ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC

AND PROFESSIONAL
PURPOSES
Quarter 2 – Module 3
 WRITES VARIOUS
KINDS OF POSITION
PAPERS
By the end of this module, you should be able
to:

Writes various kinds of position papers.

Below are the words you will encounter in the discussion in the next following
pages. This section will help you unlock those words to better understand its
context.

• Position Paper: A formal, usually detailed written

statement, especially regarding a single issue, that
articulates a position, view point, or policy, as of
government, organization, or political candidate.
• Argument: A process of reasoning; series of reasons; a
statement, reason, or facts for or against a point.
• Opinion: A view or judgment formed about something,
not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.
• Logical Appeal: Refers to a reasonable
approach in developing an argument.
• Ethical Appeal: Refers to your credibility or
believability and competence as a writer.
• Emotional Appeal: Uses arguments in a way
that evokes or uncovers feelings.
• Fallacies: Errors in reasoning; a false or
mistaken idea.
As a student, you are continuously taking sides
and forming opinions on anything that involves
them. However, defending your point by simply
saying “because I think so”, won’t help you
make a case. It is therefore important that you
learn how to properly outline your thoughts and
make valid argument.
A position paper presents the writer’s stand
or viewpoint on a particular issue. Writing a
position paper entails outlining arguments
and proposing the course of action; by
doing so, you are already taking part in a
large debate.
The primary goal of a position paper is to
declare a “position” on a certain matter or
an issue. Its secondary goal is to convince
or persuade others to take that side of an
issue or matter.
Aside from this, you also have the power to
change the opinions and attitude of others
when you write a position paper. Because
of this, a position paper can be essential
tool in bringing about societal change.
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. I
A. INTRODUCTION
a) Analyze the source/quote: pull it apart sentence by sentence and
explain the meaning of the source both in general terms and more
specifically
b) Identify the perspective the source/quote reflects:
c) Explain your understanding of that ideology (discuss key
underlying beliefs or political principles or economic principles)
d) State your position. Do you agree with the ideological perspective
or not? NOTE: If taking a qualified position, state it clearly and
precisely
II. BODY
a) Explain your first reason to support your position
b) Factual, relevant and accurate evidence to prove your first
argument
c) Explain your second argument/reason
d) Factual, relevant and accurate evidence to prove your second
argument
e) Explain your third argument/reason f) Factual, relevant and
accurate evidence to prove your last argument NOTE: In General,
the strongest/best argument should be the last. Others would
advise the first argument by the strongest/best; never the middle
argument.
[Link] (Summarize, restate in a
forceful manner your position) NOTE: Please
remember that the conclusion should not merely
be a brief repetition of your results – in that case
your discussion would seem fairly pointless.
Focus instead on what your results may imply
after careful consideration (consideration that
you have outlined in your discussion).
Diction
Diction refers to the choice of words for the expression of ideas;
the construction, disposition, and application of words in your
essay, with regard to clearness, accuracy, variety, etc.; mode of
expression; and language. There is often a tendency for students to
use fancy words and extravagant images in hopes that it will make
them sound more intelligent when in fact the result is a confusing
mess. Although this approach can sometimes be effective, it is
advisable that you choose clear words and be as precise in the
expression of your ideas as possible.
Paragraphs Creating clear paragraphs is essential.
Paragraphs come in so many sizes and patterns that no single formula could
possibly cover them all. The two basic principles to remember are these:
1) A paragraph is a means of developing and framing an idea or
impression. As a general rule, you should address only one major idea
per paragraph.
2) The divisions between paragraphs aren’t random, but indicate a shift in
focus. In other words you must carefully and clearly organize the order
of your paragraphs so that they are logically positioned throughout your
paper. Transitions will help you with this.
Transitions
In academic writing your goal is to convey
information clearly and concisely, if not to convert
the reader to your way of thinking. Transitions help
you to achieve these goals by establishing logical
connections between sentences, paragraphs, and
sections of your papers. In other words, transitions
tell readers what to do with the information you
present them.
Grammar and Spelling
You must make certain that your paper is free from
grammar and spelling mistakes. Mechanical errors
are usually the main reason for lack of clarity in
essays, so be sure to thoroughly proofread your
paper before handing it in.
Plagiarism and academic honesty
