POSITION PAPER

BUTIL VILLANUEVA
MERCADO PRADO
HIDALGO SATUR
PAPASIN PALITOC
 OVERVIEW
• Definition of the position paper
• Elements of a good position paper
• Guidelines in making the position
paper
• Format and documentation style
POSITION PAPER - is a detailed report that
recommends a course of action
-Is a diplomatic statement of a position on a
certain issue.
- it is a tool used to clarify a position, provide
ideas for negotiation, examine all sides of the
issue and practice written diplomacy.
- it is an essay that presents an opinion about
an issue.
- its function is to present a position underlying
a subject or issue.
- it is also used to advocate the reader on an
argument or position
USE AND IMPORTANCE OF A
POSITION PAPER
To present position upon which Staff may based
their decision
To argue, convince, advocate reader of a course of
action
Why?
- To express ones ideas to give explanation to
existing problems
- To convince that a policy or action must or
must not be adopted with the intent of improving the
organization.
 GUIDELINES IN MAKING THE POSITION PAPER

Be careful not to offer a mere description of

the topic. The best position paper will be those that
define, analyze and critically address the issue
under investigation. You should be mindful whether
there is sufficient material available to write a
position paper that is critically documented and
makes a convincing statement regarding the topic of
your choice.
 All topics must be approved by the
instructors before you can begin your research.
Students are strongly urged to develop their topics
in consultation with the instructor. You must
provide scrupulous documentation for factual
assertion, provide references for opinions
attributed to others, whether through direct
quotation or paraphrasing. Any form of plagiarism
will result will result in receiving an F for the
position paper.
 The writer of the position paper presents
convincing evidence to support his/her point of
view, while addressing and arguing against the
arguments presented by the opposing side. This
discussion is framed from academic perspective
and not simply based on personal opinion.

You will follow the APA format or style of

documentation.
FORMAT AND CONTENT OF A
POSITION PAPER
• Introduction
• Discussion
• Conclusion

• Include ‘References’ after last page

of ‘Conclusion’ . It should be SEPARATE
page!!
 FORMAT AND CONTENT OF A
POSITION PAPER
• Introduction
– General Statement about the topic
– Thesis Statement
• Ex 1. This paper argues that lesbians and gays
should be accepted in the military service.
• Ex 2. The central theme of this paper is based on
the assertion that flag raisings should only be
conducted every …
• Ex 3. I will argue that China is not a threat to Asia…
 FORMAT AND CONTENT OF A
POSITION PAPER
• Introduction
– General Statement about the topic/Purpose
– Thesis Statement (Argument)
– Essay Map
• Ex 1 . This paper will firstly discuss the emergence of
China as a hegemonic state in Asia. This will be followed
by a discussion on why China is not a threat in Asia and
lastly the paper commends how China’s growth should be
perceived by its neighbouring countries.
Format and Content of a Position
Paper
 Introduction
 General Statement about the topic/Purpose
 Thesis Statement
 Essay Map
 Ex 2 . This paper will discuss the three reasons why
lesbians and gays should be accepted in the military
service. First reason that will be discussed is that
acceptance of lesbian and gays will bring about _____
in the service. Second argument that will be presented
is that the acceptance of L & G will allow _______.
FORMAT AND CONTENT OF A
POSITION PAPER
• Discussion • NOTE: VERY IMPORTANT –
– Discuss the essay map you ARGUMENTS YOU RAISED
have written in the SHOULD BE SUPPORTED
Introduction WITH RELIABLE SOURCES!!!
– Each paragraph should Examples:
contain a topic sentence, …This argument is ably
followed by supporting supported by the study
sentences conducted by the Institute of
– Ex. Para 1- Topic sentence _____.
Supporting
sentences According to Dr. Phil of the
Para 2 -Topic sentence College of ____
Supporting
sentences In an interview made
… and so on _____
 FORMAT AND CONTENT OF
A POSITION PAPER
• Conclusion
– Summary
– General statement
– Ex 1. In conclusion, the three reasons cited in
this study namely growth, equality and balance
brought about by the emergence of China as a
hegemonic state clearly indicate why China
should not be perceived as a threat to Asia…
FORMAT AND CONTENT OF A
POSITION PAPER
 Conclusion
 Summary
 General statement
 Ex 2. This paper discussed the three reasons
why flag raisings should only be conducted
every ____. These reason were ______,
_______ and ______. The reasons cited in this
study point out that flag raisings conducted
every ______ is not _____ and would lead only
to _______.
 SUMMARY

