Department of Education
MEYCAUAYAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
El Camino St., Camalig, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan
Senior High School
Activity Sheet
in
ENGLISH
English for Academic and
Professional Purposes
Quarter 2-LC3:
Writes various kinds of
position papers
(CS_EN11/12A-EAPP-la-d-5)
11
Introductory message
As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to manage their
own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the learners as they
do the tasks included in the module. For the learner: Welcome to the English – Grade
11/12 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Explains that a Shift in Speech Context,
Speech Style, Speech Act and Communicative Strategy affects the following: Language form
and Duration of Interaction! The hand is one of the most symbolized part of the human
body. It is often used to depict skill, action and purpose. Through our hands we may learn,
create and accomplish. Hence, the hand in this learning resource signifies that you as a
learner is capable and empowered to successfully achieve the relevant competencies and
skills at your own pace and time. Your academic success lies in your own hands! This
module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for guided and
independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to process the
contents of the learning resource while being an active learner.
Try This!
I. True of False Write T if the statement is true and write F if the statement is
incorrect. Please write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
1.
A position paper is stating arguments supported by factual evidence.
2.
There are four types of logics used in position paper.
3.
Lawyers do not use/write position paper.
4.
When you choose a side in your position paper, it means that you are correct
and the readers are wrong.
5.
In position paper, you need to write what you want to happen in the future of
your topic.
II. Multiple Choices. Write the letter of the correct answer on you answer sheet.
6.
Which type of appeal is using logic and facts?
a.
logos
b. pathos
c. ethos
7.
Which type of appeal is using emotions?
a.
8.
logos
c. ethos
What is the first step in writing a position paper?
a.
9.
b. pathos
select a topic b. revise
c. identify at least two positions
When selecting a topic, the writer must consider the following EXCEPT,
a.
Are there at least two positions?
b.
Is the topic debatable?
c.
Is the grammar correct
10.
Which of the following is not a purpose of a position paper?
a.
It states the opinions of the author.
b.
It tries to provoke the thinking skills of the audience.
c.
It clarifies ambiguous topics
Lesson
1
Various Kinds of Position Papers
Learning Targets:
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. Identify the components of introductory and body paragraphs of a position
paper;
2. enumerate the steps in writing a position paper; and
3. write a position paper about corporal punishment.
Overview
“A tiger does not lose sleep because of an opinion of a sheep.”
-anonymous
It is normal to have an opinion about some certain topics under the sun. There will
be some things that will offend you but will not even affect the people around you; there will
also be specific things that you don’t really care about which the people around you will
fight
for.
Individuals are entitled of their own opinions, and one thing that will help you to
convince others to believe what you believe in is through a position paper. That’s what you
are going to learn in this module.
Do This!
Activity 1
Directions: Read the following paragraph and fill out the flow chart below with the correct
steps in writing a position paper. Please copy the flow chart on your answer sheet. (This
activity is good for 12 pts.)
The first step in writing a position paper, is to select a topic. Once you selected a
topic, you need to identify at least two positions; there must be at least a side which is
in favor of the topic and another side which is not in favor of the topic. For example, the
topic is cellphone. Then the two opposing sides will be, (a) the parents must allow their
children to have their own phone, (b) the parents must not allow their children to have
their own phone.
Then, you need to find and review sources. After reading different articles and texts
about the topic, you now need to choose your position. Select which side you are going
to elaborate on your paper. Next step is to start writing your outline. Your outline will
serve as your guide. Last step is, to write your paper, revise and submit.
2.)
3.)
1.)
6 Steps in Writing a Position Paper
6.)
4.)
5.)
Explore
Activity 2
Directions: Match the step in writing a position paper (Column A) with its definition
(Column B) Write the letters of your answers on a separate sheet of paper. This activity is
worth 5 points.
Column A
Column B
1. Identify at least two
positions to the topic
a. Look for references and articles that are
related to your topic. Read them and use
them as basis of your position in your paper.
2. Write your outline
b. Choose the topic that you want to discuss
in your paper.
3. Select your side
c. Pinpoint if there are at least two opposing
sides of the topic that you chose.
4. Write your paper
d. Choose which you will explain in your
paper. Are you in favor of the topic? Are you
against the topic?
5. Find and review resources
e. Start writing the skeleton of your paper. It
will help to make your article more organized.
f. Start writing your article.
Activity 3| Based on the previous activities, you may now have a good idea about position
paper. Complete the concept map by filling in the blanks with the words inside the word
pool. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
wrong
supported
pointless
valid
debate
essay
1.)It is a ________ on a
paper.
