Writing a University Position
Paper
Competencies:
The learner…
1. defines what a position
paper is
CS_EN11/12A-EAPP-IIa-d-1
2.identifies situations in which a
position paper may be effectively
used in our present society
CS_EN11/12A-EAPP-IIa-d-2
Activity: Modified version of the boat is sinking:
1. A picture will be shown to you and you have to take
side whether you are Pro or Anti (if pro take a specific
sides whether you are Pro with reservation or
Pro 100%)
2. The group will vote their speaker of the house to
react and take position of the topic
3. In taking position/stand point on the topic: the
teacher will choose the following:
a. What I know about the topic
b. What I feel about the topic
c. What I can do about the topic
What did you learn in the activity?
What is it important to take a position?
What do you need to do when taking a
position?
What are the elements in making
position/stand point
A position paper is a kind of academic
writing in which the student researches a
controversial issue and writes a paper
that explains his/her stand or viewpoint
on it.
The main goal of a position paper is to take
part in the larger debate on the issue by
stating and supporting your opinion or
recommended course of action. The student is
required to research other papers on the
issue, analyze them in depth, and formulate
his/her own argument on the matter.
Like a debate, a position paper presents one side of
an arguable opinion about an issue. The goal of a
position paper is to convince the audience that your
opinion is valid and defensible. Ideas that you are
considering need to be carefully examined in
choosing a topic, developing your argument, and
organizing your paper
Your job is to take one side of the
argument and persuade your audience
that you have well-founded knowledge of
the topic being presented. It is important
to support your argument with evidence
to ensure the validity of your claims, as
well as to refute the counterclaims to
show that you are well informed about
both sides.
Issue Criteria
1. Is it a real issue, with genuine
controversy and uncertainty?
2. Can you identify at least two
distinctive positions?
3. Are you personally interested in advocating
one of these positions?
4. Is the scope of the
issue narrow enough to
be manageable?
Type of Information
Type of Source
directories,
introductory information
encyclopedias,
and overviews
handbooks
How to find these sources
Use the Library catalogue
in-depth studies
books, government
reports
Library catalogue, Canadian Research
Index, Government web sites
scholarly articles
academic journals
Article indexes
current issues
newspapers, magazines
Article indexes
statistics
government agencies
and associations
Statistics Canada, Canadian Research
Index, journal articles
position papers and
analyses
association and institute
reports
Library catalogue, web sites
In determining your viewpoint, ask yourself the following:
1. Is your position/argument interesting? Remember that
originality counts. Be aware that your professor/TA will
probably read a number of essays on the same topic(s), so
any paper that is inventive and original will not only stand
out but will also be appreciated.
2. Do you have enough material or proof to support
your opinion?
3. Does your topic assert something
specific, prove it, and where applicable,
propose a plan of action?
Organization and Outline
I. Introduction
___A. Introduce the topic
___B. Provide background on the topic to explain
why it is important that the audience/reader must
believe in your argument
___C. Assert the thesis (your view of the issue).
II. Argument
___A. Assert point #1 of your claims
_____1. Give your educated and informed opinion
_____2. Provide support/proof using more than one
source
___B. Assert point #2 of your claims
_____1. Give your educated and informed opinion
_____2. Provide support/proof using more than one
source
___C. Assert point #3 of your claims
_____1. Give your educated and informed opinion
_____2. Provide support/proof using more than one
source
III. Conclusion
___A. Restate your argument
___B. Provide a plan of action but do not
introduce new information
Example of a position paper
refer separate file
Application
Write a Position paper on
“Through Science, Humans
changed the Earth
(better or worse?)”
specification:
-intro, thesis and position
-3 claims
-conclusion