POSITION

PAPER
UNIT 4: LESSON 6 - Definition, Purposes and
Arguments of a Position Paper
UNIT 3: Writing the Report
Survey/ Field Report/
Laboratory/ Scientific Technical
Report
LESSON 1: LESSON 3:
Preparing a Questionnaire
Definition, Objectives and
General Guidelines in writing
a Report LESSON 4:
Conducting an Interview

LESSON 2: LESSON 5:
Types, Format and Conducting an Observation
Characteristics of a Report
TODAY’S LESSON
WRITING A
POSITION
PAPER
UNIT 4: LESSON 6
FOR TODAY’S OBJECTIVE:
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

a. select a good topic for a position paper;

b. present good arguments for an issue; and
c. explain the contents of each part of the position
paper
d. value the importance of taking a position on the
relevant issues in the society.
INTRODUCTION:

Now more than ever, more and more societal difficulties such as crisis, calamities,
and economical problems are on the rise day by day. With this, we, people, want to be
involved and take part in solving these problems because WE WANT TO BE HEARD.
In fact, we all have our own opinions and beliefs especially when it comes to the issues
that matter most. With our viewpoints, we actually craft arguments to assert and to
convince other people to side on us. To do this, we tend to make strong claims and
support these with facts through critical analyses.

Our lesson for today is very timely and relevant considering that a lot of interesting
issues are everywhere. For the next 2 hours, we will be learning about the definition and
purposes of a position paper, selecting a good topic for such text, and on how to present
good arguments to come up with a first-rate position paper.
 For a
starter!
Let’s do the Activity
entitled

PRO OR NOT
WARM UP ACTIVITY:
Listed below are various issues we have at present. Decide whether you
are in favor with the issue or not. List down reason/s as to why you have
chosen that stand.

1.Should academic freeze be implemented in the

Philippines during a Pandemic?
2. Should ABS-CBN be given a chance to reacquire

a franchise?
3. Should the City of Baguio continue to accept
tourists during this time of crisis?
What is a
Position
Paper
- A position paper is a type of
academic text that presents arguable
opinion on a certain issue and tries to
defend the side or position chosen by
the writer.
- It may be biased, but all claims and
opinions presented should be based on
facts and supported with evidences to
make it a formal paper and not just a
collection of opinions.
 PURPOSES OF A
POSITION PAPER

 To express support or opposition on the issue presented.

To express a position on a particular issue makes you to be a part of the organization or
society you are in, but there are more benefits apart from that. According to
Bluementhal (2012), taking a stand helps individuals build self-confidence and self-
respect, develop a strong sense of self, and build integrity.

 To examine the position on the issue I

If you have already chosen your stand on the issue presented, identify the strengths and
weaknesses of your chosen position and address them through logical reasoning and use
of facts.
 PURPOSES OF A
POSITION PAPER
 To generate support on an issue
Generating support on an issue creates community, builds foundations, and sustains
movements that matter to create significant changes. To do all these well, viewpoints and
rationales that present evidences based on facts should be provided to form a solid
ground.

 To persuade readers to believe what the author believes in

Convincing someone is very important as it helps people to change preconceived notions
into something better. It expands one’s knowledge and understanding of a particular
issue. To do this, in writing a position paper, the writer should provide fact-based
information to support his/her claims and that he/she should be sensitive in writing
arguments that are acceptable to the norms and to the people around.
 TAKE NOTE!

- Nowadays, people want to be involved with the decision making that will affect
their lives as well as the community where they belong. At times, they
conduct protests and rallies to express their standpoints and opinions which
often times result to unwanted outcomes.
- Having known the different purposes of a position paper offers you a mindset that
there is a spectrum of ways as to how one can use this paper for the common good.
- Position paper is an academic and professional platform to voice out one’s viewpoints
in relation to the underlying issues present; thus, this proves that we do not need
protests, rallies, or even violence just to be heard. This kind of paper amplifies our
voices and helps us live a better and harmonious life.
Structure
of a
Position
Paper
 In writing a position paper, your ultimate
goal is to convince or persuade your
u r e of
tr uc t readers about your stand on an issue and
S t i on to substantiate these arguments in the
si
a Po entire paper. So, how are you going to
paper do that?
We should know it’s structure.
STRUCTURES OF A POSITION
PAPER:
a. Introduce the topic .
b. Provide background on the topic and explain why it is
I. INT RODUCT ION
important.
c. Assert the thesis (your v iew of the issue).

