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MADJACO, Daryl P. Engl 7 7:30-8:30 MWF MM-502

BSME-3 March 16, 2018

POSITION PAPER

I. NATURE OF POSITION PAPER

A. Definition of Position Paper (Baugh 1997; Faigley 2016; Healy &
Walusayi 1997)
B. Essence of Position Paper (Baugh 1997)

II. WRITING A POSITION PAPER

A. Choose a Good Topic (Faigley 2016)
1. Take an arguable position
2. Write a working thesis
3. Develop reasons
4. Support the reason
B. Choose a Proposition (Winterowd & Murray 1998)
1. The proposition must be arguable
2. The proposition must be uncertain
C. Process of writing a Position Paper
1. Basic arrangements of position paper (Baugh 1997)
2. Making a good position paper (Faigley 2016)
a. define the issue
b. identify stakeholders
c. read about the issue
d. state the position
e. find reasons
f. provide evidence
g. acknowledge opposing views

III. PERSUADING THE AUDIENCE

- Assemble the elements of the argument (Turabian 2013)
1. State and evaluate the issue
2. Support the claim
3. Respond the readers
4. Pertinence of the reason
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I. NATURE OF POSITION PAPER

A. Definition of Position Paper
The position paper does not require you to present opposing
arguments in any detail or provide background information. You mention the
opposing viewpoint at the beginning but devote the remainder of your paper
to your own position and the evidence or reasoning that support it (Baugh
1997: 59).
The topic of this paper may have two opposing views, but you need to
discuss only the side that supports your position. You do not have to argue
against the opposing view, only mention it at the beginning (Baugh 1997: 8).
In a position argument you make a claim about a controversial issue.
Position arguments often take two forms-definition arguments and rebuttal
arguments (Faigley 2016: 371).
Arguing is not natural human activity; it is even a form of
entertainment for some people. Most of you probably get into occasional
arguments during conversations, and, as college students, you should now
get in the habit of regularly arguing, or persuading, on paper (Healy &
Walusayi 1997: 360).
B. Essence of Position Paper
The editor is expressing a point of view not debating an opponent
(Baugh 1997: 59).

II. WRITING A POSITION PAPER

A. Choose a Good Topic
A position argument requires that you make a claim that a reasonable
person could disagree with and support that claim with one or more reasons.
Statements of facts that can be verified by doing research are not arguable.
Likewise, claims of personal taste and of faith are not arguable. Statements
of fact are not arguable unless the facts are disputed. There are two basic
strategies for writing a rebuttal. In a refutation, you can demonstrate the
shortcoming of an argument you wish to discredit. In a counterargument, you
emphasize the strengths of the position you support in contrast to the
argument you are opposing. There are two basic strategies for writing a
rebuttal. In a refutation, you can demonstrate the shortcoming of an argument
you wish to discredit. In a counterargument, you emphasize the strengths of
the position you support in contrast to the argument you are opposing.
Search for facts, statistics, statements from authorities, and textual evidence
to support your reasons. If you are writing about a campus or community
issue, you may also need to visit the site and make observations (Faigley
2016: 410).
1. Take an arguable position
2. Write a working thesis
3. Develop reasons
4. Support the reason
B. Choose a Proposition
An arguable position is specific statement that can be debated by people
with opposing viewpoints. Besides being debatable, each of the preceding
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propositions is specific. One cannot debate vague, general statements, such

as, “People should be kinder to each other.” Neither can one debate factual
statements, such as “One hundred centimeters make a meter.” By definition a
fact is true and is therefore not arguable. Notice the verb should in each. What
should be is a matter of opinion, and opinions are arguable. With few
exceptions (such as determining causes for major historical events), it is
useless to be persuasive about the past. To be meaning meaningful an
argument must deal with an issue that is yet to be decided or one that involves
changing an existing condition (Winterowd & Murray 1998: 268).
1. The proposition must be arguable
2. The proposition must be uncertain
C. Process of writing a Position Paper
1. Basic arrangements of position paper
This format gives you the perfect opportunity to sound off on a
subject, provided your position is backed up by supporting evidence or
examples. The basic arrangement looks like the following:
Thesis statement-introduction
I. Background of information (if appropriate)
II. Mention of opposing viewpoint
III. Points that support your position
A. First point, with supporting evidence, reasons
B. Second point, with supporting evidence, reasons
C. Etc.
IV. Conclusion restating your main position
This arrangement is typical of many editorials found in
newspapers and magazines (Baugh 1997: 59).
2. Making a good position paper
Your subject should be clear to your readers. If readers are
unfamiliar with the issues, you should give enough examples so
they understand the issuer in concrete terms. Before you formulate a
claim about an issue, become familiar with the conversation about that
issue by reading. You may want to state your thesis in the opening
paragraph to let readers know your position immediately. List as many
reasons as you think of. Develop the ones that are most convincing. In
support of your reasons, provide evidence—in the form of examples,
statistics, and testimony of experts—that the reasons are valid.
Anticipating what objections might be made to your position and answer
those objections (Faigley 2016: 371-372).
a. define the issue
b. identify stakeholders
c. read about the issue
d. state the position
e. find reasons
f. provide evidence
g. acknowledge opposing views

III. PERSUADING THE AUDIENCE

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- Assemble the elements of the argument

At the core of your argument are three elements: your claim, your
reasons for accepting it, and the evidence that supports those reasons. To
that core you’ll add one and perhaps two more elements: responds to
questions, objections, and alternative points of view; the other answers
those who do not understand how your reasons are relevant to your claim.
Start a new first page of your storyboard (or outline). At the bottom, state
your claim in a sentence or two. Be as specific as you can, because the words
in this claim will help you plan and execute your draft. Avoid vague valve words
like important, interesting, significant, and the like. Compare the two following
claims. We think up logical reasons, but we collect hard evidence; we don’t
collect hard reasons and think up logical evidence. And we base reasons on
evidence; we don’t base evidence on reasons. A reason is abstract, and you
don’t have to cite its source (of you thought of it). Evidence usually comes
from outside your mind, so you must always cite its source, even of you found
it through your own observation or experiments; then you must show what
you did to find. Reasons need the support of evidence; evidence should need
no support beyond a reference to a reliable source (Turabian 2013: 52-61).
1. State and evaluate your claim
2. Support your claim with reasons and evaluate
3. Acknowledge and to readers point of view
4. Establish the relevance of your reasons