POSITION PAPER

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. It is very important to ensure that
you are addressing all sides of the issue and presenting it in a manner that is easy for your
audience to understand. 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.

OBJECTIVES

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 identify at least two distinctive positions?
  Are you personally interested in advocating one of these positions?
  Is the scope of the issue narrow enough to be manageable?

HOW TO CREATE STEP BY STEP PROCEDURES

Select a Topic for Your Paper

Your position paper centers around a topic that is supported by research. Your
topic and position have to hold up when challenged, so it's helpful to research a
few topics and pick the one you can best argue, even if it may not reflect your
personal beliefs. In many cases, the subject matter and your topic are not as
important as your ability to make a strong case. Your topic can be simple or
complex, but your argument must be sound and logical.

Conduct Preliminary Research

Preliminary research is necessary to determine whether sufficient evidence is
available to back up your stance. You don’t want to get too attached to a topic that
falls apart under a challenge.

Search a few reputable sites, like education (.edu) sites and government (.gov)
sites, to find professional studies and statistics. If you come up with nothing after
an hour of searching, or if you find that your position doesn’t stand up to the
findings on reputable sites, choose another topic. This could save you from a lot
of frustration later.

Challenge Your Own Topic

You must know the opposite view as well as you know your own stance when you
take a position. Take the time to determine all the possible challenges that you
might face as you support your view. Your position paper must address the
opposing view and chip away at it with counter-evidence. Consider having
friends, colleagues, or family debate the topic with you to get alternative points of
view that you might not have readily considered yourself. When you find
arguments for the other side of your position, you can address them in a fair
manner, and then state why they are not sound.

Another helpful exercise is to draw a line down the middle of a plain sheet of
paper and list your points on one side and list opposing points on the other side.
Which argument is really better? If it looks like your opposition might outnumber
you with valid points, you should reconsider your topic or your stance on the
topic.

Continue to Collect Supporting Evidence

Once you’ve determined that your position is supportable and the opposite
position is (in your opinion) weaker than your own, you are ready to branch out
with your research. Go to a library and conduct a search, or ask the reference
librarian to help you find more sources. You can, of course, conduct online
research as well, but it's important to know how to properly vet the validity of the
sources you use. Ensure that your articles are written by reputable sources, and
be wary of singular sources that differ from the norm, as these are often
subjective rather than factual in nature.

Try to collect a variety of sources, and include both an expert’s opinion (doctor,
lawyer, or professor, for example) and personal experience (from a friend or
family member) that can add an emotional appeal to your topic. These
statements should support your own position but should read differently than
your own words. The point of these is to add depth to your argument or provide
anecdotal support.
Create an Outline
A position paper can be arranged in the following format:

1. Introduce your topic with some basic background information. Build up to

your thesis sentence, which asserts your position. Sample points:

 For decades, the FDA has required that warning labels should be placed on
certain products that pose a threat to public health.
 Fast food restaurants are bad for our health.
 Fast food packages should contain warning labels.

2. Introduce possible objections to your position. Sample points:

 Such labels would affect the profits of major corporations.

 Many people would see this as overreaching government control.
 Whose job is it to determine which restaurants are bad? Who draws the
line?
 The program would be costly.

3. Support and acknowledge the opposing points. Just be sure you aren't
discrediting your own views. Sample points:

 It would be difficult and expensive for any entity to determine which

restaurants should adhere to the policy.
 Nobody wants to see the government overstepping its boundaries.
 Funding would fall on the shoulders of taxpayers.

4. Explain that your position is still the best one, despite the strength of counter-
arguments. This is where you can work to discredit some of the counter-
arguments and support your own. Sample points:

 The cost would be countered by the improvement of public health.

 Restaurants might improve the standards of food if warning labels were
put into place.
 One role of the government is to keep citizens safe.
 The government already does this with drugs and cigarettes.

5. Summarize your argument and restate your position. End your paper focusing
on your argument and avoid the counter-arguments. You want your audience to
walk away with your view on the topic being one that resonates with them.When
you write a position paper, write with confidence and state your opinion with
authority. After all, your goal is to demonstrate that your position is the correct
one.

