Competencies:

The learner…   
1. defines what a position CS_EN11/12A-EAPP-IIa-d-1
paper is

  
2.identifies situations in which a 
position paper may be effectively  CS_EN11/12A-EAPP-IIa-d-2
used in our present society
Not wearing uniform in college
Having women in Military
Having transgender in major beauty 
contest
Having men/husband to stay at home 
and do the chores while women will 
work and earn for the family
What did you learn in the activity?

What is it important to take a position?

What do you need to do when taking a

position?

What are the elements in making

position/stand point
A position paper is a kind of academic
writing in which the student researches a
controversial issue and writes a paper
that explains his/her stand or viewpoint
on it.
The main goal of a position paper is to take
part in the larger debate on the issue by
stating and supporting your opinion or
recommended course of action. The student is
required to research other papers on the
issue, analyze them in depth, and formulate
his/her own argument on the matter.
Like a debate, a position paper presents one side of
an arguable opinion about an issue. The goal of a
position paper is to convince the audience that your
opinion is valid and defensible. Ideas that you are
considering need to be carefully examined in choosing
a topic, developing your argument, and organizing
your paper
Your job is to take one side of the
argument and persuade your audience
that you have well-founded knowledge of
the topic being presented. It is important
to support your argument with evidence to
ensure the validity of your claims, as well
as to refute the counterclaims to show that
you are well informed about both sides.
Issue Criteria

1. Is it a real issue, with genuine

controversy and uncertainty?

2. Can you identify at least two

distinctive positions?
 3. Are you personally interested in advocating
one of these positions?

4. Is the scope of the

issue narrow enough to
be manageable?
In determining your viewpoint, ask yourself the following:

1. Is your position/argument interesting? Remember that

originality counts. Be aware that your professor/TA will
probably read a number of essays on the same topic(s), so
any paper that is inventive and original will not only stand
out but will also be appreciated.
2. Do you have enough material or proof to support
your opinion?

3. Does your topic assert something

specific, prove it, and where applicable,
propose a plan of action?
Organization  and Outline

I. Introduction
___A. Introduce the topic

___B. Provide background on the topic to explain

why it is important that the audience/reader must
believe in your argument

___C. Assert the thesis (your view of the issue).

II. Argument

___A. Assert point #1 of your claims

_____1. Give your educated and informed opinion
_____2. Provide support/proof using more than one source

___B. Assert point #2 of your claims

_____1. Give your educated and informed opinion
_____2. Provide support/proof using more than one source

___C. Assert point #3 of your claims

_____1. Give your educated and informed opinion
_____2. Provide support/proof using more than one source
III. Conclusion
___A. Restate your argument
___B. Provide a plan of action but do not
introduce new information
 Application
Write a Position paper on
“Through Science, Humans
changed the Earth
(better or worse?)”

specification:
-intro, thesis and position
-3 claims
-conclusion