic sentence or two that attracts attention and summarizes the issue

Inform the reader of your point of view

Development:

Focus on three main points to develop

Each topic is developed with

a general statement of the position

an elaboration that references documents and source data

past experiences and authoritative testimony

conclusion restating the position

Establish flow from paragraph to paragraph

Keep your voice active

Quote sources to establish authority

Stay focused on your point of view throughout the essay

Focus on logical arguments

Don't lapse into summary

in the development--wait for the conclusion

Conclusion

Summarize, then conclude, your argument

Refer to the first paragraph/opening statements

as well as the main points

does the conclusion restate the main ideas?

reflect the succession and importance of the arguments

logically conclude their development?

Share a draft with others

to better develop the paper and ensure that your argument is clear

Revise, spell-check, and succeed in building your case.

Writing assignments

Writing for the "Web" | The five-paragraph essay | Essays for a literature class |

Expository essays | Persuasive essays | Position papers | Open book exams |

Essay Exams | White papers | Lab reports/scientific papers |

Research proposals | Elements of a Research Paper

Seven stages of writing assignments | "Lessons learned"

https://www.studygs.net/wrtstr9.htm