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Similar to constructing an argument paper, a position paper advocates for one side of an issue, akin to a debate. Your objective remains to furnish convincing evidence to persuade the reader that your standpoint is the correct stance to take on an issue. You can compose an exceptional position paper by carefully selecting your stance, developing your argument, drafting your paper, and revising and editing your work.
Procedures
Position Paper Framework and Illustration
Exemplar Position Paper Framework
Illustrative Example of a Position PaperSelecting Your Stance
Ensure your topic is debatable. When choosing a topic, ensure it offers multiple viewpoints. The subject should spark controversy, presenting at least two discernible sides. Sometimes, a topic might appear binary, yet most individuals would align with one perspective.
- For instance, advocating for children's need for proper care wouldn't provoke disagreement, as it's universally accepted.
- A more suitable topic could involve proposing actions if children lack proper care.
Thoroughly research your topic and its opposing viewpoints. Understanding your issue fully is crucial for selecting and defending a stance. Delve into background information, recent advancements, and the rationale behind each viewpoint. Explore at least two perspectives on your issue.
- Visit local libraries to access books, journals, and newspapers.
- Utilize online databases, reputable websites, and news outlets.
- To assess source credibility, seek peer-reviewed journals, verify author credentials, cross-reference information from multiple sources, and ensure the data is up-to-date. Avoid relying on self-published sources.
Compile a list of pros and cons for at least two positions on your topic. Based on your research, outline arguments for and against each stance you're considering. This process facilitates selecting a defendable stance supported by gathered evidence.
- Evaluating both sides aids in selecting the most viable stance and anticipating potential counterarguments.
- For instance, if your paper discusses whether your community should invest in new park equipment, the two sides would be in favor of or against the investment. Pros of purchasing new equipment might include enhancing safety, while cons could involve the expense.
Reflect on your perspective regarding the issue. Your strong opinions on the subject could serve as a compass in making your decision. If you hold a stance, jot down the rationale behind it to assess its potential contribution to your argument.
- Occasionally, it's simpler to argue a standpoint when you're impartial. This approach allows you to focus on evidence rather than personal bias.
Take into account your audience's perspectives on the issue. How your paper is perceived hinges on your audience and their viewpoints. When crafting a paper for a specific audience, such as a class assignment, consider the perspectives of your instructor. Similarly, tailoring the discussion to local or global contexts can enhance the paper's relevance and appeal.
- While aligning with your audience is not obligatory, adapting your reasoning or counterarguments to their perspective might be beneficial.
Constructing Your Argument
Formulate your assertion. Your assertion is the crux of your stance on the topic, which forms the cornerstone of your paper. Base your assertion on evidence that you can substantiate.
Enumerate your supporting rationales. Position papers typically present 2 or 3 supporting rationales for your assertion, although longer papers may incorporate more. These rationales should directly stem from your evidence, ensuring they are verifiable statements.
- Where feasible, seek supporting rationales corroborated by multiple pieces of evidence, as this bolsters your argument.
- Refer to your assignment guidelines to determine the number of supporting rationales required. Typically, academic papers warrant 2 to 3 rationales.
Organize your supporting evidence. Determine which evidence to use in support of your argument and devise a method for organizing it. For instance, you might annotate your citations on index cards for easy reference during writing, or input them directly into a document for later inclusion.
- Choose an organizational approach that suits your style.
- Compiling your evidence in advance will streamline the writing process.
- Remember to cite your sources properly. When quoting directly, use quotation marks and acknowledge the author. When paraphrasing or summarizing, credit the author for the ideas.
- Avoid overwhelming your paper with evidence. While quoting sources is valuable, refrain from quoting entire paragraphs. Keep quotes concise, limiting them to a sentence or two per paragraph.
Identify and refute a counter-argument. Introducing a counter-argument can bolster your claim by demonstrating consideration of alternative viewpoints. By addressing and dismissing the counter-argument, you affirm the validity of your stance. An effective counter-argument should be easily refuted, allowing you to counter it with supporting evidence.
- For example, in a position paper advocating for new playground equipment, a potential counter-argument might be the cost. Strengthen your argument by acknowledging this point and providing evidence to refute it, such as demonstrating the value of the equipment or identifying alternative funding sources.
- Include evidence that supports your counter-argument, which should be easily dismissible, in your paper.
Formulating Your Paper
Craft your thesis statement. Your thesis statement serves as the backbone of your paper and should be formulated first. In a position paper, the structure of your thesis may vary. With a counter-argument, you may only require two supporting points, depending on the paper's requirements.
- An effective approach to framing your thesis is to incorporate both your counter-argument and claim, prefaced by “although.” For instance, “Although the installation of new playground equipment entails expenses, it provides a safe play area for children and accommodates special needs.”
- Experienced writers may opt not to include supporting points in the thesis. For example, “As parental awareness grows regarding outdoor play, communities nationwide are prioritizing park upgrades, making safe equipment a public necessity.”
Compose your introduction. Offer background information relevant to your topic, encompassing historical context and recent developments. Tailor the information to align with your stance, providing only pertinent details. For instance, if discussing gay marriage in Maine, focus solely on relevant state-specific background.