• Position Paper
– To express ones ideas to give explanation to
existing problems
– To convince that a policy or action must or
must not be adopted with the intent of
improving the organization.
• Parts: Introduction ( Gen. Statement, Thesis Statement, Essay
Map), Body and Conclusion
Format of the position paper

I. Title page
II. Abstract
III. Page for the seminar members
IV. Table of contents
V. Acknowledgement
VI. Disclaimer
Disposition Form
Subject to Letter
Position paper
VII. Appendices
Annex “A” will be the bibliography
 DOCUMENTATION STYLE

Whenever you use ideas that are not your own,

you have to cite those ideas to avoid plagiarism.
In other words, you have to tell the reader
specifically where those ideas originated.
Different disciplines use different formats for
citations in professional journals or for student
papers. APA and MLA are two common formats.
Plagiarism is defined in in the 1995 Random
House Compact Unabridged Dictionary , is the use
or close imitation of the language and thoughts of
another author and the representation of them as
one’s own original work. With in academia,
plagiarism by students , professor or researchers
is considered academic dishonesty or academic
fraud and offenders are subject to academic
censure up to and including expulsion
How can we avoid
plagiarism?
What does the APA and MLA format include?
In-text Citations
Works Cited Page

What does the APA and MLA format include?

In-text Citations
Works Cited Page

In-Text Citations: An abbreviated way of

documenting your sources within your paper so
that the reader sees your source immediately after
the quote, paraphrase, or idea.

Works Cited Page: The last page of your paper

that fully documents (e.g. author, title, publication
company, etc.) all the sources you cited in your
paper.
What
What does
If does the
the APA
APA and
and MLA
MLA format
format include?
include?
In-text Citations
In-text Citations
Works Cited Page
Works Cited Page

If you're using APA, after each sentence that is

researched from another source put in parenthesis
the author's last name and the year of publication. If
you're using MLA, put in parenthesis the author's
name and the page number.

Example using APA: "Out of 20,000 people polled,

45% felt the internet was too commercialized"
(Foresi 1997). Example using MLA: "Out of 20,000
people polled, 45% felt the internet was too
commercialized" (Foresi 23).
What
What does
If does the
the APA
APA and
and MLA
MLA format
format include?
include?
In-text Citations
In-text Citations
Works Cited Page
Works Cited Page

In text citation APA uses the last name followed by

the middle initial Example: (Reyes R, 2009)

In APA only the first word in the title is capitalized

the rest is in italics.
Example:

772ND Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron

of 710th Special Operations Wing

What
What does
If does the
the APA
APA and
and MLA
MLA format
format include?
include?
In-text Citations
In-text Citations
Works Cited Page
Works Cited Page

APA format also requires an abstract , unlike the MLA

where no abstract is required.

What is an abstract?
it is a short summary of your paper consisting
of a 75-100 word overview of the essay and should
be after the title page.

In APA visuals and tables are permitted .

It must have a title that is centered on the top of the
page and doubled space.
The reference list is the last page of the paper and
must be alphabetized by last name of the authors.
What
What does
If does the
the APA
APA and
and MLA
MLA format
format include?
include?
In-text Citations
In-text Citations
Works Cited Page
Works Cited Page

In MLA and APA the page number is placed on the

upper right corner of the page.

In APA the source page that is the bibliography is

called the “References” while in MLA it is called the
“Work Cited”.
Both are placed in the center of the page.

MLA and APA format will ensure that the paper are
properly cited and the author chance of plagiarizing
is reduced.
Thank you and
Good day