ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC

AND PROFESSIONAL
PURPOSES

DIZON, DOMINADOR JR. N.

ENGLAPP Teacher

WEEKS 11-14:
Writing a Position Paper
Argument Analysis in Various Field
Presentation of Reasonable Arguments supported by
Properly Cited factual evidences
Writing A Position Paper in
Specific Discipline

Group Activity

Form a group with

five to six members.

Each of the questions given

will be assigned to two groups.

Assign a group leader.

#LGBT
#DUTERTE VS.
DELIMA

EXTRAJUDICIAL
KILLING

#CLASS
SUSPENSION

AFFIRMATIVE

NEGATIVE

The leaders will pick the

group's stand by engaging in a
Game of Rock, Paper, and
Scissors.

Once your group knows your

stand on the issue, think of
three valid arguments to defend it.

The winner gets to chose

their group's stand.

WRITING A
POSITION PAPER

 presents the writer's stand or viewpoint on a

particular issue
arguments in a position paper should be backed
up by evidence or facts and not by
unsubstantiated opinions
lets you take part in a larger debate
allows you to change the opinions and attitude of
others (societal change)

PARTS OF POSITION
PAPER

1. Introduction
Start with an introduction which presents the
issue while grabbing the attention of readers.
Define the issue and discuss its background.
Provide a general statement of your position via
thesis statement.

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2. Body
State your main arguments.
Provide sufficient evidence for each argument
such as statistical data, interviews with experts,
and testimonies
Provide counterarguments against the possible
weaknesses of your arguments.

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3. Conclusion
Restate your position and main arguments.
Suggest a course of action.
State what makes your position superior and
more acceptable.
End with a powerful closing statement such as
quotation, a challenge, or a question.
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GUIDELINES IN
WRITING A
POSITION PAPER

1. Choose an issue. When choosing one, keep the

following guidelines in mind.
The issue should be debatable - you won't be able
to take a stand if the topic is not debatable.

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DEBATABLE

UNDEBATABLE

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol is always bad for your health

Alcohol can be legally sold to adults over

the age of 18 in Victoria

Television

Pay (or cable) television will become more

popular than free-to-air television in the next
10 years.

Television broadcasting began in Australia

in 1956.

Public transport is more economically

efficient than private car transport.

Trains, trams and buses are all forms of

public transport.

Public Transport

The Australian education

system

The Prime Minister

The Australian education system provides the There are three main levels in the
highest quality education in the Asia-Pacific
Australian education system: primary,
region.
secondary and tertiary

The Prime Minister should be directly elected

by all the citizens of Australia.

The Prime Minister is elected by a vote of

all the members of the House of
Representatives

Retrieved from: http://www.ltn.lv/~markir/essaywriting/debate2.htm

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 The issue should be current and relevant.

The issue should be written in a question form and
answerable by yes or no.
The issue should be narrow and manageable.

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2. Begin the writing process by conducting an in-depth

research on the issue.
3. Make sure to define unfamiliar terms when you first
mention them.
4. Be aware of the various positions about the issue and
explain and analyze them objectively.
5. Reflect on your position and identify its weaknesses.
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6. Cite valid and reliable sources to establish the credibility

of your arguments.
7. View the issue in a different perspective so you can
present a unique approach.
8. Limit your position paper to two pages.
9. Analyze your target readers and align your arguments to
their beliefs, needs, interests, and motivations.
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10. Summarize the other side's counterarguments and

use various evidence and data to refute them.
11. Use an active voice as much as possible to
achieve a dynamic and firm tone.
12. Arrange your evidence logically using an inductive or
deductive approach.
a. Inductive approach - specific to general ideas
b. Deductive approach - general theory to a specific
hypothesis
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13. Check your argument for fallacies and eliminate

them. Fallacies, or errors in reasoning, weaken your
argument.
14. Use ethical, logical, and emotional appeal.
ethical - credibility and competence
logical - rational approach
emotional - evokes feelings
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LAS 1 WEEK 11

Premise & Conclusion

Premise:
All girls have long eyelashes.
Cows have long eyelashes
Conclusion:
Therefore, all girls are cows.
Is this statement logically right?
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Is this reasoning logical?

Premise:
A cloud is 90% water.
A watermelon is 90% water.
A plane can fly through a cloud.
Conclusion:
Therefore, a plane can fly through
a watermelon

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14. Use ethical, logical, and emotional appeal.

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The goal of argumentative writing is to persuade your

audience that your ideas are valid, or more valid than
someone else's. The Greek philosopher Aristotle divided the
means of persuasion, appeals, into three categories: ethos,
pathos, and logos.

Essential Learning
A position paper is argumentative in nature. It can
be likened to a debate, but you are writing for both sides
of the issue. You have to choose a side and defend
that side as if you were in a debate.
Your supporting details in your position
paper should be very convincing. Support them
data from secondary sources. Present the
arguments seamlessly and smoothly by using
powerful words and effective transitions.