5.) The goal is to
convince the audience
that your opinion is
______ and defensible.
4.)It is stating
arguments _________
by actual evidence.
Position Paper
2.)It assume that some
readers will argue,
otherwise it is_______.
3.)It cannot be judged
as right or _______.
Position paper
It is a type of article which presents the facts about a certain topic or issue and later
on will present the side or position of the author about the topic.
Normally, when reading a position paper, you will know if the author is in favor or
against the topic. The lawyers often write a position paper to make an appeal and defense
for their clients.
Take note that your answers in activity 2 are all definitions of a position paper.
When you write a position paper, it will not directly mean that you are correct and
your readers are wrong because an author’s position cannot be claimed as correct or
incorrect but the major goal is to convince the readers to choose your side regarding the
topic.
Activity 4: This is an example position paper. Read thoroughly and answer the questions
that follow. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper. (This activity is good for 5 pts.)
Death Penalty Danger in the Philippines
body
The Duterte government’s overwhelming majority in Congress and continuing efforts
to promote its campaign against illegal drugs means the justice committee is likely to
support death penalty bills. Duterte’s “war on drugs” has resulted in the deaths of more
than 6,000 persons at the hands of the Philippine National Police and thousands more by
unidentified gunmen. Accountability for these police killings, including those that victimized
children, is practically nonexistent.
Introduction
The reducing human rights situation in the Philippines got even worse this week as
the government began considering bills to reinstate the death penalty. The move by the
House Committee on Justice came a week after President Rodrigo Duterte used his State of
the Nation Address to call for capital punishment by lethal injection for drug offenders. For
years, the Philippines put people to death, particularly in cases of so-called heinous crimes
such as rape, and murder. But President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, under pressure from
the Catholic Church, abolished the death penalty in 2006. Human Rights Watch opposes
the death penalty in all circumstances because it is inherently cruel and irreversible.
Adopting the death penalty will mean spilling more blood in the name of Duterte’s
“drug war.” It will lead the Philippines to descend further into a rights-violating abyss. And
the government will lose credibility and leverage to negotiate on behalf of Filipinos who face
execution abroad.
Conde, C. H. (20DVC20, August 5). Death Penalty Danger in the Philippines. Human Right Watch.
……https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/08/05/death-penalty-danger-philippines
1. What is the topic of the position paper?
a. death penalty
b. war on drugs
2. What is the position of the author?
a. against the topic
b. in favor of the topic
3. Why is the author against? Not in favor?
a. because it is irrevocable
b. because it involves killing of people
4. On what paragraph did the author explained the background of the topic?
a. paragraph 1 b. paragraph 2
c. paragraph 3
.
conclusion
Along with the Philippines’ withdrawal from the International Criminal Court in
March 2019 and its human rights disinformation campaign at the United Nations Human
Rights Council, re imposing the death penalty would only serve to further cement the
country’s
growing
reputation
as
an
international
human
rights
pariah.
Source:
5. Which of the following is the thesis statement?
a. The reducing human rights situation in the Philippines got even worse this
week as the government began considering bills to reinstate the death
penalty.
b. Re imposing the death penalty would only serve to further cement the
country’s growing reputation as an international human rights pariah
Keep This in Mind
Activity 5 : Identify in which part of the position paper the following information are
written. Write introduction if it is in the introduction, write body if it’s in the body, and
write conclusion if it’s in the conclusion.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
There are more than 6,000 casualties under the war on drugs campaign.
The death penalty was abolished in 2006.
Monstrous offenders must take lethal injection as part of their death penalty.
The Philippines resigned from International Criminal Court.
The Philippine National Police is in charge of war on drugs campaign.
Read this!
When you write a position paper, make sure that your audience understands your topic
very well by explaining it in the introduction part of your paper. You must clarify the
definition of your topic so it will be easier to understand for your audience. It will be a big
help for your audience if you will briefly discuss the background of your topic in the
introduction part.
You may start writing your opinion and side about the issue in the body paragraph of
your position paper. This is where you may state your points and evidences as why do you
support such side. For example, if you are writing about the Valentine’s Day celebration,
and you think that it must be cancelled because of some environmental concerns such as
unnecessary cutting of trees to make gift wrappers, then you must state your reasons in the
body paragraph of your position paper.
Remember that your introduction must be interesting because if you will have a dull
introduction, then the readers are likely to put discontinue reading your article. However,
you also need to watch your words. If you will write a long article, it does not necessarily
mean that you are a better writer. Keep in mind that your article must be like a lady’s skirt,
it must be long enough to cover the essentials and short enough to be interesting.
