Definition
A position essay is a composition in which a person presents an arguable statement
about something and demonstrates why he or she believes it is valid and worth listening
to. Its main goal is to present an idea.
A position paper can be arranged in the following format:
1. Introduce your topic with some basic background information.
2. Introduce possible objections to your position.
3. Support and acknowledge the opposing points.
4. Explain that your position is still the best one, despite the strength of counter-
arguments.
Purpose
The purpose of a position paper is to generate support on an issue. It describes
a position on an issue and the rational for that position. The position paper is based
on facts that provide a solid foundation for your argument.
Does it need a Title?
It's just a label. But you may opt for one.
Format of a Position Paper
The classic position paper contains three main elements: An Introduction, which
identifies the issue that will be discussed and states the author's position on that issue.
A Conclusion, restating the key points and, where applicable, suggesting resolutions to
the issue.
Examples of these types of writing include narratives, descriptions, compare and
contrast, and argument. The concluding sentence of a narrative paragraph should
emphasize the moral lesson to the audience. ... The concluding sentence in an
argument paragraph will summarize the argument being made.
Sample Outline
I. Introduction
___A. Introduce the topic
___B. Provide background on the topic to explain why it is important
___C. Assert the thesis (your view of the issue). More on thesis
statements can be found below.
Your introduction has a dual purpose: to indicate both the topic and your
approach to it (your thesis statement), and to arouse your reader’s
interest in what you have to say. One effective way of introducing a topic is
to place it in context – to supply a kind of backdrop that will put it in
perspective. You should discuss the area into which your topic fits, and then
gradually lead into your specific field of discussion (re: your thesis
statement).
II. Counter Argument
___A.Summarize the counterclaims
___B.Provide supporting information for counterclaims
___C.Refute the counterclaims
___D. Give evidence for argument
You can generate counterarguments by asking yourself what someone
who disagrees with you might say about each of the points you've made or
about your position as a whole. Once you have thought up some
counterarguments, consider how you will respond to them--will you
concede that your opponent has a point but explain why your audience
should nonetheless accept your argument? Will you reject the
counterargument and explain why it is mistaken? Either way, you will want to
leave your reader with a sense that your argument is stronger than opposing
arguments.
When you are summarizing opposing arguments, be charitable. Present
each argument fairly and objectively, rather than trying to make it look
foolish. You want to show that you have seriously considered the many
sides of the issue, and that you are not simply attacking or mocking your
opponents.
It is usually better to consider one or two serious counterarguments in
some depth, rather than to give a long but superficial list of many different
counterarguments and replies.
Be sure that your reply is consistent with your original argument. If
considering a counterargument changes your position, you will need to go
back and revise your original argument accordingly.
For more on counterarguments
visit: http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/argument.html
III. Your Argument
A. Assert point #1 of your claims
____1. Give your educated and informed opinion
____2. Provide support/proof using more than one source (preferably
three)
B. Assert point #2 of your claims
_____1. Give your educated and informed opinion
_____2. Provide support/proof using more than one source (preferably
three)
C. Assert point #3 of your claims
_____1. Give your educated and informed opinion
_____2. Provide support/proof using more than one source (preferably
three)
You may have more than 3 overall points to your argument, but you should
not have fewer.
IV. Conclusion
___A. Restate your argument
___B. Provide a plan of action but do not introduce new information
The simplest and most basic conclusion is one that restates the thesis in
different words and then discusses its implications.
Stating Your Thesis
A thesis is a one-sentence statement about your topic. It's an assertion about
your topic, something you claim to be true. Notice that a topic alone makes no
such claim; it merely defines an area to be covered. To make your topic into
a thesis statement, you need to make a claim about it, make it into a sentence.
Look back over your materials--brainstorms, investigative notes, etc.--and think
about what you believe to be true. Think about what your readers want or need to
know. Then write a sentence, preferably at this point, a simple one, stating what
will be the central idea of your paper. The result should look something like this:
Original Subject: an important issue in my major field
Focused Topic: media technology education for communication majors
Thesis: Theories of media technology deserve a more prominent place in this
University’s Communication program
Or if your investigations led you to a different belief:
Thesis: Communication majors at this University receive a solid background in
theories of media technology
It's always good to have a thesis you can believe in.
Notice, though, that a sentence stating an obvious and indisputable truth
won't work as a thesis:
Thesis: This University has a Communication major.
That's a complete sentence, and it asserts something to be true, but as a thesis
it's a dead end. It's a statement of fact, pure and simple, and requires little or
nothing added. A good thesis asks to have more said about it. It demands
some proof. Your job is to show your reader that your thesis is true.
Remember, you can't just pluck a thesis out of thin air. Even if you have
remarkable insight concerning a topic, it won't be worth much unless you can
logically and persuasively support it in the body of your essay. A thesis is the
evolutionary result of a thinking process, not a miraculous creation. Formulating a
thesis is not the first thing you do after reading the essay assignment. Deciding
on a thesis does not come first. Before you can come up with an argument on
any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible
relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities),
and think about the beneath-the-surface significance of these relationships. After
this initial exploration of the question at hand, you can formulate a "working
thesis," an argument that you think will make sense of the evidence but that may
need adjustment along the way. In other words, do not show up at your TAs
office hours expecting them to help you figure out your thesis statement
and/or help organize your paper unless you have already done some
research.