NOT ES : The introduct ion int ends to arouse the interest of your readers by prov iding a
brief background about an issue and to cit e your st and on the issue. Specif ic stand is
necessary, which means t hat you are eit her be at the affirm ative or negative side.
Being neutral is not accepted.

II. BODY a. Summarize the counterclaims .

b. Provide supporting information for counterclaims .
A. Co unter c. Refute the counterclaims .
Arg umen t d. Giv e ev idence for argument .

NOT ES : A counterargument is an argument that is issued in response to

someone else's argument to show that the original claim is somehow incorrect.
(Dictionary.com) . Start the body of your position paper by summarizing what
you think are the views of your readers wh ich run opposite to you. Then,
consider how you will respond. You can adopt any of the following:

a. Concede/Agree that your opponent has a point but explain to your

readers that they have nonetheless accept your argumen t.
b. Reject the counterargument and prove your point.

a. Assert your f irst argum ent and provide

support/proof.
B. Yo ur Arg u men t b. Assert your second argument and provide also
support/proof.
c. Assert your third argum ent and prov ide another
set of support/proof.

NOT ES: W hen giv ing your argum ents, always stick to your side. Do not be
swayed. Also, read enough academ ic texts to support your claim. Your
opinions do not stand unless they are supported by reliable sources.

a. Restate your argument .

III. CONCL USION b. P rov ide a plan of action but do not introduce new
information.

NOT ES : End your posit ion paper by reiterat ing your argum ent with
summarized reasons. You will also suggest ways to better resolv e the issue.
STRUCTURES OF A POSITION
PAPER:
I. INTRODUCTION
a. Introduce the topic .
b. Provide background on the topic and expla in why
important.
it is

c. Assert the thesis (your v iew of the issue).

NOTES: The introduction intends to arouse the interest of your readers by providing a
brief background about an issue and to cite your stand on the issue. Specific stand is
necessary, wh ich means that you are either be at the affirmative or negative side.
Being neutral is not accepted.

II. BODY a. Summ arize the counterclaims.

b. Prov ide supporting information for counterclaims .
A. Counter c. Refute the counterclaims.
Argument d. Giv e evidence for argument.

NOTES: A counterargument is an argument that is issued in response to

someone else's argument to show that the original cla im is somehow incorrect.
(Dictionary.com) . Start the body of your position paper by summarizing what
you think are the views of your readers which run opposite to you. Then,
consider how you will respond. You can adopt any of the follo wing:

a. Concede/Agree that your opponent has a point but e xplain to your

readers that they have nonetheless accept your argument.
b. Reject the counterargument and prove your point.

a. Assert your first argum ent and provide

support/proof.
B. Your Argu ment b. Assert your second argument and provide also
support/proof.
c. Assert your third argument and provide another
set of support/proof.

NOTES: W hen giving your arguments, always stick to your side. Do not be
swayed. Also, read enough academic texts to support your claim. Your
opinions do not stand unless they are supported by reliable sources.

a. Restate your argum ent.

III. CONCLUSION b. Provide a p lan of action but do not introduce new
inform ation.

NOTES: End your position paper by reiterating your argument with

summarized reasons. You will a lso suggest ways to better resolve the issue.
STRUCTURES OF A POSITION
PAPER:
I. INT RODUCT ION
a. Introduce the topic.
b. Prov ide backgro und on the topic and exp la in
im portant.
c. A ssert the thesis (your view of the issue).
why it is

N OT ES: The introd uction intends to arouse the interest o f your readers by providing a
b rief background about an issue and to cite your stand on the issue. Specific stand is
n ecessary, which means that you are either be at the affirm ative or negativ e side.
B eing neutral is not accepted.

II. BODY a. Summ arize the counterclaim s.

b. Prov ide supporting inform ation for countercla im s.
A. Cou nter c. R efute the countercla im s.
Argument d. Giv e ev idence for argument.

