LESSON 2

WRITING A POSITION PAPER

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:

 Defend a stand on an issue by presenting reasonable arguments

supported by properly cited factual evidences.
 Writing various position papers

WHAT I KNOW

Pre-Assessment

Test I. IDENTIFICATION

Instructions: Identify the term being described from the statements below. Write T if
the statement is true and write F if otherwise. Write your answers in your notebook.
_______1. Persuasion writing appeals to the reader’s emotion.

_______2. Advertisements use persuasion.

_______3. Using persuasion will ask someone to take action after believing what the
speaker has said.

_______ 4. Argumentation uses logic and evidences in making a claim.

_______ 5. Science and law use argumentation.
_______ 6. An introduction elaborates details of the writers’ position.
_______ 7. The conclusion reiterates the statement in the introduction.
_______ 8. The body of the paper is the largest part.
_______ 9. A thesis is an essential one-sentence part of the essay.
_______ 10. Writers need to exhaust ideas through extensive gathering of
information from different sources.

WHAT'S NEW

What I KNOW About

Identify what are the items being described in the sentences below. These words
are important in presenting arguments. Write your answer on the space provided for.
Choose from the words inside the box. So, be ready for vocabulary work.

Factual Argument Defense Persuade Opinion

Issue Reason Claim Evidence Counterclaim

1. It is a statement of reasons; facts intended to support a point of view.

2. A sufficient ground of explanation or logical defense to explain a fact.
3. It is restricted and is based on facts.
4. It is the point at which an unsettled matter is ready for a decision
5. An action or words to resist an attack.
6. It is to cause someone to believe about something through consistent effort of
convincing.
7. These are facts or information as proof whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.
8. This view or judgment about something is formed not necessarily based on fact or
knowledge.
9. This is purposely made to rebut a previous claim.
10. An assertion of the truth of something, typically one that is disputed or in doubt.

How did you find the activity? Keep your focus because you will come
across those words in the next activities. Good Luck!
 WHAT IS IT

There are two basic of writing which specialized at convincing. These are:

1. Persuasion appeals to readers’ emotions to make them believe something or take

specific action. Persuasion can also use logic and evidence.

Note: Refer to the color coding

Steps in Persuasive Writing
1. State your opinion and introduce your argument.
2. Give your reasons for your opinion.
3. Illustrate with examples to support your opinion.
4. Restate your opinion and your suggested solution.

Example:

Parents’ love which is illustrated with their sacrifices is worth recognition.

They send their children to school even if they have not gone to school
themselves, even if their own wants are sacrificed just to fund students’
needs. You, dear students must recognize this immeasurable love of your
parents by being good in your studies.

2. Argumentation relies on logic and evidence to build a case for a specific claim.

Argumentation de-emphasizes appeals to emotion.
Steps in Argumentative Writing
1. Make a claim
2. Support your claim with reasons/evidence
3. Acknowledge the counterclaim
4. Refute the counterclaim
5. Conclude with strong statement

Example:

Many students ignore the significance of doing well in their studies. They
often neglect their parents’ sacrifices by getting low grades or worst yet
getting a failing marks. On the other hand, psychologists say performance
in school is influenced by many factors which include peers. However, to
fair well in school is not only about influence but also about being exposed
to social realities such as difficulties of getting decent job. Thus, funding
students to school becomes a big sacrifice among parents.

Persuasive versus Argumentative

This table below will help you differentiate Persuasive writing from Argumentative
writing.

CHARACTERISTIC
PERSUASIVE ARGUMENTATIVE
S
Claim is based on Claim is based on
CLAIM
opinion factual evidence
Asks audience to do Proves a point to the
PURPOSE
something. audience.
Based on character and Based on stabilised
BASIS
emotion. position and logic.

How did you find the new information you have learned? I hope it could help you
as you accomplish the exercises that follow. Good Luck!
 WHAT'S MORE

ACTIVITY 1. MARK IT!

