POSITION PAPER

 used in a kind of situation in which there is a significant issue to be addressed

 used in different contexts:
o requirement in schools
o international relations
o politics
 helps to become more aware of certain problems in society in society and possibly more
involved in finding solution

PARTS OF A POSITION PAPER

A position paper contains the following elements: issue, claim on this issue, reasons to explain this
claim, support for the reasons, and opposing viewpoints (Mcwhorter, 2001).

1. Issue – an idea or issue over which people are divided; controversy

a. Exercise is good for the health and smoking is bad
b. Legalize medically assisted suicide or euthanasia
2. Thesis – is a statement that expresses stand or position on an issue; claim; favor or against an
issue
3. Reasons – persuade readers to have the same position; to explain to the reader why his or her
position is logical, acceptable, and believable; argument
4. Support – evidence or ideas to substantiate the reasons
a. Facts – figures and the writer’s own observations or reports from scholarly studies
b. Comparisons – similarities or differentiation between two ideas, concepts, or situations
c. Examples – real-life demonstration of an idea
d. Opinions – the author’s feelings or generalizations
5. Opposing viewpoints or counterarguments – give arguments opposing stand; to refute or
discredit arguments so that any opposition will be dealt with

WRITING A POSITION PAPER

Step 1: Choosing an issue for a topic

Step 2: Collect information on the Issue

Step 3: Organize the Content

STEP 1: CHOOSING AN ISSUE FOR A TOPIC

Issues can be drawn out from the problems we have in the society or from our own experiences. We can
also get issues by paying attentions to the news and other media sources and school events such
conferences and lectures.
STEP 2: COLLECT INFORMATION ON THE ISSUE

Gathering information on the chosen issue can help you decide on your position or claim. If you do not
have one yet, or if you do, this step can help you strengthen your position.

It is important that you gather information on both sides of the issue.

Information which will give you a strong understanding of the issue should be gathered first. You may
start by asking basic reporter questions (WH questions)

A position may be supported through two major types:

 Logical Approach – use of facts to persuade readers/audiences by targeting their thinking;

REASONING
 Emotional Approach – use of audiences’/readers’ feelings to persuade; may also refer to values
that readers may identify with

(ACTIVITY NO. 2)

(ALL PAPERS TO BE PASSED IN THIS ACTIVITY MUST BE REPRODUCED BY THE GROUP DEPENDING ON
THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT TO AN AUTOMATIC 0 POINTS FOR THE
QUIZ.)

Search for information relevant to the social issue and stand given to your group.

1. The sources to be searched must contain important information about the social issue given to
the group
2. Write the relevant information that you got from the source (grid).
3. Take note of the bibliographical data of the source you found (grid).
4. Each group must find at least 9 sources of information
5. Accomplish the following grid on a 1 whole sheet of yellow paper.
6. The documentation must collate all the works of the members. Make sure all the papers have
CN, Names, and Group No.
7. Staple the papers
8. Leaders will grade the participation of the members using the rubric provided by the teacher.
9. Pass the activity after an hour.
10. Failure to pass the papers within the time period will result to a deduction to the total points. *1
point per 5 minutes***

STEP 3: ORGANIZE THE CONTENT

 INTRODUCTION
 BODY
 CONCLUSION

**include a brief explanation of OUTLINING**

INTRODUCTION

 Introduce the issue being debated – answer the (WH questions). Your goal is to provide
readers with background of the issue
o Characteristics of an excellent introduction:
 All WH questions were covered
 All the concepts, definitions, narratives, and other explanations
regarding the issue are clearly stated; there are no unclear or confusing
ideas
 All the details relevant to the topic – names, places, and dates – are
correct
 State your claim – the thesis should be clearly indicate the stand at the onset of the
paper
o A good thesis statement shows a position – it should be debatable.
 While corporal punishment may be immediately effective, it has a
negative impact on children in the long term.
 Corporal punishment should not be used on children as form of
discipline.
o To make your thesis statement better, you can use keywords to summarize the
content of the body
 While corporal punishment may be immediately effective, it has a
negative impact on children’s self-esteem and social skills in the longs
term.

BODY

1. Present the opposing viewpoint – accurately represent what the opposing side is
saying about the issue; allow the other side of the camp to ‘speak’; the goal of
presenting opposing argument is to refute by pointing out the flaws and weaknesses
by:
o Showing errors
o Pointing out negative consequences of the opposing position
o Showing inadequacies of its evidence
o Arguing the values espoused by the opposing sides do not agree with the
valued upheld by the readers
An excellent presentation of the opposing viewpoint should do the following:
o Cover all the arguments raised by the other side
o Adequately explain the support for those arguments
o Convincingly show that the opposing sides should not be believed

2. Convince you audience by giving providing adequate support – do the following to

come up with an excellent presentation of your viewpoint:
o Clearly state reason for your claim
o Employ a variety of supports to make your claim convincing and interesting
 o DO NOT FORGET to cite sources and properly document them
o USE credible sources

3. You may also present your body in this structure:

o Present your position
o Summarize the opposing viewpoint
o Point out weaknesses of the opposing viewpoint

CONCLUSION

1. Summarize arguments
2. Reiterate your position/thesis