Position Paper

POSITION
PAPER
WHAT IS POSITION PAPER?
Like a debate, a position
paper presents one side of
an arguable opinion about
an issue.
GOAL OF A POSITION PAPER
The goal of a position
paper is to convince the
audience that your opinion
is valid and defensible.
IMPORTANCE OF A POSITION 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.
Theposition paper is
something you want to
excel at, and to do this,
several criteria must be
met.
 Theposition paper is meant to
give delegates an opportunity
to organize their research into
an organized policy statement.
Inposition paper, you have to
take one side of the argument
and persuade your audience
that you have a well-
founded knowledge of the
topic being presented.
Itis important to support your
argument with evidence to
ensure the validity of your
claim, as well as to refute the
counterclaims to show that
you are well informed about
both sides.
REMEMBER:
The position paper is written
based on facts that provide a
solid foundation on the topic.
FOUR STEPS IN
WRITING A
POSITION PAPER
I-OUTLINE THE TOPIC IN GENERAL
 The purpose of outlining the topic
in general and providing insight
into the root of the conflict.
 As the subject of the paper is
Free Trade, the write-up begins
by first stating the areas of
concern, discussing some of the
positive and negative aspects of
globalization, as well as
emphasizing the controversial
nature of the topic at hand.
I-OUTLINE THE TOPIC IN GENERAL
 Your opening paragraph should,

as this paper attests to, be a
brief summary of the current
perception held towards the
status quo. It should state the
problem and express why it is
significant.
II-IDENTIFY AND DESCRIBE YOUR
LOCATION– HOW HAS YOUR PLACE
BEEN AFFECTED?
 Where your background
research on your location pays
off.
 Firstly, you should identify and
describe your country. Be sure to
state how your nation relates to
the topic for discussion,
specifically citing how your state
has been affected.
II-IDENTIFY AND DESCRIBE YOUR
LOCATION– HOW HAS YOUR PLACE
BEEN AFFECTED?
 It is imperative to emphasize the
extent to which change has taken
place. Hold off any normative
judgments in this section, the
purpose of this paragraph is not to
evaluate the institution or
development in reference to your
country, but rather, to merely
discuss how it has altered domestic
dynamics.

III-YOUR COUNTRY’S POLICIES AND
PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
 Where you outline your country’s

policies and what factors
contributed to those policies being
established in the first place.
 At this point, you are to address
the relative benefits (if any) and

detriments of the development,
specifically relating to your nation
and the actions you have taken to
maximize or minimize these effects.
PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
 You are to explain why your country

has acted in a certain fashion
historically and why it will continue
to follow this course of action.
 Outline your state’s particular
interest in the issue being discussed,

and begin to discuss what needs to
be changed about the current
interpretation of the situation.
PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
 Cite the areas needing reform

and provide suggestions as to
how this revision process should
be accomplished. Following this,
you may want to focus on one
area of particular concern for your
country.
PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
 Depending on your topic

area, this could be anything
from the affect of a war on a
nation’s health care
infrastructure to how creating
new national boundaries may
affect resource deposits
running along the potential
borders.
PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
 Be sure to select an area

of concern that could
potentially form the basis
of a resolution, or at least
one that can stimulate
prolonged debate.
IV-TIE TOGETHER LOOSE ENDS
 Finally, a conclusion should be

written to restate your country’s
position and sum up what you
hope to achieve throughout the
duration of the conference.
 The position paper leaves the

committee chair with a first
impression of your delegation.
Naturally, it’s important to make
that impression as strong as
possible. The staff looks for
original and critical thinking, a true
understanding of the nature of
your nation and both a function
and applied knowledge of your
topic.
 Be sure to demonstrate this

through presenting a concise yet
effective paper. As expressed
before, be sure to dedicate
equivalent energy to position
papers for both topic areas. They
are equally important in the eyes
of the committee and the
directors (the people who will be
evaluating your write-ups).
GENERIC SAMPLE
OUTLINE OF
POSITION PAPER
I- INTRODUCTION
A. Introduce the topic