THINGS TO CONSIDER IN WRITING

Writing with style and clarity

Many students make the mistake of thinking that the content of their paper is all that
matters. Although the content is important, it will not mean much if the reader can’t
understand what you are trying to say. You may have some great ideas in your
paper but if you cannot effectively communicate them, you will not receive a very
good mark. Keep the following in mind when writing your paper:

Diction

Diction refers to the choice of words for the expression of ideas; the construction,
disposition, and application of words in your essay, with regard to clearness,
accuracy, variety, etc.; mode of expression; and language. There is often a tendency
for students to use fancy words and extravagant images in hopes that it will make
them sound more intelligent when in fact the result is a confusing mess. Although
this approach can sometimes be effective, it is advisable that you choose clear words
and be as precise in the expression of your ideas as possible.

 Paragraphs

Creating clear paragraphs is essential. Paragraphs come in so many sizes and

patterns that no single formula could possibly cover them all. The two basic
principles to remember are these:

1)   A paragraph is a means of developing and framing an idea or impression. As a

general rule, you should address only one major idea per paragraph.

2)   The divisions between paragraphs aren’t random, but indicate a shift in focus.
In other words you must carefully and clearly organize the order of your
paragraphs so that they are logically positioned throughout your paper.
Transitions will help you with this.

Transitions

In academic writing your goal is to convey information clearly and concisely, if not to
convert the reader to your way of thinking. Transitions help you to achieve these
goals by establishing logical connections between sentences, paragraphs, and
sections of your papers. In other words, transitions tell readers what to do with the
information you present them. Whether single words, quick phrases or full
sentences, they function as signs for readers that tell them how to think about,
organize, and react to old and new ideas as they read through what you have
written.

Transitions signal relationships between ideas. Basically, transitions provide the

reader with directions for how to piece together your ideas into a logically coherent
argument. They are words with particular meanings that tell the reader to think and
react in a particular way to your ideas. In providing the reader with these important
cues, transitions help readers understand the logic of how your ideas fit together.

LOGICAL RELATIONSHIP TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSION

Similarity also, in the same way, just as ... so too, likewise, similarly

Exception/Contrast but, however, in spite of, on the one hand ... on the other
hand, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, in contrast,
on the contrary, still, yet

Sequence/Order first, second, third, ... next, then, finally

Time after, afterward, at last, before, currently, during, earlier,

immediately, later, meanwhile, now, recently, simultaneously,
subsequently, then

Example for example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate

Emphasis even, indeed, in fact, of course, truly

Place/Position above, adjacent, below, beyond, here, in front, in back,

nearby, there

Cause and Effect accordingly, consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus

Additional Support or additionally, again, also, and, as well, besides, equally

Evidence important, further, furthermore, in addition, moreover, then

Conclusion/Summary finally, in a word, in brief, in conclusion, in the end, in the final

analysis, on the whole, thus, to conclude, to summarize, in
sum, in summary 

Grammar and Spelling

You must make certain that your paper is free from grammar and spelling mistakes.
Mechanical errors are usually the main reason for lack of clarity in essays, so be sure
to thoroughly proof read your paper before handing it in. For help with common
errors in grammar and usage consult the following websites:
Plagiarism and academic honesty

Plagiarism is a form of stealing; as with other offences against the law, ignorance is

no excuse. The way to avoid plagiarism is to give credit where credit is due. If you
are using someone else’s idea, acknowledge it, even if you have changed the
wording or just summarized the main points.

To avoid plagiarism, you must give credit whenever you use

 another person's idea, opinion, or theory;

 any facts, statistics, graphs, drawings--any pieces of information--that are not
common knowledge;
 quotations of another person's actual spoken or written words; or
 paraphrase of another person's spoken or written words.

REFERENCE

https://www.sfu.ca/cmns/130d1/WritingaPositionPaper.htm

https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-write-a-position-paper-1857251