- Begin with a captivating hook to introduce your topic, such as a statistic highlighting injuries from outdated playground equipment.
- Incorporate brief elaboration on your topic, gradually leading to your stance.
- Conclude your introduction with your thesis statement.
Incorporate a minimum of 2 body paragraphs. A concise position paper might only feature 2 body paragraphs - one addressing the counter-argument and the other presenting supporting points. However, most position papers include 3 or 4 body paragraphs, with 2 devoted to supporting evidence. Depending on the paper's length, additional paragraphs may be included.
- Adhere to the paper's requirements, which may stipulate the number of paragraphs to include.
Utilize topic sentences that tie back to your thesis. Each body paragraph should commence with a topic sentence, serving as a miniature thesis statement guiding the paragraph's content. Your topic sentence should preview the paragraph's discussion, whether addressing the counter-argument or presenting a supporting rationale.
- For instance, you might write: “The installation of new playground equipment would enhance inclusivity in the park for special needs children, as modern designs prioritize accessibility for disabled individuals.”
Present evidence to bolster your stance. Each supporting reason should be substantiated by at least 1 piece of evidence, although incorporating multiple pieces will reinforce your argument. Draw evidence from your research, focusing on:
- Facts
- Statistics
- Quotations
- Anecdotes
Offer commentary to elucidate your evidence. Commentary elucidates the rationale behind how your evidence supports your reason and overall stance. Your commentary should clearly articulate the connection between your evidence and thesis. In your own words, convey to the reader the significance of the evidence and why it substantiates your correctness. Aim for 2 to 5 sentences of commentary per piece of evidence.
- Without commentary, the link between evidence and stance remains ambiguous, weakening your argument.
Conclude your essay by reaffirming your position. A robust conclusion reaffirms your stance and the rationale behind it. Summarize your argument, briefly addressing the counter-argument. In a position paper, conclude with a call to action.
- Reiterate your thesis. For example, 'Despite the expense, investing in new playground equipment is paramount as it serves the community's best interests, providing a safe play area for children and enhancing accessibility for special needs individuals.'
- Recapitulate your argument.
- End on an assertive note with a call to action. For instance, 'Given the necessity for children to have a safe, accessible environment for play, installing new park equipment in Quimby Park is imperative.'
Ensure proper citation of your sources. In your position paper, it's essential to attribute the sources of your evidence. Adhere to the citation style preferred by the recipient of your paper, whether it's an instructor, organization, journal, or another entity.
- Failure to cite sources can lead to accusations of plagiarism. If caught, you may lose credit or face severe penalties for using someone else's words or ideas without acknowledgment.
Reviewing and Refining Your Paper
Utilize your spell check feature. Employing the spell check tool is a simple method to avoid spelling errors, readily available on most word processors. However, remember to proofread your paper as the spell check tool may overlook correctly spelled words used incorrectly, such as 'form' instead of 'from.'
- Prior to accepting a suggested change, review the sentence to ensure it aligns with your intended meaning. The spell checker may misinterpret your intent.
Take a break from your paper. Engage in a brief respite by going for a walk, grabbing a snack, taking a nap, or indulging in a relaxing hobby. Your mind requires rejuvenation before undertaking the editing process. Stepping away grants you fresh perspective on potential gaps in your argument and the coherence of your sentences.
- It's advisable to wait at least a day. If time is limited, allow a minimum of 30 minutes before revisiting your work.
Review your paper with a fresh perspective. Approach your paper as a reader rather than the writer. Identify your main argument, counter-argument, and supporting evidence. Look for areas necessitating further elaboration or additional evidence. Highlight sentences requiring refinement for clarity or conciseness.
- If feasible, seek input from a friend or mentor who can provide feedback or suggest revisions.
Refine your paper. Begin by incorporating any necessary additions, such as additional evidence or commentary to bolster your argument. Ensure that your argument is lucid, supported by evidence, and reiterated in the conclusion. Then, revisit your paper to rectify awkward sentence structures, as well as sentence fragments and run-on sentences.
- Merge short, disjointed sentences, and segment lengthy ones.
- Rectify sentence fragments and run-on sentences.
Thoroughly proofread your paper for final revisions. Scrutinize your final draft for typographical errors, misspellings overlooked by spell check, and any lingering grammar concerns.
- If feasible, enlist the assistance of a friend or mentor to review your final draft. They may identify errors that elude your notice.
Compile your works cited page, bibliography, or references page. Given the utilization of evidence, it's imperative to include a page listing all your sources. Prepare this page according to the style manual prescribed by your instructor.
Adapt your paper to meet your instructor’s specifications. Refer to your assignment instructions, course syllabus, or paper guidelines for formatting requirements. Adjust margins, font size, and spacing to adhere to the prescribed format. Incorporate your header and paginate accordingly.
- If submitting a printed copy, ascertain if it should be enclosed in a presentation folder.
Pointers
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Avoid the use of “I” and “you” in crafting your thesis statement.
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Maintain a clear focus on your claim throughout your paper, ensuring that all presented evidence supports it.
Cautionary Notes
- Provide proper attribution when incorporating others' opinions, statistics, facts, or quotations. Prevent plagiarism by appropriately referencing and citing your sources.
