THE POSITION PAPER


Structures & Writing Format

Prepared by: M. P. Ordoñez, RCh

Evaluating, Analyzing, and Critiquing Academic Texts


There are several ways of reviewing or exploring
Academic and Professional Texts:

 Précis  Review Paper

 Reaction Paper  Position Paper
 Critique Paper  Survey/Field Report
 Concept Paper  Scientific or Technical
Report
POSITION PAPER

 Position Paper

 Position Paper
 another form of academic writing that is written
after reading and discussing a particular issue

 uses formal academic language

 consists of the Introduction, body, and

conclusion
 Position Paper

 Position Paper
 is an essay that presents an arguable
opinion about an issue

 its goal is to convince the audience or the

reader that your opinion or stand is
valid, significant, and worth considering
 Position Paper

 Position Paper
 ideas that the author intends to write
need to be carefully examined

 develop the argument

 organize the manner to write the stance

 Position Paper

 Position Paper
 published in the academe, in politics, in law, etc

 ranges from a simple letter, e.g., “letter to the

Dean”, “letter to the Principal” to the more
complex format of an academic paper
 Position Paper

 Position Paper

 used by organizations to make public

the official beliefs and
recommendations of the group
 Position Paper

 Position Paper

 similar to a debate, the position paper presents
an issue that to the author’s point of view is valid

 important that you are addressing all sides of the

issue
 Position Paper

 Position Paper
 present in a manner that is readable and easily
understood

 you have to take one side and convince the

reader that your opinion is well-founded
 Position Paper

 Position Paper

 present evidences to ensure validity of your claims

 refute the counterclaims, meaning disprove, or rebut the

other side or opposing side of your stance
 Position Paper

 Position Paper

 entails plenty of research and gathering information and pieces
of evidence

 standard rules for citing sources, paraphrasing, quoting, and

avoiding plagiarism apply
 Position Paper

 Position Paper

 Remember:
 A position paper is not simply a reporting of the issue at
hand. It involves actively choosing a side and supporting
it, even if it means encountering resistance and opposition.
 

PURPOSES OF A POSITION
PAPER
 Position Paper

 Position Paper

 The purpose of a position paper is to generate support for a
particular side on an issue.

 It should describe the side you have taken on an issue and

the rationale for that position.
 Position Paper

 Position Paper

 It presents the author’s stance based on facts and evidence
that provide a solid foundation for your arguments.

 It is a critical examination of a side using relevant evidence

and inductive reasoning.
 Position Paper

 Position Paper

 Position papers are always tied to a particular issue or event.

 There are sides to these issues that spark debate and discussion.
 Position Paper

 Position Paper

 A position paper for your side adds your voice in
support of that position, that could lead to even
more support from others.
 

THE ISSUE
 Position Paper

 The Issue

 establish the plausibility (arguability) of a topic

 guide questions to ensure that you will be able to present your

arguments well:
 Position Paper

 The Issue

 Is it a real issue, i.e., “Is there a real argument or vagueness?”

 Is there really more than one side of the question?

 Position Paper

 The Issue

 Does the topic interest you?

 Is the issue narrow enough to be manageable?

 

ANALYZING THE ISSUE AND

DEVELOPING THE
ARGUMENT
 Position Paper

 How to Effectively Develop Your Argument:
 With your position in mind, do research on the subject matter.

 need to ensure that the side you have taken is well-supported

 Position Paper

 How to Effectively Develop Your Argument:
 List out the pros and cons

 List supporting evidences for both sides

 Position Paper

 Supporting Evidences for a Position Paper are the following:
 Factual Knowledge
 verifiable data
 information that has been, confirmed, authenticated, or
corroborated, or validated
 Type of
Type of Source Sources
Information

Introduction or Overview encyclopedias or books library or the net

in-depth studies books, gov’t reports library or the Phil. gov’t

scholarly articles academic journals library or the net

current issues newspapers, magazines archives, net

statistics gov’t agencies Phil. Statistics Office

position papers organization reports websites

 Position Paper

 Supporting Evidences for a Position Paper are the following:
 Statistical Inferences
 interpretation of gathered data

 processed of data
 Position Paper

 Supporting Evidences for a Position Paper are the following:
 Personal Testimony
 personal experiences shared by a knowledgeable group or
person of authority, or person(s) with hands-on experiences
 Position Paper

 Supporting Evidences for a Position Paper are the following:
 compare the pieces of information gathered side by side
 consider your audience, your own viewpoint, choose the
position you will stand
 

THE AUDIENCE
 Position Paper

 For your audience, consider the following:
 Know your audience.