Activity 6 : Introduction or Body? Write introduction if the information must be written
on the introduction of the position paper and write body if the information must be written
on the body part of the position paper.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
the background of the topic
the opinion of the author about the topic
additional information about the topic
the position of the author about the topic
the definition of the topic
Do you know that there are two types of appeal that a writer may include in his/her
position paper? These appeals are called logos and pathos.
pathos
logos
or an appeal to logic is a way of
persuading an audience with reason
using facts and figures.
Examples:
We need to evacuate soon. There is
orange flood warning in our area.
Divorce shall be legalized in the
Philippines because the census says
that hundred thousands of children
are suffering from emotional stress
because of their parents’ conflicts.
or an appeal to emotion is a way of
persuading an audience by creating an
emotional response and arguments
based on emotions
Examples:
We need to evacuate soon. I am totally
afraid of flashfloods.
Divorce shall be legalized because it is
very saddening to see children
suffering from emotional stress
because of the parents’ conflict.
Activity 7 : Tell whether the following appeal is a logos or pathos. Write capital letter L for
logos and write capital letter P for pathos.
1. Adopting the death penalty will mean spilling more blood in the name of Duterte’s
“drug war.”
2. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo abolished the death penalty in 2006.
3. The government began considering bills to reinstate the death penalty
4. Re imposing the death penalty would only serve to further cement the country’s
growing reputation as an international human rights pariah.
5. It will lead the Philippines to descend further into a rights-violating abyss.
When writing a position paper, you must use more logos than pathos. Just like what
was mentioned in the previous part of your module, logos is a type of appeal that is based
on facts and evidences. By using logos, your position paper will be stronger and easier to
believe in.
Aside from it, your paper will also be more objective and research-based.
Think of your position paper as a paper of a lawyer? Do you think the judge will make a
decision in your favor if you will present a paper which contains merely emotions? Of
course not, It is because judges make their decisions based on the evidences that were
presented
before
them.
Activity 8 : From the example position paper titled “Death Penalty Danger in the
Philippines”, List down 3 examples of logos appeal. Remember that logos is based on facts
and evidence, and pathos is based on emotions.
1. __________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________
Activity 9 : Fill the missing appeals in the table. Write your answers on a separate sheet of
paper. Note: You do not need to copy the whole table. This activity is worth 9 points (3
points each).
Topic
Hiring security
guards.
logos
Schools shall hire security guards so
the unauthorized persons will not be
able to enter the school.
pathos
Schools shall hire security guards
because the students will pay more
respect to uniformed authorities
compared to maintenance personnels
who will be assigned to the schools’
gate.
Usage of
cellphone
Schools shall allow the students to
bring their cellphones to class because
according to one recent study, students
who have an access to internet gets
high grades compared to those who
don’t have.
Write your pathos appeal about the usage of
cellphone.
1._____________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
______________________________________________.
Bringing of pets
to malls and
other public
establishments
Write your logos appeal about the bringing of pets
to malls and other public establishments.
2._____________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
______________________________________________.
The businesses and malls shall not
allow the pet owners to bring their pets
to the public because not all people
love pets and animals.
special
examination
Write your logos appeal about asking for special
examination
3._____________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
______________________________________________.
Teacher, please give me a special
exam. I promise that I will do my best
next quarter.
Apply What You Have Learned
Activity 10|Directions:
1. Find a partner (You can partner up with a student under any modality within your
section e.g. printed module, digital module, or blended learning).
2. Write a position paper about corporal punishment at school.
3. Underline the thesis statement of your position paper. (Please use red ink if you
have)
4. It must be handwritten on a yellow sheet of paper. Only the front page of your paper
must be used.
5. Read the rubrics below before you start writing.
6. Remember that writing a position paper is like selling. Instead of physical products,
you are selling your ideas and opinions. You must do your best to convince your
audience to believe your side of the topic.
Position
3 points
The position of the
authors
was
not
clearly stated and is
not supported by
logos appeal.
4 points
The position of the
authors was clearly
stated but is not
supported by logos
appeal.
5 points
The position of the
authors was clearly
stated
and
is
supported by logos
appeal.
There were resources
The resources were
cited in the position
paper.
Organization
(introduction,
conclusion)
body,
The sentences in the
paper were illogically
written.
The introduction or
body of conclusion of
the paper is missing.
The sentences in the
paper were written
logically
with
2-5
misplaced/dangling
sentences.
The
paper
has
introduction,
body,
and conclusion. The
parts also contains
the details that it
supposed to have.
