How to build a position paper

Explore

- read widely about a topic.

- read what other people have written about it first

* position paper gave been reached because of different experiences and world views

* each position must be accorded due respect

* positions may come from different takes on morality, concerns about the society, social backgrounds
and political ideologies.

“Minds are like parachutes, they only function when open”. -Thomas denar

Brainstorm – brainstorm with a friend about the ideas you found

- it is better to consult about your argument to see their strength and weaknesses clearly.

Create assertions - are opinions that people may or not agree with.

- they are not GENERAL TRUTH, instead they are positions on an issue.

Gather the evidence – assertions are only good as the quality of one’s evidence.

- after writing one’s assertions, one must gather the evidence to prove each point.

- it is imperative to make sure that each assertion has strong and compelling
evidence.

Evidence can be any of the following:

* facts *interview with experts

*statistics *Perceived philosophical, socio political or psychological truth

Have credible resources – the best sources are bills, laws and declarations from government and
international non-government organization such as United nations

- should you plan to use articles from the internet, one must double check their credibility.

prepare for the opposition – a position will always have a negation of the same position. usually called
the opposition.
refine the arguments.

- an argument is made of three elements.

* assertions * explanation

*evidence

further explanation is often need such as clarification between the link of the assertion and evidences,
the use of further examples and situations.

* list down some of the strongest points. refuse each point.

_this can be done by finding flaws in the arguments,

-checking the quality of their sources.

- analyzing whether the logical link between assertion and evidence holds up.

*refutation is not a summary of the opposition’s arguments. instead, it is a way to go against the
arguments of the opposition.

structure of a position paper

Introduction – it should clearly identify the issue and state the author’s position.

- it should be written in a way that catches the reader’s attention.

language/transitional signal

A. introductory paragraphs – state a strong, firm opinion.

there is no doubt that women are more intelligent than men.

- address the reader direct

* have you considered…?

Body – it may contain several paragraphs

- each paragraph should present an idea.

"WRITING A POSITION PAPER"

introduction

> Writing the POSITION PAPER entails using all your persuasive skills.

> You may begin with a starting fact, o personal experience or an anecdote.

> By the end of your INTRODUCTORY paragraph, you must be clear and concise.

ARGUMENTS

> Next, you may enumerate each of your argument, composed of assertions, evidence, and
explanations.

persuading by means of the ff.:

clear and national thinking;

• being humorous and pointing out ironies;

* couching arguments in emotional way

> After enumerating your arguments, write your refutation of ē opposition

» Sometimes, it is enough to REFUTE just one argument from the opposition; but make sure that your
refutation is AIR TIGHT.

CONCLUSION

> It is best to end your paper with strong insights, a recommendation or a call to action

report means to relay what you have seen, felt, perceived or observed about a thing, topic of an event
or an issue.

Paul M. tall glosses a report as something that is designed to fulfill a need to tell and need to know by
communicating set of ideas from the WRITER'S MIND to the READER'S MIND.

Report - objective factual presentation of data or information about a particular topic, problem or issue,
intended for SPECIFIC reader or an audience.

> Report may communicate the solution to a special problem/ an issue.

TECHNICAL REPORT + is a genre of communication that deals with the subject or topic to be related to
business, industry. science and technology.

FUNCTIONS OF TECHNICAL REPORT (Salvatore J. lacone)

1. Analyze facts and other relevant to provide a basis for decisions.

2. Present the results of an experiment, findings of an investigation.

3. Measure the progress, development of a project or task

4. Describe a process or a method.

5. Provide the history or background of an issue, projects

6. Initiate an investigation.

7. Suggest a solution for a new or current problem.

8. Recommend changes or measure the improvements.

9. Transmit creative ideas

10. Recommend action.

11. Evaluate proposal or an idea

STEPS IN WRITNG TECHNICAL REPORT

I. DETERMINE A WORKABLE SUBJECT OR A TOPIC

1. The topic must be within reporter's line of interest or specialization.

2. The topic must be focused only into one area of knowledge.

3. The topic must be researchable

4. The topic must possess the elements of novelty.

5. The topic must be interesting.

6. The topic must be flexible in nature.

II. COLLECT DATA AND PREPARE THE TENTATIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY

The primary SOURCES of information are as follows:

1. Individual person.

2. Group of persons or organizations.

3. Established practices such as marriage and religious righter. 4. public documents.

RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS OF TECHNIQUES used in gathering information:

A. INTERVIEW the most visible and practical means in obtaining data or information

B. As a manner of doing it, the INTERVIEW is of three types: In person, telephone and mail.

IN-PERSON INTERVIEW when the interviewer meets face to face with the interviewee

TELEPHONE INTERVIEN prompt information is secured through this means.

* to facilitate the manner of an interview.

The report must prepare the questions ahead of time.

• MAIL INTERVIEW c mail is the most modern methods of sending the messages or questions to be
asked to the designated respondents.

B. QUESTIONNAIRE this is usually a set of prepared questions checklists. Good (1972) defines it as a list
of planned written questions related to a particular topic with space provided for indicating the
response of each question intended for submission to a number of persons for reply.

A. OPEN - ENDED OR THE FREE-ANSWER TYPE > Respondents can answer the question by his own words
or in his own way.

B. CLOSED - ENDED OF THE RESTRICTED TYPE

> the respondent is directed to make the responses. There are choices given and the respondent is
asked to check the box of the corresponding answer.

The close-ended type is of two kinds:

* RECALL the responses are recalled.

* RECOGNITION - this type provides responses and the respondent has the option to select his answer.

Three kinds of RECOGNITON TYPE:

* DICHOTOMOUS + the choices are given and only one is to be chosen. (Example: Yes ___ No __)

* MULTIPLE CHOICE * only one answer w required from a list of choices

* MULTIPLE RESPONSE + two or more choices may be taken or chosen

OBSERVATION is the use of the five (5) senses such as sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing. In other
words, it is the sensory perception of data or information.

TYPES OF FORMAL REPORTS

PROGRES REPORT art written to inform the management about the status of a particular project.

> The first part of the report is the SUMMARY, of the previous activities serving as a background.

> In its BODY, it should be compared of a detailed description of the

current activities.

> Serving as it CONCLUDING PARTS are the CONCLUSIONS and RECOMMENDATIONS.

CONTENTS OF PROGRTS REPORT

INTRODUCTION, which represents the previous activities.

BODY, which covers the detailed current activities.

CONCLUSIONS with Recommendations.

CLASSIFICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATON REPORT

1. OPERATION REPORT - this type pertains to the location, efficiency, equipment and personnel of
the plant.
2. CONSTRUCTION REPORT - it is prepared when the report is related to the systems, structures,
mechanisms or apparatus.