Week 11 - Position Paper

The position paper begins with an engaging introduction that presents the general issue (you will read more about how to choose an issue later in the module). The thesis typically appears in the introduction and states your position on the issue.

A thesis is usually a one-sentence statement about your topic. It is an assertion about your topic, something that you believe to be true. The topic defines an area to be covered-- it is not making a claim. So, to make your topic into a thesis statement, you need to make a claim about your topic.

Example:

Topic: Homeless in Honolulu

Thesis: The homeless in Honolulu should be given access to services such as regular food donations, public restrooms, and camping facilities because it would improve life for all citizens of Honolulu.

A good thesis asks more to be said about it-- it demands some proof. Many might not agree with the above thesis statement. They might think that the homeless already have access to much of this and life for everyone is not that great. It would be the writer’s job to prove to them otherwise.

When you compose your own thesis, it’s best to first choose a topic and then research it and learn as much as you can about it. Then, once you have an understanding of the issue, you can develop a thesis that can be logically and persuasively supported in the body of your paper.

Read more about writing a thesis statement in this handout.

Make your arguments in support of your thesis by providing several strong arguments that are developed using sound, credible evidence. Use a balance of facts and opinions from a wide range of sources, such as scientific studies, expert testimony, statistics, and personal anecdotes. Each piece of evidence should be fully explained and clearly stated.

Fact and Opinion

Facts are statements that can be definitely proven using objective data. The statement that is a fact is absolutely valid. In other words, the statement can be pronounced as true or false. For example, 2 + 2 = 4. This expression identifies a true statement, or a fact, because it can be proved with objective data.

Opinions are personal views, or judgments. An opinion is what an individual believes about a particular subject. However, an opinion in argumentation must have legitimate backing; adequate evidence and credibility should support the opinion. Consider the credibility of expert opinions. Experts in a given field have the knowledge and credentials to make their opinion meaningful to a larger audience.

For example, you seek the opinion of your dentist when it comes to the health of your gums, and you seek the opinion of your mechanic when it comes to the maintenance of your car. Both have knowledge and credentials in those respective fields, which is why their opinions matter to you. But the authority of your dentist may be greatly diminished should he or she offer an opinion about your car, and vice versa.

In writing, you want to strike a balance between credible facts and authoritative opinions. Relying on one or the other will likely lose more of your audience than it gains.

The word prove is frequently used in the discussion of argumentative writing. Writers may claim that one piece of evidence or another proves the argument, but proving an argument is often not possible. No evidence proves a debatable topic one way or the other; that is why the topic is debatable. Facts can be proved, but opinions can only be supported, explained, and persuaded.

In your position paper, you will be arguing in support of your position and trying to convince your reader that your position is valid and should be considered. In order to do this effectively, you must be sure to acknowledge opposing ideas. Avoiding ideas that conflict with your own can give the reader the impression that you may be uncertain, fearful, or unaware of opposing ideas. Thus it is essential that you not only address counterarguments but also do so respectfully.

One strategy is to address opposing arguments earlier rather than later in your essay. Rhetorically speaking, ordering your positive arguments last allows you to better address ideas that conflict with your own, so you can spend the rest of the essay countering those arguments. This way, you leave your reader thinking about your argument rather than someone else’s. You have the last word.

For some topics, however, instead of having a counterargument for your main idea, you may have counterarguments to specific points you are arguing. In that case, you will address the counterargument alongside that specific point.

Finally, sometimes it may work best to first present your best arguments in support of your position and then, in a paragraph before the conclusion, you present and refute a counterargument to your main idea. Acknowledging points of view different from your own also has the effect of fostering more credibility between you and the audience. They know from the outset that you are aware of opposing ideas and that you are not afraid to give them space.

It is also helpful to establish the limits of your argument and what you are trying to accomplish. In effect, you are conceding early on that your argument is not the ultimate authority on a given topic. Such humility can go a long way toward earning credibility and trust with an audience. Audience members will know from the beginning that you are a reasonable writer, and audience members will trust your argument as a result. For example, in the following concessionary statement, the writer advocates for stricter gun control laws, but she admits it will not solve all of our problems with crime:

"Although tougher gun control laws are a powerful first step in decreasing violence in our streets, such legislation alone cannot end these problems since guns are not the only problem we face."

Such a concession will be welcome by those who might disagree with this writer’s argument in the first place. To effectively persuade their readers, writers need to be modest in their goals and humble in their approach to get readers to listen to the ideas.

You can read more about counterarguments and the language used to signal the counterargument and refutation in this handout.

Write a conclusion that effectively summarizes the main argument and reinforces your thesis.

Keep in mind that the ideas in your conclusion must conform to the rest of your essay. In order to tie these components together, restate your thesis at the beginning of your conclusion. This helps you assemble, in an orderly fashion, all the information you have explained in the body.

Repeating your thesis reminds your readers of the major arguments you have been trying to prove and also indicates that your essay is drawing to a close. A strong conclusion also reviews your main points and emphasizes the importance of the topic.

The construction of the conclusion is similar to the introduction, in which you make general introductory statements and then present your thesis. The difference is that in the conclusion you first paraphrase, or state in different words, your thesis and then follow up with general concluding remarks. These sentences should progressively broaden the focus of your thesis and maneuver your readers out of the essay.

Many writers like to end their essays with a final emphatic statement. This strong closing statement will cause your readers to continue thinking about the implications of your essay; it will make your conclusion, and thus your essay, more memorable. Another powerful technique is to challenge your readers to make a change in either their thoughts or their actions. Challenging your readers to see the subject through new eyes is a powerful way to ease yourself and your readers out of the essay.