A POSITION PAPER

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE POSITION PAPER

1.Values Communicated
a. Logical Thinking
b. Objective expression of ideas
c. Balanced assignments of conflicting opinions
2. Modes of Reasoning
a. Inductive
Inductive reasoning derives a generalization from specific examples
and situations. Through an organized presentation of factual evidence
and proofs, the reader is convinced of the soundness of the arguments
that lead to a well-founded general conclusion.
• b. Deductive
• Deductive reasoning proceeds from a general statement that leads
to particular or specific inferences.
3. Qualities of a Convincing Position Paper
a. Contains a clear proposition or statement that must be defended
b. Assesses conflicting opinions or opposing views on the issue.
c. Takes a firm stand on the issue.
d. Lists arguments in an organized manner to defend the stand.
e. Presents factual evidence or proofs to support each argument.
• “THE CASE FOR SHORT WORDS”
Richard Lederer
“Made weak by time and fate
But strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find,”
and not to yield.”

The same idea can be expressed through similar expressions:

Alternative Expression Original Text
weakened made weak
strong-willed strong in will
struggle strive
discover find
unyielding not to yield
• Answer the following
1. What is the proposition of this selection?
2. List the reasons given in the selection for using short words.
Assignment: Oct.5, 2018
Choose and write a position paper in one of the following issues:
a. School uniform should no longer be required.
b. The Mother–Tongue-Based-Multilingual Education (MTBMLE) policy
should be implemented up to Grade 6.
Look for evidence to support your position, cite your sources properly.
• Inductive reasoning presents facts and then
wraps them up with a conclusion.

• Deductive reasoning presents a thesis

statement and then provides supportive
facts or examples.
INDUCTIVE TEXT (SAMPLE)
My dog Max wants to chase every non-human living
creature he sees, whether it is the cats in the house
or rabbits and squirrels in the backyard. Sources
indicate that this is a behavior typical of Jack Russell
terriers. While Max is a mixed breed dog, he is
approximately the same size and has many of the
typical markings of a Jack Russell. From these facts
along with his behaviors, we surmise that Max is
indeed at least part Jack Russell terrier.
INDUCTIVE
• Within that short paragraph, you learned about Max’s manners
and a little about what he might look like, and then
the concluding sentence connected these ideas together.

• Purposes for this kind of writing include creative writing and

perhaps some persuasive essays, although much academic work is
done in deductive form.
DEDUCTIVE TEXT (SAMPLE)
My backyard is in dire need of cleaning and new
landscaping. The Kentucky bluegrass that was
planted there five years ago has been all but replaced
by Creeping Charlie, a particularly invasive weed. The
stone steps leading to the house are in some
disrepair, and there are some slats missing from the
fence. Perennials were planted three years ago, but
the moles and rabbits destroyed many of the bulbs,
so we no longer have flowers in the spring.
DEDUCTIVE

• This paragraph could have ended with a clarifying conclusion sentence; while
it might be considered redundant to do so, the scientific community tends to
work through deductive reasoning by providing (1) a premise or argument –
which could also be called a thesis statement, (2) then evidence to support
the premise, and (3) finally the conclusion.

• Purposes for this kind of writing include business letters and project
documents, where the client is more likely to skim the work for generalities or
to hunt for only the parts that are important to him or her.