B. Get the reader’s attention by
using a “hook”
C. Provide background
information on the topic
D. Assert the thesis (your view
of the issue)
II- COUNTER ARGUMENT (IT CAN BE
PLACE BEFORE CONCLUSION)
A. Summarize the
counterclaims
B. Provide supporting
information for counterclaims
C. Refute the counterclaims
D. Give evidence for argument
III-FIRST ARGUMENT OR REASON TO
SUPPORT YOUR POSITION
A. Topic sentence asserting point
#1 of your claims
1. Give your educated and
informed opinion
2. Provide support using reliable
sources
3. Comment on evidence given
4. Write a concluding sentence
to wrap up your idea
IV-SECOND ARGUMENT OR REASON
TO SUPPORT YOUR POSITION
#2 of your claims
informed opinion
sources
V-THIRD ARGUMENT OR REASON TO
SUPPORT YOUR POSITION
#3 of your claims
informed opinion
sources
VI-CONCLUSION
A. Summary of main points or
reasons
B. Restate your argument
C. Provide a plan of action but do
not introduce new information
CONSIDERATIONS
IN PREPARING
POSITION PAPER
I- ISSUE CRITERIA
 Is it a real issue, with genuine controversy
and uncertainty?
 Can you identify at least two distinctive
positions?
 Are you personally interested in advocating
one of these positions?

 Is the scope of the issue narrow enough to be
manageable?
II- CONSIDERING YOUR AUDIENCE AND
DETERMINING YOUR VIEWPOINT
 Is your topic interesting? Remember that
originality counts.
 Can you manage the material within the
specifications set by the instructor?

 Does your topic assert something specific,
prove it and where applicable, propose a plan

of action?
 Do you have enough material or proof to
support your opinion?

III- STATING YOUR THESIS
 A THESIS is a one sentence statement about
you topic. It’s an assertion about your topic,
something you claim to be true. To make your
topic into a thesis statement, you need to
make a claim about it, make it into a sentence.
 Example:
 Orig topic: an important issue in my major
field
 Focused topic: media tech education for
communication majors
 Thesis: Theories of media technology deserve
a more prominent place in this University’s

Communication program.
IV- WRITING WITH STYLE AND
CLARITY
1.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 and variety, etc.; mode
of expression and language.
CLARITY
2. Paragraphs-creating clear
paragraphs is essential.
Paragraphs come in many sizes
and patterns that no single
formula could possibly cover them
all.
 it is developing and framing an
idea or expression.
 Carefully and clearly organize the
order of your paragraphs

CLARITY
3.Transitions-it tells the reader
what to do with the information
you present them. Its function is
to give signal for readers how to
think about, organize and react to
old and new ideas as they read
through what you have written.
Basically, it provides readers a
directions how to logically
coherent arguments.
CLARITY
4.Grammar and Spelling-make
sure that your paper is free from
grammar and spelling mistakes.
Mechanical errors are usually the
main reason for lack of clarity in
essays, be thoroughly proof read
your paper before handling it in.
CLARITY
5.Plagiarism and academic
honesty-plagiarism is a form of
stealin; as with other offenses
against the law, ignorance is no
excuse. Give credit where credit
is due even if you have changed
the wording or just summarized
the main points.
SOURCES:
Guilford, (2001). Occasions for
Argumentative Essays. Writing
Argumentative Essays. Retrieved August 26,
2002 from the:
http://www.powa.org/agufrms.htm Previously
adapted from: Hairston, M. (1982) A
Contemporary Rhetoric (3rd ed). Boston:
Houghton Mifflin.
Northey, M. (1993). Making Sense: a
student’s guide to research, writing, and
style (3rd ed). Toronto: Oxford University
Press.
UNC-CH Writing Center (2000). Transitions.
Writing Center Handouts. Retrieved August
26, 2002 from the:
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/t
hesis.html
CHOOSE TOPIC FOR YOUR DEBATE
1. Legality of Divorce in the Philippines
2. The use of mother tongue language in
teaching-learning process
3. Same sex marriage
4. Extra Judicial killings
5. Marcos’ burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani
6. Duterte administration
7. One child policy in the Philippines

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POSITION

 Your opening paragraph should,

 Where you outline your country’s

the relative benefits (if any) and

 You are to explain why your country

interest in the issue being discussed,

 Cite the areas needing reform

 Depending on your topic

 Be sure to select an area

 Finally, a conclusion should be

 The position paper leaves the

 Be sure to demonstrate this

A. Introduce the topic

one of these positions?

specifications set by the instructor?

prove it and where applicable, propose a plan

support your opinion?

 Orig topic: an important issue in my major

a more prominent place in this University’s

order of your paragraphs

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