Copy the table below in your notebook. Read the descriptions below and identify
whether it is a form of persuasion or reason. Put an X on the appropriate box.
PERSUASIVE ARGUMENTATIVE
DESCRIPTION
WRITING WRITING
1. Writer starts with a strong opinion and
researches reasons to support it
2. Writer starts with a topic, researches and
discusses all sides of the issue, and
chooses one side to support
3. Appeals to readers with logic
4. Appeals to readers with evidence
5. Appeals to readers with emotion

6. Outlines multiple sides of the issue

7. Calls readers to action
8. Uses passionate, urgent writing voice
9. Uses calm, neutral writing voice
https://k12.thoughtfullearning.com/minilesson/distinguishing-argumentation-persuasion

ACTIVITY 2. MY COMMUNITY
 Copy the table below in your notebook and list at least three (3)
issues/situations in the society and state your opinion, stand about these issues
by providing evidences/reasons.

ISSUES IN THE STAND/ OPINION EVIDENCES/REASONS

COMMUNITY
(e.g.) NO facemask NO Wearing mask in  Avoid virus
entry in all establishment must contagion
establishments be strictly observed.  Discipline is
imposed

Evaluating a Position Paper Sample

A Position Paper of Drug Testing of High School and College

Students

Drug testing is a way to evaluate the type and the possibly the amount
of legal and especially for illegal drugs substances taken by a person.
Drug testing can be performed from small samples taken of your
The writer fingernails, saliva, or more commonly, your blood, urine, or hair.
sets up the Almost 10 percent of the nation’s teens report the use of illicit drugs
within the last month. The drug testing in high school and college The writer
issue students is an important and ultimately one of the best solutions made
by the government officials to reduce and stop the increasing amount his/her opinion
of young drug users in schools, universities, and state colleges.
Schools have made the policy of random drug testing on students to The writer
serves as a warning to not get into peer pressure. Because I believe provides little
“a friend in deed won’t make you smoke that weed.”
background
Drug testing in school has resulted in accurate, powerful and a
positive outcome in attempting to reduce the amount of young drug
users in school. The purpose of drug testing is not to catch whose
The writer using an illegal drug, but to prevent them from using it in the first
presents place. Surely, there should be action taken to punish those criminals.
The current method to attack drugs is at the source, by imprisoning The writer gives
opposing dealers and breaking the supply chain is not so succeeding. Why drug explanation
points testing is so important and necessary to be implemented, because it is
important to protect teenagers at the age were, they’re easily get about his/ her
influenced by the peers and at the time when their attitude to opinion
education greatly affects their entire lives.

Some sacrifice of human rights is necessary to eliminate the drug

The writer The writer ends
problem. Drug testing is a simple mechanism for examining the
presents human body because there is a multiple option of detecting it by with an appeal
suggestion to supplying urine, hair, or simply a breath. These small samples help to
detect the common drugs like methamphetamines, cocaine, and by providing its
solve problem heroin. Also, if you know that you are not breaking the law then there’s advantages
on drug nothing to fear of.
addiction https://www.academia.edu/35946977/
A_Position_Paper_of_Drug_Testing_of_High_School_and_College_S
among tudents
students
 How did you find the sample? I hope this will help you on how to evaluate a
paper and consequently will give you an idea how to make your own position
paper later. So, please do the next activity.

ACTIVITY 3. NOTE DETAILS

Read this essay and identify the stand/ reasons of the writer. Use your
learned skill in annotating a text. Follow the steps given for you. Write your
answers in your notebook.

Step 1. Identify the parts and write your comments of each on the sides of the
article.
Step 2. Box in the main points/ claims that you can find.
Step 3. Underline the reasons/ evidences that support the claim.

As online learning becomes more common and more and more resources are converted to
digital form, some people have suggested that public libraries should be shut down and, in
their place, everyone should be given an iPad with an e-reader subscription.

Proponents of this idea state that it will save local cities and towns money because libraries
are expensive to maintain. They also believe it will encourage more people to read because
they won’t have to travel to a library to get a book; they can simply click on what they want to
read and read it from wherever they are. They could also access more materials because
libraries won’t have to buy physical copies of books; they can simply rent out as many digital
copies as they need.

