Bowie State University / LibGuides / Academic Writing / Position Paper

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Information designed to assist students in identifying different types of

academic writing, and the purpose behind each.

Understanding Position Paper Diagram

Scholarly Text

Critical Analysis
An author who writes a position
paper is making an argument which has to be built upon evidence.
Literature Review
The structure used to do this is very similar to that used when writing
Research Paper a critical essay.

Position Paper Image taken from James Cook University Study Skills Online. "Essay
Structure." 17 August, 2012. Retrieved from
Position Paper
Diagram
http://www.jcu.edu.au/tldinfo/writingskills/essay/structure.html.

Purpose

Purpose
Elements of the
Position Paper
The purpose of a position paper is to generate support on an issue. It
Writing & Tutoring describes the author’s position on an issue and the rational for that
Help at Bowie
position and, in the same way that a research paper incorporates

supportive evidence, is based on facts that provide a solid foundation

for the author’s argument. It is a critical examination of a position

using facts and inductive reasoning, which addresses both strengths

and weaknesses of the author’s opinion.

Elements of the Position Paper

The classic position paper contains three main elements:

An Introduction, which identifies the issue that will be discussed and

states the author’s position on that issue.

The Body of the paper, which contains the central argument and can
be further broken up into three unique sections:

Background information

Evidence supporting the author’s position

A discussion of both sides of the issue, which addresses and

refutes arguments that contradict the author’s position

A Conclusion, restating the key points and, where applicable,

suggesting resolutions to the issue.
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Last Updated: Aug 20, 2019 2:56 PM URL: https://bowiestate.libguides.com/academicwriting Print Page Login to LibApps

Subjects: Writing