EAPP - WRITING A POSITION PAPER 2020

“Ten gods cannot change the opinion of one fool, especially if another fool agrees with him.”

ABRAHAM MILLER

Pol Sci Professor

Political Theorist

LEARNING COMPETENCIES:

•define a position paper CS_EN11/12A-EAPP-IIa-d-1;

•determine the structure of Position Paper; and

•participate actively in the given activities.

Position Paper

qis an essay or written report that presents a person’s attitude, options, and intentions about a specific issue.

qis sometimes called a point-of-view paper.

qis a one-side argument about a certain issue and presents such argument in an organized manner.

ARGUMENT

•A fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true

•A controversy or debatable issue

•A main idea or thesis presented in a text, and for which the author will present evidence throughout the text.

•The Purpose: To Convince or Persuade

Developing an Argument

•Use evidence to support your position

•Validate your position with authoritative references or primary source quotations.

•Examine the strengths and weaknesses of your position.

•Evaluate possible solutions and suggest courses of action.

CONCLUSION INDICATORS AND PREMISE INDICATORS OF AN ISSUE

SAMPLE ARGUMENTS

A) Research has shown that people who do at least 30 minutes a day of vigorous exercise reduce their risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer. 2) It would be wise for you to begin a daily program of exercise.

•Argument: Yes.

•Conclusion: 2.

•Premises : 1

•Issue: Whether you should begin a daily program of exercise

B) Two teenagers saw the movie, "Natural Born Killers," and went out on a killing spree. 2) A number of teenagers who have committed violence at schools have spent many hour playing video games filled with murder and violence. 3) We must have some stricter controls on the content of entertainment that is viewed by teenagers.

•Argument? Yes

•Conclusion: 3

•Premises: 1, 2

•Issue: Whether we must have stricter controls on the content of entertainment that is viewed by teenagers.

C) We must resist all effort to allow the government to censor entertainment. 2)Freedom of speech and expressions are essential to a democratic form of government. 3)As soon as we allow some censorship, it won't be long before censorship will be used to silence the opinions critical of the government. 4) The next thing we know, we will have no more freedom like in Marcos Martial Law.

•Argument: Yes, the writer is trying to convince me that we must not allow the government to censor entertainment.

•Conclusion: 1

•Premises: 2,3,4

•Issue: Whether to resist all efforts to allow governmental censoring.

Issue Criteria

To take a side on a subject, you should first establish the arguability of a topic that interests you. Ask yourself the following questions to ensure that you will be able to present a strong argument:

1. Is it a real issue?

2. Can you identify at least two distinctive positions?

3. Are you personally interested in advocating one of these positions?

4. Is the scope of the issue narrow enough to be manageable?

REMEMBER: POSITION PAPER

Ø      Can use any of the other essay form like definition, description, and cause and effect, evaluation, argument or problem solution.

PARTS OF A POSITION PAPER

1.Introduction

2.Body

   a. Counterarguments/   Counterclaims

   b. Your Argument

3. Conclusion

Introduction

Ø  Introduce the topic

Ø    Provide Background of the topic

Ø    Assert the thesis (your view of the issue)

Counterarguments

Ø   Summarize the counter claims

Ø    Provide supporting information for counterclaims

Ø    Refute the counter claims

Ø    Gives evidence for the argument

Your Argument

ØGive your educated and informed opinion

ØProvide proof using more than one source

Conclusion

ØRestate your argument

ØProvide a plan of action but do not introduce new information.

Parts of a Position Paper (IBC) 

    I.  INTRODUCTION

•clearly identifies the issue and state the author’s position.

 II.  BODY

•Presents an idea or main concept that clarifies a portion of the position statement and is supported by evidence or facts.

 III.  CONCLUSION

•Summarizes the main concepts and ideas and reinforce, without repeating, the introduction or body of the paper.

  GROUP WORK / APPLICATION/ASS.

DIRECTIONS: WRITE A POSITION PAPER ON A MANILA PAPER. PRESENT BEFORE CLASS TOMORROW.

TASK: PICK 1 AND WRITE A POSITION PAPER ON A BONDPAPER FOLLOWING THE STRUCTURE LEARNED.

1.       Banning of school uniforms in Senior High Schools

2.       Legalization of the same-sex marriage in the Philippines

3.       Free Monthly Allowance for College students

4.       Free cell phone load in the Philippines

RUBRIC & REQUIREMENTS:

Ø  Encoded, Courier New, size 12, A4.

Ø  THESIS AND INTRODUCTION: 20

Ø  ARGUMENT (SUPPORT): 10

Ø  CONCLUSION: 10

Ø  REFERENCES/CITATION: 10

Ø  GRAMMAR & MECHANICS: 10

                               TOTAL: 60

Peer Critiquing

Directions: Each group will evaluate the work of the other group using the rubric - .position-paper-rubric1.doc

ASSIGNMENT: NOTEBOOK TASK

  Identify ten (10) situations in which a position paper may be effectively used in our present society.

  NO same answer. Same answer/ situation = No point•