WRITING A POSITION PAPER AND

DEFENDING A STANCE ON AN ISSUE

You have learned that a position paper
presents an arguable opinion about an
issue. Your goal as the writer is to
convince the audience that your
opinion or stand or claim is valid and
worth listening to.
It is important to support your argument or
reason with evidence to ensure the validity of
your claims.
Factual Knowledge – information that is verifiable
and agreed upon by almost everyone
Statistical Inferences – interpretation and examples
of an accumulation of facts
Informed Opinion – opinion developed through
research and/or expertise of the claim
Personal Testimony – personal experience related by
a knowledgeable party.
FACTUAL KNOWLEDGE
Factual knowledge includes isolated bits of
information, such as vocabulary definitions
and knowledge about specific details.
Conceptual knowledge consists of systems of
information, such as classifications and
categories.
STATISTICAL INFERENCES
Statistical inference is the process of drawing
conclusions about an underlying population
based on a sample or subset of the data. In
most cases, it is not practical to obtain all the
measurements in a given population.
INFORMED OPINION

Informed opinion is a belief, judgment or way

of thinking about something based on
information.
PERSONAL TESTIMONY
a formal statement that they make about what
they saw someone do or what they know of a
situation, after having promised to tell the
truth.
In every claim, there is always a counterclaim. A
counterclaim is just the opposite of a claim. When
your claim says, “I want a new cellphone.” But then
your Mother said, “'No, you don't.” This is your
mom's counterclaim. Counterclaims are also
provable and supportable by reasons and evidence.
Just when your Mother proves by saying, ’Your
current situation does not require a new cell phone.’
POSITION PAPER OUTLINE
I. Introduction
Introduce the issue.
Provide background on the issue.
Provide thesis statement on your stand of the
issue.
II. Body (the arguments/reasons)
A.Argument #1 of your claims
Give your opinion
Provide supporting evidence
B. Argument #2 of your claims
Give your opinion.
Provide support evidence.
C. Argument #3 of your claims
Give your opinion.
Provide support evidence.
D. Provide counterarguments against possible
weaknesses of your arguments.
III. Conclusion
Restate your argument.
Provide a plan of action.
FEW REMINDERS BEFORE WRITING A
POSITION PAPER
✓ Choose an issue that is debatable, current and relevant.
✓ Conduct an in-depth research on the issue.
✓ Explain the issue and analyze it objectively.
✓ Reflect on your position and identify its weaknesses.
✓ Cite valid and reliable source.
✓ Limit your position paper to 2 pages.
✓ Analyze your target audience and align your arguments to their beliefs,
needs, interest and motivation.
✓ Use active voice as much as possible to achieve a dynamic and firm tone.
YOUR CLAIM, DEFEND IT!. THE TABLE BELOW LISTS THE CURRENT PREVALENT ISSUES
THAT WE ARE FACING TODAY. PRACTICE CITING YOUR CLAIM OR STAND ON EACH ISSUE.
THEN, DEFEND YOUR STAND BY CITING SUPPORTING EVIDENCE THE BEST WAY YOU
CAN.
WRITE MY THOUGHTS! CHOOSE ONE ISSUE FROM ACTIVITY 1. EXPOUND
YOUR STAND AND GIVE REASONS USING THE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE YOU
HAVE PROVIDED. THEN, DEVELOP THESE FACTS INTO A COHERENT
POSITION PAPER, FOLLOWING THE OUTLINE GIVEN ABOVE. LET’S START!