or did he/she just disprove one side without going into
the details?
Ria Ellaine C. Lachica
Grade 11 Galileo
English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Topic: Concept Paper
 A concept paper defines an idea or concepts and explains
its essence in order to clarify the “whatness” of that idea
or concept.( Saqueton and Hychoco, 2016)
 It answers the questions: what is it and what about it
(Dadufatza, 1996:183)
 Deals with a topic and define it uniquely
 Starts with a definition, either formal or informal, of the
term or the concept and proceeds with an expanded
definition and analytic description of the aspects of the
concepts
PURPOSE:
 To stipulate (mentions) the meaning of term by limiting,
extending, redirecting the reference or sense in which the
term is commonly understood or to use in a special way a
term borrowed from another field in which it is made to
apply (Dadufalza 1996, 184)
Topic: Position Paper
Definition:
 Kind of academic writing in which the student researches
a controversial issue and writes a paper that explains his/
her view point on it.
Main Goal:
 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
Guide Questions in analyzing Position Paper
 Did the writer analyze the controversy and discuss what
others have said about it?
 What are the various positions on the issue?
 What are the strengths and weaknesses of each? Did the
writer cite sources of information and provide a
reference list?
 How deeply into the argument was the writer able to go?
 If there were only two different opinions, did the writer
carefully explore the strengths and weaknesses of each,
 What is the writer’s position on the issue?
 What is he/ she arguing that we, readers, should or
should not do about it?
 What are the writer’s reasons to his/her opinions?
 How well does the writer support the recommended
course of action?
 Did the writer see the objectives to or weaknesses in
his/her own argument? Did s/he argue strongly for a
particular point of view or direction?
 Was the paper persuasive?why or why not?
Strategies For Structuring Your Position Paper
 Define the issue and provide as thorough a background
as possible, state your position
 Discuss and analyze the various positions you have
searched. Ensure that both strengths and weaknesses are
taken into account
 Discuss your position and analyze its strengths and
weaknesses. Discuss its relevance to other positions and
why you have chosen it
 Provide counters against potential criticism of and
weaknesses in the argument
 Give reasons why your position and/or suggested course
of action is the optimum one for all parties involved
 A successful position paper is one that persuades its
audience towards its argument. Reading your paper
objectively and asking the same questions of it as you
asked of the ones you researched, will help you avoid the
same weaknesses in argument that you may have
noticed in the paper you analyzed
Persuasion
 Ethos – Challenge people what morality is all about
 Pathos – appeal to emotions, what emotion brings you at
the moment
 Logos – logic
TECHNIQUES IN PERSUASION ( Bulusan, 2019. Pp 134-136)
1. Appeals
 Appealing to the audience’s emotions, fears
nead to protect their family, desire to fit in to
be accepted, desire to protect animals, and the
environment,pride in our country and others
Examples:
 “it would be a world not sustaining life soon if
these human practices continue to proliferate.”
 Our future sons and daughters would have no
trees to climb and play at.”
2. Evidences
 Providing statistics, expert’s opinions, research
findings and anecdotal evidences
Examples:
 “According to UP Population Analysis, tye prime
cause of over population is...”
 The latest study shows that 46.9% women
students marry at the age of 15-19.”

3. Attacks
 Attacks on opposing views on the people who
hold them can persuade the readers by
portraying views and beliefs which are contrary
to the editorial board’s contribution as foolish,
dangerous and uncaring or deceitful
Examples:
 “No politician will allow promulgation of such
law for it might be pro-poor and against them.”
 “Only a fool agrees to such implementation.”
 The words “kill” and “slaughter” means the
same thing but have different connotations
causing readers to imagine what is horrific and
what is more hprrific
 “health issue” vs. “health crisis”
9. Imagery and Figurative Language
 Metaphor and simile can paint a word picture
for audience, making the point visually or may
appeal to emotions

4. Rhetorical Questions
 Questions asked for effects only, they engage
the readers and encourage them the issue and
accept the editorial board’s answer or imply
that the answer is so obvious that anyone who
disagrees is foolish
Examples:
 “Do we want that we will only be higher
learning institution in the country which
doesnot change its opening of classes.”

5. Cause and Effect

 Arguments may claim that there is a cause-and-
effect relationship when really there is just a
relationship, and other factors should be
considered
Examples:
 What causes this tragedy among the poor, is
not the system of politics and corruption, it is
the lack of education.”

6. Humor
 The use of humor, such as puns, irony, sarcasm,
satie, and jokes can be persuasive by dismissing
opposing views , providing a more engaging and
friendly tone, and sway an audience by having
them enter into a joke
Examples:
 “Molice in Wonderland” instead of “ Alice in
Wonderland”.

7. Hyperbole
 Emphasizes points by exaggerating, it can be
used to mock opposing opinions, as a shock-
tactics techniques or an appeal to fears
Examples:
 “One presidential candidate said that when he
becomes the President, every Filipino will eat
three times. Yes, with his record and
background married by corruption and plunder
cases, every Filipino might just eat 3 times...
Three times a week.”

8. Connotations
 Emotional meaning associated with the word,
persuasive editorial writers often choose their
words carefully so that the connotation suits
thir purpose
Examples: