The Position Paper: Effective Arguments and Persuasive Writing

1. EDUC 260: Week 9

2. Overview • WebQuest Submission • Position Paper • Activity • Lab Activity • Work on Assignment #5 • Position Paper Consultation • Pick up O’Neill reading • For next week

3. WebQuest Submission Upload your WebQuest • Upload your WebQuest into your Blackcomb space. • Check your "live" webpage carefully • Correct any problems and re-upload • Note the URL (web address of your WebQuest) Turnitin • Copy and paste all of the text from your WebQuest into a file. Save it as a .doc or .rtf. • Submit it via Turnitin. Ensure that the text is the same as the content in your final WebQuest web page(s). Email Stephanie (stephanie@sfu.ca) with • Your name, the title of your WebQuest, the subject area, grade level and the URL (web address).

4. The Position Paper

5. What’s a Position Paper It is not • A literature review • (e.g. the history of cats as housepets) • A “how-to” paper • (e.g. how to keep cats as housepets) • A pro and con paper • (e.g. the advantages and disadvantages of cats as housepets) • A “copy and paste” activity from a variety of sources

6. Defining the Position Paper • It is an argumentative or persuasive essay • A reasoned argument rather than an assertion of opinion • Assertion = “X is true” • E.g. Computers are beneficial in schools • Leaves people wondering: • WHY is this the case? • HOW is this done? • What evidence is there? (Is that really correct?)

7. A Reasoned Argument • Assertion = “X is true” • Backs it up with any of the following: • There are persuasive reasons why X could be true • There is plausible explanation of how X could occur. • There is evidence which suggest that X is in fact true • The strongest argument contains all three above

8. “Set the Stage” • The first paragraph or two should introduce • Your specific issue and the main perspectives on the issue • Your position (thesis statement) • Your arguments/areas your arguments will focus on • Do not waste valuable space • by starting with general statements • providing a general context of how beneficial computers are for the future, etc. or • a historical account unless it is specifically relevant to you argument • E.g. Up to recently, literature has suggested that guinea pigs were the extent to which apartment dwellers could consider as pets, however cats are…

9. What to keep in mind? • Goal: to persuade the reader (me) of your view. Think of it along the lines of a newspaper editorial. • (e.g. cats are the ideal housepets for working apartment dwellers) • Where you take a stance/position/specific view on a topic • While "yes/no" issues are tempting (e.g. "should computers be used for mathematics instruction?"), they are often too broad • Ideally a meaty issue with three or four possible positions that have been studied, such as • "Why do so few women enter careers in high technology? Should schools try to change this, and if so how could it be done?"

10. Components • Once you know your stance, make it clear • Cats are ideal pets for working apartment dwellers • Then find 3 or 4 arguments to support it • (Broad) Due to their 1. need for little space, 2. cleanliness, and 3. independence • (Narrower) From a psycho-social perspective. Cats 1. provide rich interactions, 2. are independent when left alone, 3. do not require socialization with other cats, and 4. can remain indoors without psychological problems. • For each argument look for supporting examples from articles

11. “Strength” in Citations [Cats] “Need for little space” • Reference to support the argument: Cats are suitable for smaller homes because their compact size enables to live in smaller spaces (Fuzzy, 2002). • References to provide evidence to support the argument: Cats are suitable for smaller homes because their compact size enables them to live in smaller spaces. Morris (1999) investigated the relationship between housing size and longevity, health and temperament among 596 cats. He found no differences even when housing consisted of 250 square feet. [anticipate a “dog” argument] A study by Rover (2000) however, suggests a negative relationship between temperament and housing size for dogs.

12. Logic and Arguments • Ensure that your arguments are organized logically, related to each other and flow well from one to the other • Try to anticipate counterarguments, present them and then refute them with referenced supporting material • Avoid circular reasoning: • E.g. Media literacy education is needed to improve media literacy. Instead: Media literacy is needed because it: • enables students to search the internet more efficiently (cite studies that have found this)

13. Summary • Includes your position statement • Includes each of your arguments • May have some additional ideas/suggestions • Ties your paper together in a nice package to try to “sell me on your idea” (in an academic way)

14. Position Paper Grading • 20% - Description of the issue and the various perspectives held • 25% - Presentation of your own position on the issue • 30% - Effective argument for your position (using references) • 10% - Closing summary of your argument • 15% - Overall clarity of presentation, effective use of English and format requirements met

15. Quoting and Paraphrasing • Ask yourself, “Are the exact words of the author important?” • If yes, quote selectively. Use “…” to reduce spaces, but not excessively • If no, then paraphrase (write the idea in your own words) and cite the author(s) • Paraphrasing • Can help you to better understand what is being said by the author because you have to process it before writing about it • Enables you to focus portion’s of the author’s ideas specifically to support your arguments; to tie things together more tightly • Shows me that you understand what the author is saying and how you can use it to support your own ideas

16. What is plagarism? • Some ideas • “Using words or ideas that aren’t yours” • A very serious offence that does occur in universities • Examples • Not citing within a paper • Straight copying from a text (without quoting or citing) • Fake references (citing someone as saying something when he or she hasn’t) • Copying your classmate’s paper

17. For Next Week • Bring 2 copies of a 1-page outline of your position paper (or a draft) • Be prepared to provide and receive critical feedback from a peer