Plagiarism is a form of stealing; as with other
offences against the law, ignorance is no excuse. The
way to avoid plagiarism is to give credit where credit
is due. If you are using someone else’s idea,
acknowledge it, even if you have changed the
wording or just summarized the main points.
To avoid plagiarism, you must give credit whenever
you use
• another person's idea, opinion, or theory;
• any facts, statistics, graphs, drawings--any pieces of
information--that are not common knowledge;
• quotations of another person's actual spoken or
written words; or
• paraphrase of another person's spoken or written
words.
FIX ME!
Directions: Below is a selection not arranged
accordingly. Your job is to fix the Selection
chronologically by putting numbers 1 to 4; 1
being the Introduction, 2 and 3 as the body and
4 as the Conclusion. Write your answers in your
notebook.
_____Gandhi’s two most notable fasts were in September 1947
and January 1948. In the first, shortly after India won its
independence in august 1947, the governor of Calcutta spoke of
him not as “Mahatma” but as “the magician,” for he successfully
ended a summer violence and bloodshed in a vicious civil war
between Muslim and Hindus that had left 4000 dead and 20,000
wounded. In the second, fasted to promote tolerance among
Sikhs, Hindus and Muslim. Because he was successful in
achieving consensus among leaders of the various groups, it is
ironic that Gandhi was assassinated 10 days later by a fellow
Hindu. The militant could not tolerate his view that Muslim and
Hindus were equal and no one religion was superior to another.
_____Throughout his career, Gandhi staged a total of
17 hunger strikes. The first was in 1918 to express
his solidarity with mill workers. They had lost their
positions because of a labor dispute and were unable
to feed their families. To demonstrate his support for
their cause and for their suffering. He initiated a fast,
which resulted in a quick settlement and increased
wages for the laborers. In 1932, he began a “fast until
death” to protest discriminatory British laws.
_____Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948), honored by his
supporters with the name Mahatma or “great soul”
was a prominent twentieth-century Indian politician
and spiritual leader. Through his philosophy based on
courage, truth, and non-violent resistence, he
established a number of economic and social reforms
for India. Furthermore, he effectively led the nation
to its independence in1947. One of his most potent
forms of protest was the hunger strikes or fast.
_____These were aimed at legalizing the caste system
and segregating the dalits or untouchable caste into a
separate electoral body. In 1933, the respected leader
began a threeweek hunger strike to protest British rule
in the country. In 1939, he fasted for the same reason
and to promote the cause of independent and unified
India. In august 1947, his dream was realized, albeit
with partitioning of greater India into the two separate
nations of India and Pakistan, with a majority of Hindus
in the former and a predominance of Muslim in the
latter.
PERFORMANCE TASK 1
Directions. Think of three problems that
surround the Philippines’ society today.
Enumerate these problems on the space
provided on the left side of the chart below. And
then, write the opinion about each of them in a
separate sheet of paper or in your notebook.
ISSUE/PROBLEM YOUR OPINION Example: I
Example: Passage of Anti- am not in favor because it
terror Law violates basic human rights
1. such as the right to free
speech, etc. 1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
THANK YOU!
DIRECTIONS. Read and comprehend the
following outline of a position paper. Then,
decide what issue you are going to write. After
that, fill up the parts of a position paper using
the template below. Your reasons or opinions
should be supported by facts. In a separate sheet
of paper, write your answers with a minimum of
five paragraphs.
I. Introduction- One Paragraph
[Link] and relevance of the issue
[Link] statement (Use prior knowledge on how to write thesis statement)
[Link] you believe what you do
II. Body- Three paragraphs
[Link] of reasons you believe what you do and its opposing
viewpoints.
III. Conclusion: One Paragraph
A. Restate your thesis in different words Provide a suggestion or a call to
action.
POST TEST
DIRECTIONS: From the list of issues/topics
enumerated below, compose ONE position paper by
taking a stand. You are given the privilege to choose
the position on the issue, whichever is closer to your
heart. In a separate sheet of paper, write your position
paper. Your position paper will be rated based on the
rubrics that we use on the “Optional Task.” Please
remember the guidelines that we discussed in the
previous pages.
ASSIGNMENT
DIRECTIONS: From the list of Topics listed in
the Post-Test section, write theses statements
showing your position on the other three issues
that you did not select. Write your answers in
your notebook.
Assignment TOPIC 1:
___________________________________________________
Issue: ___________________________________________________
Problem:
____________________________________________________________
______
Thesis Statement:
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
__________________________