The following material explains how to produce a position paper (sometimes called a point of view paper). Below, a sparse template is provided that outlines the major parts of a good position paper. Keep in mind, however, that this is just a guide.
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. It is very important to ensure that you are addressing all sides of the issue and presenting it in a manner that is easy for your audience to understand. Your job is to take one side of the argument and persuade your audience that you have well-founded knowledge of the topic being presented. It is important to support your argument with evidence to ensure the validity of your claims, as well as to refute the counterclaims to show that you are well informed about both sides.
Remember, taking a position is just that, making a statement or taking a position, then persuading your audience into believing or siding with you. At the very least, make sure you can get a grudging, “I see your point.” With that said, make sure that the claim your are stating is attached to a strong thesis. Take a side and firmly stand on that side. If you want to state that people shouldn’t eat pizza, then say that. Your thesis IS NOT the place for your counterargument. It is not the place for rhetorical fallacies (no place is, really). It is the place for you to choose a side and demand that the rest of the world come there with you! With that said, make sure that you have supporting statements and sub claims that help your main statement along. If you want to state that people shouldn’t eat pizza, then you need to give your audience strong, irrefutable reasons why: It’s messy. It’s bad for your health. You could purchase several days worth of food for what two pizzas cost. People can’t deny that pizza is messy, or that it is bad for your health (in excess), and that’s what you want. You want people to be in an uncomfortable place, where they can’t help but listen to you because blast! They are right! What else do they have to say?
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