Basic Features of Position papers

1. Presenting the issue:

Unless an issue is current, hotly debated, and well-known to many readers,
writers need to identify the issue as well as explain it to readers. To present the issue,
writers may provide several kinds of information; for example, they might place it in
a historical or cultural context, cite specific examples to make the issue less abstract,
show their personal interest, or establish or redefine the terms of the debate.
2. Asserting a clear, unequivocal position:
Writers of position papers take sides. Their primary purpose is to assert a
position of their own and to influence the readers thinking. This assertion is the main
point of the essay, its thesis. It tells the reader the writers position on an issue.
Usually it comes early in the essay, and frequently it forecasts the stages of the
argument as well, identifying the main reasons that will be developed in the course of
the essay.
3. Arguing directly for the position:
Writers must provide reasons for their positions. They do this with facts,
statistics, examples and anecdotes, quotes from experts, and analogies. Facts are
statements that can be proven objectively to be true. Although statistics may be
mistaken for facts, they often are only interpretations or correlations of numerical
data. Examples and anecdotes, in contrast, tend not to make truth claims or pretend to
apply to everyone. Instead they present particular stories and vivid images that work
by appealing to readers emotions. Analogies are comparisons that encourage readers
to assume that what is true about one thing is also true about something to which it is
compared.
4. Counter-arguing objections and opposing positions:
Writers of position papers try to anticipate likely objections and questions
readers might raise as well as opposing positions. Writers may then concede or refute
this counterargument. If the counterargument is thoughtful and reasonable, the writer
will concede. If however the criticism is flawed or weak, a writer will refute it by
poking holes in the logic and support of the counterargument.
5. Establishing credibility:
Readers judge the credibility of a position paper by the way it presents the
issue, argues for the position, and counter-argues objections and opposing positions.
Readers expect writers to advocate forcefully for their positions, but at the same time
they expect writers to avoid misrepresenting other points of view, attacking opponents
personally, or manipulating readers emotions. A writer establishes credibility by
creating a bond of trust with readers; this is accomplished by demonstrating shared
values, beliefs, attitudes, and ideals.