Position Papers

1. Position Papers Writing Today Chapter 11

2. Engaging With the ideas of others • Purpose: • To explain both sides of a controversy • Argue for one side over the other • Highlight the differences between opposing views • Use solid reasoning • Factual evidence • This is not a commentary • Do notexpressopinion about a current issue of event.

3. Why we need to know • College – paper • Workplace –argue for or against business strategies or alternatives

4. Introduction Summary of opponents’ position Limitations of opponents’ position Your understanding of the issue Reasons why your understanding is better than your opponents’ understanding Conclusion Introductions Major point of difference opponents’ position Your position Major point of difference Opponents’ position Your position * * * Reasons why your understanding is better than your opponents’ understanding Conclusion Organization

5. Overview • Argue fairly • Argue reasonably • Present both sides of an issue as objectively as possible • Discuss how/why your side is superior to the other’s

6. Introduction • State the issue begin debated • Identify the issue’s two or more sides • Make an explicit claim (thesis) that the position paper will support • You must have a good attention grabber

7. An Objective Summary • Will reveal your opponents’ understanding of the issue • It will not show bias; it is strictly informative

8. Discussion • Should be organized and fluent • Discuss the limitations of your opponents’ understanding • What are they missing? • What have they neglected to consider? • What are they ignoring in their argument? Do not come across as sarcastic or dismissive. Fairly point out their weaknesses.

9. Summarize • Your side; your understanding of the issue. • Objective Include: • Good reasoning • Examples • Facts • Data

10. Discussion • Explain why your side’s understanding is superior to your opponents’ understanding • You may concede some points (if possible) to your opponents • Create a balance • In the end, your side has more strengths than weaknesses.

11. Conclusion • Drive home your main point • Inspire • Look/make relevant to the future Conclusion should be brief

12. Remember • That your argument should be something: • You are interested in • Has an opposition • Is Relevant Your side of the argument should show the plausibility that it will benefit the majority.

13. Research • Use solid sources • Find out what others know • Look for a variety of online, print, and empirical sources. • Empirical sources such as interviews, expert testimony, surveys, field observations. • Place your self in your opponent’s place when researching their side.

14. Assignment • Read Harris’s In Defense of Torture beginning on page238. • Discussion: page 241 questions 1,2,3,and 2 • Dailey’s Friends with Benefits: Do Facebook Friends Provide the Same Support as Those in Real Life? beginning on page 241 • Discussion: page 244 questions 1,2,3 and 1,2 • You don’t need to write a three page commentary nor get on Facebook. Simply discuss based on what you have already experienced.

15. Closing • These strategies can be used to help you focus on a topic as well as focus on your strategies. Page 245 Questions 1,2,3