However, it would be a serious mistake to replace libraries with tablets. First, digital books
and resources are associated with less learning and more problems than print resources. A
study done on tablet vs book reading found that people read 20-30% slower on tablets, retain
20% less information, and understand 10% less of what they read compared to people who
read the same information in print. Additionally, staring too long at a screen has been shown
to cause numerous health problems, including blurred vision, dizziness, dry eyes,
headaches, and eye strain, at much higher instances than reading print does. People who
use tablets and mobile devices excessively also have a higher incidence of more serious
health issues such as fibromyalgia, shoulder and back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and
muscle strain. I know that whenever I read from my e-reader for too long, my eyes begin to
feel tired and my neck hurts. We should not add to these problems by giving people,
especially young people, more reasons to look at screens.

Second, it is incredibly narrow-minded to assume that the only service libraries offer is book
Reflective Questions:

1. Why do you think it is important to learn the various types of speech context?

2. Now that you have learned about speech context, what do think should a
speaker do to be able to make appropriate speeches in particular situations?

Remember!
The activities that are important to make a convincing stand.

A. Identify the issue

B. Make a stand
C. Formulate your thesis statement about your stand on the issue you have
identified.
D. Do research and readings to gather information that will be used as evidences.
E. Present an effective argument

The basic parts of a position paper are as follows:

Introduction - Identification of the issue and background and the statement of

the position.

Body - Description of the argument

Presentation of facts and evidences

Conclusion - Restatement of main points and summarizes arguments

Suggestion of the course of action or possible solutions

Taking a stand about an issue will empower someone to change the opinions
and attitudes of others. Thus, in bringing about societal change the challenge is to be
firm in making a stand.

ACTIVITY 4. USE IT

Read this sample position paper and identify the stand/ reasons of the
writer. Use the reading guide provided for to facilitate better understanding of the
paper. Use the template below to make your own position paper.

READING GUIDE
Please identify the following:

Position Paper’s Topic/ Issue:

___________________________________________________________

Evidences/ Reasons:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

Call for action/ Solution:

___________________________________________________________
Sample Position Paper

Should Homework be Mandatory?

I can almost see many students nodding along with me as I ask this question. Younger
generations overloaded with home tasks and numerous assignments have already raised this
issue many times.

Yet, homework remains mandatory.

Is it fair or should it be cancelled?

I believe that homework should not be viewed as a mandatory part of education for
several reasons.

First, children spend seven hours every single work day at school. That is a huge chunk
of life, and with homework added on top of these hours, a child is left with no time to live his life
to the fullest, socialize, or grow in other areas.

Second, sitting at your desk solving problems does no good to your health. Kids need
time to get outside and have some fun, join a football league, or ride their bikes with friends
around the block. Otherwise, children will be very smart but surprisingly weak physically.

Another argument against this position is that homework is not always the best way to
obtain knowledge quality-wise. Students tend to ask their parents or siblings for help whenever
facing difficulties. Busy parents not always willing to spend extra time explaining school material
to their little one solve the problems themselves aiming to have more time for family, not
lessons. As a result, the child will have the homework done. But that’s really not his work. So,
the whole idea of dedicating time to self-education is lost here.

Finally, knowing that after classes you would still have to work at home makes a kid less
concentrated at school. This results in short attention spans and difficulty to concentrate on
something for too long.

All in all, homework should rather be an option. Students understanding that they are left
behind at some subjects will take their time to go over the material at home. However, in other
cases, they should have time after school for other activities.
Accessed from: (https://chiefessays.net/position-essay-examples-to-help-you-grasp-the-idea/)

WHAT I CAN DO
 ACTIVITY 2.3

From the issues listed below, choose one (1) to work on to develop into a
position paper. Second, do some researching/reading to gather information. Third,
defend your stand by writing a position paper with the intention of convincing your
reader to support your stand. Refer to the rubric on page 37. Write your position paper
on a sheet of paper.

List of Issues:

Online Classes Among Public Schools Students

Curfew Among Minors
Community Lockdown
Government Funds Distribution
Cyber Bullying
________________________________ (topic of your choice)

(Write your position paper here on the issue of your choice.)

