ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL
PURPOSES
Writing a Position
Paper and
Defending a
Stance on an Issue
PREPARED BY:
JULIE E. REYES
SUBJECT TEACHER
ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL
PURPOSES
Activity 1
MY HAMBURGER,
YOUR
HAMBURGER
HAMBURGER QUESTIONS #1
1. Could you give me a description of your burger?
2. Why did you decide to prepare a hamburger in that
manner? Do you have any prior experience designing
hamburgers that has inspired your method, or have you
seen it in related videos, from a friend, or somewhere that
has influenced your method?
3. What can you say about your classmate’s hamburger?
4. What do you believe this activity means in terms of how
we react to the world around us?
What is a
Position
Paper?
A position paper presents
the writer’s stand or
viewpoint on a particular
issue.
The primary goal of a
position paper is to declare
a “position” on a certain
matter or an issue. Its
secondary goal is to
convince or persuade
others to take that side of
an issue or matter.
Aside from this, you also have the
power to change the opinions and
attitude of others when you write a
position paper. Because of this, a
position paper can be essential
tool in bringing about societal
change. For example, if you do not
agree with a certain issue or rule,
you can write a position paper to
reflect your point of view.
The best way to defend your
stand is to provide supporting
evidence which includes the
following
Factual Knowledge – information that is
verifiable and agreed upon by almost
everyone (Coronavirus disease (COVID-
19) is an infectious disease caused by a
newly discovered coronavirus.)
Statistical Inferences – interpretation
and examples of an accumulation of
facts (DOH Covid-19 Cases Bulletin
March 21, 2021: Number of New Cases: 8,
109)
The best way to defend your
stand is to provide supporting
evidence which includes the
following
Informed Opinion – opinion developed
through research and/or expertise of
the claim (Statement of the WHO Global
Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety
(GACVS) COVID-19 subcommittee on
safety signals related to the
AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine)
Personal Testimony – personal
experience related by a knowledgeable
party. (Covid-19 positive testimony)
Let us now write a Position Paper!
I. Introduction
Position A. Introduce the issue.
Paper B. Provide background on the issue.
C. Provide thesis statement on your stand of the issue.
Outline II. Body (the arguments/reasons)
A. Argument #1 of your claims
1. Give your opinion/first reason to support your position
2. Provide supporting evidence
B. Argument #2 of your claims
1. Give your opinion/ second reason to support your position.
2. Provide support evidence.
C. Argument #3 of your claims
1. Give your opinion/third reason to support your position
2. Provide support evidence.
IV. Conclusion
A. Restate your argument.
B. Provide a plan of action
Position
Paper NOTE:
Outline In General, the strongest/best argument should be the
last. Others would advise the first argument by the
strongest/best; never the middle argument.
Please remember that the conclusion should not merely
be a brief repetition of your results – in that case your
discussion would seem fairly pointless. Focus instead on
what your results may imply after careful consideration
(consideration that you have outlined in your discussion).
Position
Paper
Outline
#4
Few Reminders
✓ Choose an issue that is debatable, current and
relevant.
✓ Conduct an in-depth research on the issue.
✓ Explain the issue and analyse it objectively.
✓ Reflect on your position and identify its weaknesses.
✓ Cite valid and reliable source.
✓ Limit your position paper to 2 pages.
✓ Use active voice (subject+verb+object) as much as
possible to achieve a dynamic and firm tone.
Let's Check! In one word, describe the
characteristic of the following Parts
of a Position Paper:
a. the Introduction
b. Body of Essay
c. Concluding Paragraph
How to make your stand strong?
ACTIVITY 2: YOUR CLAIM, DEFEND IT! #8
The table below lists the current prevalent issues that we are
facing today. Practice citing your claim or stand on each
issue. Then, defend your stand by citing supporting evidence
the best way you can.
Activity 3
WRITE YOUR THOUGHTS!
Choose one issue from Activity 1. Expound
your stand and give reasons using the
supporting evidence you have provided.
Then, develop these facts into a coherent
position paper, following the outline given in
the previous page.
Reflection •What were your misconceptions
about the topic prior to taking up the
lesson?
•What new or additional learning have
you had other taking up this lesson in
terms of skills, content and attitude?