N OT ES: A counterargum ent is an argument that is issued in response to

s omeone e lse's argument to show that the original c la im is som ehow incorre ct.
(Diction ary.com ) . Start the body of your position paper by summarizing what
you think are the v iews of your readers wh ich run opposite to you. Then,
c onsider how you will respond. You can adopt an y of the fo llo wing:

a. Concede/Agree that your opponent has a point but e xpla in to your

readers that they have nonetheless a ccept your argument.
b. Re ject the counterargument and prove your point.

a. Assert your first argum ent and provide

support/proo f.
B. Your Argument b. Assert your s econd argument and provide als o
support/proo f.
c. Assert your third argum ent and prov ide another
set of support/proof.

N OT ES: W hen giv in g your argum ents, always stick to your side. Do not be
s wayed. Also, read enough academ ic texts to support your claim . Your
o pinions do n ot stand unless they a re supporte d by reliable sources.

a. Restate your argum ent.

III. CONCLU SION b. Prov ide a plan of action but do not introduce new
inform ation.

N OT ES: En d your position paper by reiterating your a rgum ent with

s ummarized reasons. You will also suggest ways to b etter resolv e the issue.
STRUCTURES OF A POSITION
PAPER:
a. Introduce the topic.
b. P rov ide backg round on the topic and e xpla in why it is
I. INT RODUCT ION
important.
c . As se rt the thes is (your v iew of the iss ue).

NOTES: The introduc tion in ten ds to arouse th e in terest of your readers by providin g a
brief bac kg round abo ut an issu e and to cit e your stand on the is sue . S pec ific stand is
necessary, wh ic h me ans tha t you are either be at the affirm ative or n egativ e s ide.
Be ing neutral is not accepted.

II. BOD Y a. Summarize the counterc laims .

b. Prov ide supporting information for counterc la im s.
A. Counter c . Refute the cou nterc laims .
Argument d. Giv e evidence for argume nt.

NOT ES: A co unterargum ent is an argume nt tha t is iss ued in response to

s omeone else' s argument to s how that the original c la im is somehow inc orrect.
(Dictionary.co m) . S ta rt the body of your po sitio n pape r b y summarizing what
you think are the v iews of your readers wh ic h run opposite to yo u. The n,
c ons ider how you w ill resp ond. You can adopt any of the follow ing:

a. Concede/A gree tha t your opponent has a point b ut e xplain to your

readers tha t they hav e non ethele ss accept your argumen t.
b. Reject the co unterargum ent and prove your point.

a. A ssert you r firs t argum ent a nd pro vide

support/proof.
B. Your Argu ment b. A ssert yo ur s ec ond argument and provide als o
support/proof.
c. A ssert your third argument a nd p rov ide anoth er
set of support/pro of.

NOT ES: W hen giving your arguments , always s tick to you r side. Do not be
s wa yed . A lso, rea d eno ugh academic texts to s upp ort your cla im . You r
opinion s do not stand unle ss they a re supp orted by reliable s ourc es.

a. Restate your argument.

III. CONC LUS ION b. Prov ide a p lan of ac tio n but do not introd uce new
inform ation.

NOT ES: End your position pa per by reiterating you r argume nt with
s ummarized reas ons. Yo u w ill also suggest ways to better resolv e the iss ue.
ANY
QUESTIONS
?
LET’S PRACTICE MAKING AN
ARGUMENT:
LET’S PRACTICE MAKING AN
ARGUMENT:
WARM UP ACTIVITY:
Lets try making an argument and counter argument to any of the
following topics using the techniques presented.

1.Should academic freeze be implemented in the

Philippines during a Pandemic?
2. Should ABS-CBN be given a chance to reacquire

a franchise?
3. Should the City of Baguio continue to accept
tourists during this time of crisis?
WHOA!
You did great in
this activity! You
are now Ready to
try making a
position paper.
ASSESMENT
SCAFFOLD 5:
Develop a position paper based on the topics
given in our warm up activity. Make sure to
research to substantiate your claims and
incorporate this information in a paraphrased,
summarized or quoted manner. Avoid
plagiarism. The paper should be developed in
1300-1500 words.
 Thanks!
Do you have any questions?

Sende a message via messenger or

email me @
conniep996@e.ubaguio.edu

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