Introduction ____________________________________________________________
 Catchy ____________________________________________________________
Topic ____________________________________________________________
sentence ____________________________________________________________
 Your ____________________________________________________________
Position
____________________________________________________________
about the
issue ____________________________________________________________
 ____________________________________________________________
Body ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
 Position
 Evidences ____________________________________________________________
 Personal ____________________________________________________________
experience ____________________________________________________________
s relative
to the ____________________________________________________________
issue ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________
Conclusion ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
 Summary,
Conclusion ____________________________________________________________
 Action ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

RUBRIC IN WRITING A POSITION PAPER:

SCORE

EXCELLENT GOOD FAIR POOR

CRITERION
4 3 2 1

Content and Takes a strong, Clear Position not No clear position

Development well-defined position clearly stated; taken; reasons
(50%) position; uses at taken and development is underdeveloped;
least three defined; brief, unrelated, no supporting facts
appropriate some unsupported used.
 reasons with at reasons general
least two and some statements,
supporting details details reasons, and
for each reason. present, but details, minimal
Counter arguments not fully facts used.
effectively developed. Counter
addressed, without Counter arguments not
undercutting arguments acknowledged.
position. addressed.
x.50
Organization Structure of paper Structure is Structure of the Organization and
and Structure is clear and easy to mostly clear paper is not structure detract
(20%) follow. Paragraph and easy to easy to follow. the message of
transitions are follow. Paragraph the writer.
logical and Paragraph transitions need Paragraphs are
maintained the flow transitions improvement. disjointed and lack
of thought are present. Conclusion is transition of
throughout the Conclusion not logical. thoughts.
paper. Conclusion is logical.
is logical and flows
from the body of
the paper.
x.20
Format Paper follows Paper Paper follows Paper lacks more
(10%) guidelines. Paper follows most of the elements of
has appropriate guidelines. guidelines. correct formatting.
length as described Paper has Paper is Paper is
for the assignment. appropriate over/under word inadequate/
Format enhances length for length. excessive in
readability of the the length.
paper. assignment.
Format is
good.
x.10
Grammar, Rules of grammar, Rules of Paper contains Paper contains
Punctuation usage, punctuation grammar, few grammatical,
& Spelling are followed; usage, grammatical, punctuation and
(20%) spelling is correct. punctuation punctuation and spelling errors.
Language is clear are spelling errors. Language uses
and precise; followed Language lacks jargon or
sentences display with minor clarity or conversational
consistently strong, errors. Few/ includes the use tone
varied structure. no spelling of some jargon
errors. or
conversational
tone.
x.20
OVERALL
SCORE
Source:https://eng.ucmerced.edu/people/awesterling/SPR2014.ESS141/Assignments/rubric2.pdf

Congratulations! The weeks you spent to ensure that you can express
well in writing in various situations was worth it! Pat your back! You’ve made It!
You now have a position paper of your own.
 POST ASSESSMENT

Directions: Match the descriptions in Column A with the terms in column B.

Write your answers in your notebook.

Column A Column B

_______1. A one- sentence statement about the topic. A. Argument

_______2. A statement that relies on logic and evidence. B. Persuasion
_______3. A statement that appeals to emotion to convince. C. Thesis
_______4. It is a part of the essay where you encourage D. Body
readers to take action. E. Introduction
_______5. It is a part of the essay which elaborates detail. F. Conclusion
_______6. A paper that poses the writers position of an G. Position Paper
issue.
_______7. A type of writing which uses examples to
defend a claim.
_______8. An academic writing that shows how your stance
relates to other positions.
_______9. A written form that de-emphasizes appeal to emotion
_______10. An element of position paper which includes
personal experiences to illustrate a position.
Self-Check!
Great job! You have completed Lesson 1 successfully! Before going to the next
lesson, check the icon that best shows your learning experience.

I have understood the lesson well and I can even teach what I
learned to others.

I have understood the lesson but there are still other things
that I need to review and relearn.

I need to do additional work to be able to master the lesson. I

need help in some tasks.

If you checked the first icon, you are ready for lesson 2. If you have
checked the second icon, you need to review the things that you need to
relearn. If you have checked the third icon, it would be best if you read more
and ask help from your teacher, parents or peers in clarifying the lessons that
you find difficult. Be honest so that you will truly improve
 ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

Use the FOUR-SQUARE Writing Template below to draft your learning about
writing a position paper. Write your answer in your notebook.

Information Significant Learning/s

Topic

Realizations Conclusion
(Short Description)