Thesis Statement
The thesis statement
is unclear and it
does not cover the
position
of
the
authors.
The paper has a
thesis
statement
which tells something
about the position of
the authors towards
the topic.
Grammar
The paper has more
than 5 grammatical
errors.
The paper is less
than half of the
yellow paper long.
The paper has 2-5
grammatical error.
Length
The paper is more
than half the front
page of a yellow
paper long.
Total
cited correctly and
justly to support the
position
of
the
authors.
The sentences in the
paper were written
logically.
The paper has an
introduction which
explains
the
background of the
topic.
The paper has body
which elaborates the
position
of
the
authors.
The
paper
has
conclusion
which
wraps
up
the
discussion of the
whole
position
paper.
The paper has a
strong
thesis
statement
which
summarizes
the
position
of
the
authors towards the
topic.
The paper has no
grammatical error.
The paper is one
whole front page of a
yellow paper long.
_______/25pts.
Assess What You Have Learned
Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Please write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. Which type of appeal should you use when writing a position paper?
a. logos
b. pathos
c. ethos
2. Which of the following is violated by the author if he/she uses purely pathos?
a. stating arguments supported by factual evidence
b. it is a debate on a paper
c. it cannot be judged as right or wrong
3. Where can you find factual evidence or information about the topic of your position
paper?
a. police station
b. barangay headquarters
c. books and internet
4. Should the author be always in favor of the topic?
a. yes
b. no
c. it depends
5. Position paper is a debate in a paper. Who are the two opposing teams?
a. the author and his/her teacher
b. the teacher and the grammarian
c. the author and the reader
6. When you write a position paper, then you try to _______ the audience of your paper.
a. convince
b. teach
c. entertain
7. Which of the following is not a goal of a position paper?
a. It states the opinions of the author.
b. It tries to provoke the thinking skills of the audience.
c. It clarifies ambiguous topics.
8. Which of the following best describes the content of the body paragraph of a position
paper?
a. It contains the background information of the topic.
b. It states the opinion and stand of the author about the topic.
c. It sums up the discussion that happened on the previous parts of the paper.
9. How many sides of the topic must be there before it will be an eligible topic for a
position paper?
a. 1
b.2
c.3
10. Which one is the best introduction for a position paper about abortion?
a. Abortion is a very controversial topic and everyone has his or her own opinion. I
don’t really believe in abortion and I would never have one but my opinion of
abortion is if you are against it, you should have one.
b. Despite advances in reproductive health law, many Filipino women experience
unintended pregnancies, and because abortion is highly stigmatized in the
country, many who seeks abortion undergo unsafe procedures. This paper
provides a summary of reproductive health indicators in the Philippines.
c. Regardless of Church teaching, Filipino women still resort to abortion with the
poor, rural young women being most vulnerable to self-destruction.
Self-Check
| Assess what you have learned
Directions: Please answer the following questions briefly (1-2 sentences) (Each item is good for 2
points)
1. In your opinion, which is easier to write introduction or conclusion?
___________________________________________________________________________________
2. Why your answer in number 1 easier to write?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3. Do you think your teacher will be convinced of your position about corporal
punishment? Yes or No.
___________________________________________________________________________________
4. Why do you think so?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
5. Give one situation in real life where in you may apply your knowledge in writing a
position paper.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
References
Online resources:
Abortion. (2019, December 31). MegaEssays.Com.
…...https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/08/05/death-penalty-danger-philippines
Canillo, C. T. (2018, February 8). The Reposition of the Death Penalty Law in the
……Philippines [Slides]. Slideshare.
https://www.slideshare.net/LeahAngelaCioco/position-paper-about-death-penalty
Conde, C. H. (2020, August 5). Death Penalty Danger in the Philippines. Human Right
……Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/08/05/death-penalty-danger-philippines
Inez, S. M. (2017, May 17). 2 Position Paper Examples that Stand for Something. Kibin
……Essay Writing Blog. https://www.kibin.com/essay-writing-blog/2-position-paper......examples-stand-something/
Padilla, C., & Padilla, M. (2015, September 13). The Reality of Abortion in the
……Philippines. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/voices/ispeak/reality-abortion......Philippines
CHARLENE JOY P. CO | Teacher II
Is a graduate of Bachelor of Secondary Education Major
in English and Literature - Cumlaude at Polytechnic
College of the City of Meycauayan. She is currently
taking up her Master’s Degree major in English
Language Education at Bulacan State University.
Now, she unleashes her idea of teaching English through
handling the course English for Academic Purposes at
Meycauayan National High School, Senior High School
Department.