The document discusses the steps to writing a position paper, including choosing an issue, collecting information on both sides of the issue, and organizing the presentation. It provides details on different types of arguments and appeals that can be used to support a position.
The document discusses the steps to writing a position paper, including choosing an issue, collecting information on both sides of the issue, and organizing the presentation. It provides details on different types of arguments and appeals that can be used to support a position.
The document discusses the steps to writing a position paper, including choosing an issue, collecting information on both sides of the issue, and organizing the presentation. It provides details on different types of arguments and appeals that can be used to support a position.
The document discusses the steps to writing a position paper, including choosing an issue, collecting information on both sides of the issue, and organizing the presentation. It provides details on different types of arguments and appeals that can be used to support a position.
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WRITING A POSITION PAPER
Steps in Writing a Position Paper
Choose an issue for a topic
Collect information on the issue
Organize your presentation
Step 1 Choosing an issue for a topic
Problems that need to be addressed in society and
even in our own experiences Issues from the news and other media sources and school events such as campus debates, fora conferences, or lectures Logical appeals: the use of evidence and logical reasoning
There are different types of arguments according to
reasoning based on evidence. These are: ARGUMENT FROM TRANSITIVITY ARGUMENT FROM INCOMPATIBILITY ARGUMENT FROM RECIPROCITY ARGUMENT FROM COMPARISON ARGUMENT FROM GENERALIZATION ARGUMENT FROM EXAMPLES ARGUMENT FROM CAUSE ARGUMENT FROM SIGN Step 2 Collect information on the issue
Your position may be supported through two major
types: Logical appeals- this is the use of facts in order to support a position; It persuades the audience by targeting their thinking.
Emotional appeals- the use of the audience’s feelings
for the subject of the paper (anger, pity, and aversion) in order to persuade. It refers to values that the reader may identify with, such as the importance of family ties, hospitality, and the bayanihan spirit. TYPES OF ARGUMENTS
ARGUMENT FROM TRANSITIVITY
This involves three terms associated through the
process of classification. In this type of argument, two classification statements serve as premises which then serve as the basis for the argument, presented in the form of a conclusion as in A is B; B is C; thus, A is C. ARGUMENT FROM RECIPROCITY
This argument says that individuals and situations
that can be put together under the same category should be treated in the same way. ARGUMENT FROM INCOMPATIBILITY
This type of argument presents two contradictory
choices such that the choice one means the exclusion of the other. Thus, if something is A, it cannot be B; if it is B, it cannot be A, for A and B cannot be combined- they are incompatible. ARGUMENT FROM GENERALIZATION In this area, we use one member of a population to make conclusions about the entire population.
In order to check the validity of arguments from
generalization, let us consider the following questions: Is the member representative of the entire population? Does he or she embody all the qualities of the entire population? Is he or she a typical member of the population? If not, then the argument fails. ARGUMENT FROM COMPARISON This argues that the two situations will have the same outcome because of the similarities between these situations.
How do we check the soundness of our argument?
Consider the following questions: Do the two entities belong to the same category? Are the two entities sufficiently similar to justify the conclusion? Is there any significant dissimilarity to undermine the conclusion? ARGUMENT FROM EXAMPLES This is similar to argument from generalization in that conclusions are made about an entire population.
To test arguments from examples, we must ask the
following questions: Is there a sufficient number of examples to justify the conclusion? Are there any counter-examples? ARGUMENT FROM CAUSE
Two types of causes
Strong cause or sufficient cause- the occurrence of the cause guarantees the existence of the effect. Weak cause or necessary cause- the occurrence of the cause is necessary for the effect to occur ARGUMENT FROM SIGN
This argument uses a sign or indicator X to argue for
the existence of condition Y. Bandwagon or “join-the-crowd” The writer uses people’s tendency to conform with the majority, pointing out that his or her position enjoys support from many people. Appeal to common folk The persuasion is done by pointing out that a person is no different from ordinary people. False authority A person speaks as expert on something on which he/ she has no expertise, as when an actor claims that he/she proved the efficacy of a brand of medicine through laboratory tests Name calling or “ad hominem” It uses labels with negative meanings to cast one’s opponent in a bad light.
Association Done by creating a link between one thing or idea and another one that a people have a positive or negative feelings for. Emotional appeals
As stated, emotional appeals come in different forms.
Mcwhorter (2001) identifies the following common types:
Bandwagon or “join-the-crowd” Appeal to common folk False authority Name calling or “ad hominem” Association Body Present the opposing viewpoint. You need to accurately represent what the opposing side is saying about the issue. Present your arguments Make them convincing by providing sufficient support STEP 3 ORGANIZE THE CONTENT
INTRODUCTION Introduce the issue being debated Answering basic reporter questions (who, what, when, where, and why) about your chosen issue.
State your claim on the issue
A good statement of claim or thesis should clearly indicate the writer’s stand and it should do so right at the onset. Reference Miciano, R. and Miciano, M. (2016).English for Academic and Professional Purposes.s
