EAPP position paper

• position paper presents an opinion and make a claim or stand about an issue
• position paper is a stand supported by arguments and evidence.
• position paper's purpose is to generate support on an issue
• Issue Criteria: Is it a real issue, with genuine controversy and uncertainty
• Issue Criteria: Can you identify at least two distinctive positions?
• Issue Criteria: Are you personally interested in advocating one of these problems?
• Issue Criteria: Is the scope of the issue narrow enough to be manageable?
• Parts of a Position Paper: INTRODUCTION, BODY, CONCLUSION
• Introduction of a Position paper has 1 paragraph and has a thesis statement that attracts the attention and summarizes the issue
• Body of a Position paper has 3 paragraphs: General statements of the position, elaboration that references documents and sources data, past experiences and authoritative testimony
• Conclusion of a position paper has 1 paragraph that summarizes then conclude your argument
• Your arguments in the body should be factual, relevant, and accurate evidence to prove it
• Do not perform plagiarism but with academic honesty
• Your position paper should be free from grammar and spelling mistakes.
• Transitions help you to achieve goals by establishing logical connection between sentences, paragraphs and sections of your papers.
• Paragraphs should address only one major idea per paragraph
• Diction refers to the choice of word for the expression of ideas, the construction oand application of words in the essay
• Emotional appeal (pathos) Uses arguments in a way thet evokes feelings
• Logical appeal (logos) Refers to a rational approach in developing an argument
• Ethical appeal (ethos) relates to your credibility and competence as a writer
• Introduction should explain your understanding in that ideology (underlying beliefs and political principles or economic principles)
• Introduction should state your position
• Counterargument is an opposing perspective or idea presented against a prevailing argument or position
• Counterargument challenges the main argument, offering a different interpretation or evidence
• Counterargument helps you to win debates and helps to ensure information and knowledge is as accurate as possible
• NOTE: In general the strongest/best argument should be the last. Others would advise the first argument be the strongest/best ; never the middle argument
• Summarize, restate your position in a forceful manner
• NOTE: Conclusion should not be merely be a brief repetition of your results, focus instead on what your results may imply after careful consideration
• The simplest and most basic conclusion that restated the thesis in different words and then discusses it's implications.
• The issues should be debatable.
• The issues should be written in a question form and answerable by yes or no.
• Begin the writing process by conducting an in depth research on the issue.
• Make sure to define unfamiliar terms when you first mention them.
• Be aware of the various positions about the issue and explain and analyze them objectively
• Reflect on your position and identify its weaknesses
• Site valid and reliable sources (three or more) to establish the credibility of your arguments
• Limit your position paper in two pages
• Summarize the counterarguments and use various evidence and data to refute

  them
• Use an active voice ( to be dynamic and firm)
• Arrange your evidence logically