 What do they believe in?

 Where do they stand?

 Position Paper

 For your audience, consider the following:
 How are their interests affected?

 What evidence will be effective to convince them?

 

YOUR VIEWPOINT
 Position Paper

 To determine your viewpoint:
 Is your topic interesting?

 Does your topic assert something specific and propose a clear

plan of action?
 Do you have enough information to support your view?
 Position Paper

 To determine your viewpoint:
 Originality counts.

 Does your topic assert something clear and viable.

 Propose a plan of action, if possible.

 

THE ORGANIZATION
 Position Paper

 I. The Introduction:

 Introduce the topic or issue.

 Provide a background on the topic, its significance

 Express your view on the issue.

 Position Paper

 I. The Introduction:

 The introduction has a dual purpose:

 to indicate the topic and your approach

 stimulate the the reader’s interest

 Position Paper

 I. The Introduction:

 Example:

 Most schools implement a school uniform policy. It is rare

for schools, especially for their students in primary school
and high school, to let their students wear whatever they
want.
 Position Paper

 I. The Introduction:

 Example:

 It is practically status quo by now, and very few schools,

if any at all, have removed their policy for mandatory
school uniforms..
 Position Paper

 I. The Introduction:

 Example:

 Requiring school uniforms, however, is an outdated and

restrictive school policy which does more harm than
good, and so should be abolished.
 Position Paper

 II. The Body: The Counter Argument:
 contains your counter arguments in support
of your chosen position

 this is where your evidence supporting your

arguments are found
 Position Paper

 II. The Body: The Counter Argument:
 you may also address the point of the
opposite side, then, refute them

 it is also best to present at least three main

points that defend your opinion
 Position Paper

 II. The Body: The Counter Argument:
A. Summarize the counterclaims

B. Provide supporting information

C. Refute the counterclaims

D. Give evidence for your argument.

 Position Paper

 II. The Body: The Counter Argument:
 generate counterclaims by asking yourself what
possible points will be brought up by the
counterclaims

 consider how to respond to the claims

 Position Paper

 II. The Body: The Counter Argument:
 present each argument fairly and objectively

 when presenting the opposing argument, present it

fairly and objectively without making the opposite
side weak
 Position Paper

 II. The Body: The Counter Argument:
 remember, you should have seriously
considered all sides of the issue and are not
biased to simply attack the other
proponents
 Position Paper

 II. The Body: The Counter Argument:
 Assert your “point no. 1 . . . . point 3, etc.”

 give your educated or informed opinion

 provide support or proof

 Position Paper

 IV. Conclusion:
A. Restate your argument.
B. Provide your plan of action. Do not
introduce new information
C. The most basic conclusion is one that
restates your view, but, in different words.
 
Example:

 With more and more proof emerging that

school uniforms are more of a burden than a
boon to students, parents, and even teachers,
the policy that mandates them should be
considered outdated and restrictive.
 
 Example:

 Schools, especially those handling

adolescents and teens, should consider
removing this policy and allowing
students to wear casual clothes so that they
may express themselves more freely.
 
Example:

 Perhaps, if a compromise must be made,

then the policy can be modified to be a
dress code policy instead of a school
uniform policy.
 Position Paper

 Position Paper
 is an essay or a written article
In a nutshell
that presents the writer’s stand
on a particular arguable issue

 it is a one-sided arguable
opinion on a topic
 Position Paper

 Position Paper
 the goal is to convince the
In a nutshell
reader or the audience that the
writer’s opinion on the issue is
valid and is supported by data
and pieces of evidence
 Position Paper

 Position Paper
 like any other academic paper,
In a nutshell
the position paper has a
structure to follow:
 Introduction
 The Body
 The Conclusion
 Position Paper

 Position Paper
 uses the proper, respectable
In a nutshell
academic language

 provide substantial proof and

pieces of evidence to support
your claim
Thank you!
References:

1) https://websites.uwlax.edu/biology/ReviewPapers
2) https://www.researchgate.net/
3) https://einsteinmed.org/
 
 Date Prepared: Nov. 20, 2020
 Revision(s): Oct. 04, 2021