POSITION PAPER

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
Understand the nature, purpose and usage of a Position Paper; and Prepare a Position Paper

POSITION PAPER
A position paper presents an arguable opinion about an issue. The goal of a position paper is to convince the audience that your opinion is valid and worth listening to. To influence the pending implementation of new policies, systems and procedures

ISSUE CRITERIA
To take a side on a subject, you should first establish the arguability of a topic that interests you. Ask yourself the following questions to ensure that you will be able to present a strong argument: Is it a real issue, with genuine controversy and uncertainty? Can you distinctly identify two positions? Are you personally interested in advocating one of these positions? Is the issue narrow enough to be manageable?

Analyzing an Issue and Developing an Argument

Listing out the pro and con sides of the topic will help you examine your ability to support your counterclaims, along with a list of supporting evidence for both sides. Supporting evidence includes the following:
Factual Knowledge Statistical Inferences Informed Opinion Personal Testimony

Who is your audience?

1. What do they believe?

2. Where do they stand on the issue? 3. How are their interests involved?

4. What evidence is likely to be effective with them?

In determining your viewpoint, ask yourself the following:

1. Is your topic interesting?
2. Can you manage the material within the specifications set by the instructor? 3. Does your topic assert something specific and propose a plan of action? 4. Do you have enough material to support your opinion?

Organization
Your introduction should lead up to a thesis that organizes the rest of your paper. There are three advantages to leading with the thesis: 1. 2. The audience knows where you stand. The thesis is located in the two strongest places, first and last. It is the most common form of academic argument used.

3.

Parts of a Position Paper

1. COVER PAGE
2. TABLE OF CONTENTS 3. INTRODUCTION (Part I) Background The Issue/s 4. THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM (Part II) State the problem associated with the issue at hand 5. THE POSITION (Part III) What is your stand

Parts of a Position Paper

6. WHY THE NEED TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES (Part
IV)
Cite arguments / present facts to support your stand Cite consequences of not acting on the matter Provide Counter arguments for opposing views

7. STRATEGIES TO EFFECT CHANGES (Part V) Cite key activities to implement changes with brief discussion
8. AFTER EFFECT OF PROPOSAL (Part VI) Cite perceived impact of proposal on the current situation

Parts of a Position Paper

9. POSSIBLE CHANGES IF PROPOSAL WILL BE
IMPLEMENTED (Part VII) Cite additional changes ripple effect that will arise out of the implementation of the proposal

10. EVALUATION OF THE PROPOSAL (Part VIII) Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the proposal Highlight its resulting improvement from the present set-up
11. ANNEXES / REFS / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (Part IX)

END