RW Lecture 10

• It is devoted to a discussion of one side of an issue.

  Position Paper
• The _____ tackles one significant issue of a

  community on which the author takes a stand or gives his/her arguments.

  Position Paper
• Parts of an Argument


  The Issue

  Claims

  Evidence
• Parts of Position Paper

  An Introduction

  The Body

  A Conclusion
• Steps in Writing Position Paper

  1. Analyze an issue and make a stand

  2. Organize your idea and data in an outline

  3. Write the introduction, body, conclusion

  4. Revise, edit, and proofread
• What makes the Position paper challenging is that since the work aims at convincing readers to take the author's position, credible evidence needs to be presented
• CLAIMS - These are statements that support the author’s stand. AGREE OR DISAGREE
• The INTRODUCTION should clearly identify the issue and state the author’s position. It should be written in a way that catches the reader’s attention.
• Issue - It is the central concept up for contention.
• Evidence - These are proofs to strengthen the author’s claim.
• BODY - of the position paper may contain several paragraphs.
• Body - background information and should incorporate a discussion of one side of the issue.
• Body - should present an idea or main concept that clarifies a portion of the position statement and is supported by evidence or facts.
• Evidence - primary source quotations, statistical data, interviews with experts, and indisputable dates or events.
• Evidence - should lead, through inductive reasoning, to the main concept or idea presented in the paragraph.
• Conclusion - should summarize the main concepts and ideas and reinforce, without repeating, the introduction or body of the paper.
• Conclusion - It could include

  suggested courses of action and possible solutions.
• Analyze an issue and make a stand - Choose an issue open to arguments. It should not be too general or too specific

  that no supporting evidence can be made.
• Issue - would have supporters for both negative and

  positive sides and the author choose one for the position.