Intro: Goodmorning everyone, So, today I will be discussing about position paper

and what is suggested

steps in writing a position paper

A position paper is a written document that explains a person or organization's

stance or viewpoint on a
particular topic or issue. It usually presents arguments and evidence to support
that viewpoint, and can
be used to persuade or to convince others to adopt the same position or to open up
a dialogue and
discussion. Essentially, a position paper is a way for someone to clearly state
their opinion on a topic and
provide reasons and evidence to support it.

The structure of a position paper typically consists of an introduction, a body and

a conclusion.
In the introduction, the author outlines the issue and introduces their stance on
it.
In the body,the author presents evidence to support their stance and refutes
counterarguments.
(Counterarguments are opposing viewpoints or arguments that go against the writer's
position
or argument.)
In conclusion, the author summarizes their argument and reiterates their stance
on the issue. (reiterating one's stance means repeating their position in a clear
and
concise way to ensure that others understand their perspective on the matter.)

Refuting counterarguments means addressing opposing viewpoints by showing why

they are wrong or flawed. To do this, you provide evidence or reasons that point
out
weaknesses or inconsistencies in the opposing argument. This requires careful
analysis
and critical thinking. By refuting counterarguments, you strengthen your own
position
and show that you've considered different perspectives before forming your
conclusion

When writing a position paper, it is important to follow a suggested step to ensure

that your
arguments are clear, concise and effective.
SUGGESTED STEPS IN WRITING A POSITION PAPER

1. Identify your possible topic and some controversial questions you might try to
answer:
Begin by choosing a topic that you have some familiarity with and is also debatable
or
controversial. Identify some questions related to the topic that you want to
explore and
potentially provide a stance on. For example, a possible topic could be climate
change
and a controversial question could be "Is human activity the primary cause of
climate
change?"

2. Give a brief narration explaining what you already know about the topic and the
reason/s for your interest in it: In this step, provide a brief introduction to the
topic and
explain why you are interested in it. Share some relevant background information
and
any personal experience or connection you may have to the topic. For example, you
may explain that you have been following news related to climate change for years
and
are interested in exploring different perspectives on the issue.

3. Identify your article or articles and explain how you think they might help you:
Research
is an essential part of writing a position paper. Identify articles, books, or
other sources
that will help you explore the topic and answer the controversial questions you
have
identified. In this step, briefly describe each source and explain how you think it
will
help you build your argument. For example, you may mention a scientific study that
supports the idea that human activity is the primary cause of climate change and
explain
how this source will strengthen your argument.

4. Speculate about some unusual directions your research might take: While
researching,
you may come across unexpected or surprising information that could change the
direction of your argument. In this step, speculate about some of these possible
directions and consider how they might impact your position. For example, you may
discover evidence that suggests climate change is a natural occurrence and not
primarily
caused by human activity. Consider how this new information may affect your
argument
and whether you need to adjust your position.

(when unexpected or surprising information arises during research, it's important

to consider
how it may impact your argument and whether you need to adjust your position
accordingly.
This shows that you are open-minded and willing to consider alternative
perspectives, which
can strengthen your position and make it more persuasive.) Persuasive refers to
something that
is convincing or influential, particularly in terms of persuading someone to adopt
a particular
viewpoint or take a specific action.

5. Decide which axes you are going to grind and which one you are not: In this
step, decide
which aspects of the topic you want to focus on and which ones you will not
address. It
is important to stay focused and avoid getting sidetracked by unrelated issues. For
example, if your topic is climate change, you may decide to focus on the causes of
climate change and not address potential solutions or policies to combat it.

Overall, following suggested steps in writing a position paper can help you to
present your
position in a clear and compelling way, which is essential for effectively
communicating your
perspective on a particular issue.