ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND

PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES
An Applied Subject for Grade 11 Students

Chapter 3 | Writing a Position Paper

The Position Paper

Learning
Activity 4 “He who stands with everyone will fall like anyone”

Learning Targets:
1. I can write a position paper
2. I can identify what a position paper is
3. I can identify correct and incorrect statements on position paper
4. I can defend a stand on an issue by presenting a reasonable arguments supported by properly
cited factual evidences
5. Analyzes the arguments used by the writer/s in manifestoes
6. Defends a stand on an issue by presenting reasonable arguments supposed by properly cited
factual evidences
7. Identifies situations in which a concept paper may be effectively used to improve our society
Peace Value:
Competence: I can understand the purpose of a position paper

ENGAGE DAY 1-2

Explore
In a democratic society like ours, people’s opinions are valued. Our government
leaders, as citizen’s representatives, have the responsibility of knowing how their
constituents feel about the problems in society. As different opinions are heard,
leaders are able to come up with solutions that will be of the greatest benefit to
the greatest number of people.
Thus, position papers, as papers that show people’s views and sentiments because
of their nature, are a very important type of written text. Thus, this lesson will
prepare you for writing the position paper as you read and analyse some samples.

Miciano & Miciano (2016) defined a position paper, also called an argumentative paper or
manifesto, as an essay that presents a person’s or group’s position or stand on a particular issue.

Activity No. 4.1. Point it out?

TEXT ANALYSIS. Directions: Read the Position Paper: Abortion published by Youth Act: European
Youth Network on Sexual and Reproductive Rights. Then, identify the different parts of a position paper
based from the text given. After, share your answer from the class.

Link: file:///D:/DCC%20FILES/1.%20Subject%20Teacher/S.Y.%202023-
2024%20Files/English%20for%20Academic%20and%20Professional%20Purposes/Other%20Documen
ts/Position%20Paper/Position-paper-abortion-final-version-26_5-20.pdf

PARTS OF A POSITION PAPER

According to McWhorter (2001) a position paper contains
 the following elements: an issue, a claim on this issue, reasons to explain this claim, support for the
reasons, and opposing viewpoints. To get an overview, let us look at each component of a position
paper.
1. Issue (Group 1)
An issue is an idea or question over which people are divided; it’s also called a controversy.
However, some ideas are not debatable. For example, the idea that exercise is good for the health
and smoking is bad are noncontroversial ones.

2. Thesis (Group 2)
Your thesis, also called the claim, is a statement that expresses your stand or position on an issue.
This expresses how you feel about an issue: are you in favour of or against it?

3. Reasons (Group 3)
A position paper seeks to persuade readers to have the same position on an issue as the writer’s.
Thus, it’s important for the writer to state the reasons in order to explain to the reader why his
position is logical, acceptable, and believable. Another term for reason is argument.

4. Support (Group 4)
Support refers to evidence or ideas to substantiate the reasons. Support may be classified into the
following types:
a. Facts – figures and the writer’s own observations or reports from scholarly studies
b. Comparisons – similarities or differentiation between two ideas, concepts, or situations
c. Examples – real-life demonstrations of an idea
d. Opinions – the author’s feelings or generalizations

5. Opposing viewpoints or counterarguments (Group 5)

Opposing viewpoints, also known as counterarguments, give the arguments opposing your stand.
Your goal in presenting these is to refute or discredit them, so that any opposition in the reader’s
mind is dealt with. You refute by showing weaknesses in the counterargument.

STEPS IN WRITING A POSITION PAPER

Writing a position paper can be easy if you focus on one step at a time. Miciano & Miciano
(2016) identified the following steps in writing a position paper: a. choose an issue for a topic; b. collect
information on the issue: identify the different positions on the issue, as well as the support by the
different sides; and c. organize your presentation.

1. Choosing an issue for the topic

Issues surround us: we see them in the problems that we have in society and perhaps even in our
own experiences. So in order to make good use of your own observations and experiences, consider
the following questions:
● Is there a particular problem in your community that you feel strongly about? If, for example,
you’ve always felt great concern towards child beggars, this can be a possible issue for your
position paper.
● Are you a member of a cause-oriented group? Such groups can also lead you to a possible
issue as usually they are oriented towards a significant concern in society.
Aside from using observations and personal experiences, we can also get issues by paying
attention to the news and other media sources and school events such as a campus debates, fora,
conferences, or lectures.

2. Collect information on the issue

Once you have chosen an issue to work on, the next step is to gather information on the issue.
This can help you decide on your position or claim. It is important that you get information on both
sides of the issue. Just gather or answer the basic reporter questions—who, what, when, where, and
why.
Your position, and the opposing, may be supported through two major types of appeals as:
● Logical appeals – the use of facts in order to support a position; and

7
APP 11 | ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES
 ● Emotional appeals – the use of the audience’s feelings for the subject of the paper-such
as anger, pity, and aversion. It may also refer to values like importance of family ties,
hospitality, and the bayanihan spirit.

3. Organize the Content

● Introduce the issue being debated by answering basic reporter questions about your claim.
Your goal is to provide the reader with a background of the issue under discussion. Consider
the following as a guide:
- All the basic reporter questions have been covered.
- All the concepts, definitions, narratives, and other explanations regarding
the issue are stated clearly; there are no unclear or confusing ideas.
- All the details are relevant to the topic and names of persons, places, and
dates are correct.
● State your claim on the issue by indicating the writer’s stand and it should be right at the
onset. A good thesis clearly shows your position—you should not appear to be neutral or
undecided. Consider the following:
Issue: The use of corporal punishment as a form of discipline for children
Thesis:
A. While corporal punishment may be immediately effective, it has a negative impact on
children in the long term.
B. Corporal punishment should not be used on children as form of discipline.
● Present the opposing viewpoint. You need to accurately represent the opposing side. For it
is only right for you to allow the other side to “speak” in the interest of fairness. However, in
presenting the opposing arguments you should also point out their flaws and weaknesses. To
do so, consider the following as a guide:
- Showing defects in the opposing side’s reasoning
- Pointing out negative consequences of the opposing position
- Showing inadequacies of its evidence
- Arguing that the values espoused by the opposing side do not agree with
the values upheld by the readers
Thus, to secure the effectiveness of your presentation it should thoroughly cover all the
arguments raised by the other side; adequately explain the support for those arguments; and
convincingly show that the opposing sides should not be believed.

● Present your arguments and make them convincing by providing adequate support.
Consider the following:
- Clearly state the reasons for your claim
- Adequately support your reasons. Use both logical and emotional
appeals. Employ a variety of supports to make your case both convincing
and interesting.
- Do not forget to cite sources and properly document them, as this adds to
the credibility of your paper.

A very helpful organizational tool is the writing outline. Outline the contents of your position paper
before you actually sit down and draft it. This ensures that you cover all the points that you want to
include and that you do using the proper order.

8
APP 11 | ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES
 EXPLAIN

Remember!

A position paper is also called an argumentative paper or a manifesto—an essay that presents
and defends a position or stand on an issue. A position paper does more than formally and publicly
stating an individual’s or a group’s sentiments on an issue; it helps others think carefully about the issue
and draw their own positions. Lastly, a position paper has the following analytical components: (a) an
issue or controversy, (b) a claim or position on the issue, (c) reasons that explain the position, and (d)
different types of support to back up these reasons.

9
APP 11 | ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES