POSITION PAPER

Topics:
For your Position Paper, (for BSBA students) choose one topic according to the following
options and follow the given guidelines. (for BSA students both topic)

1. COVID 19 effect to the going concern status of a specific business industry.

2. COVID 19 effect on tax collection.

Writing a Position Paper

The following material explains how to produce a position paper (sometimes called a
point of view paper). A template is provided that outlines the major parts of a good
position paper. Keep in mind, however, that this is just a guide. Talk to your adviser
about their individual expectations. Your adviser may want you to include some criteria
that do not appear in this outline. Make sure you check with them.

Like a debate, a position paper presents one side of an arguable opinion about an
issue. The goal of a position paper is to convince the audience that your opinion is valid
and defensible. Ideas that you are considering need to be carefully examined in
choosing a topic, developing your argument, and organizing your paper. It is very
important to ensure that you are addressing all sides of the issue and presenting it in a
manner that is easy for your audience to understand. Your job is to take one side of the
argument and persuade your audience that you have well-founded knowledge of the
topic being presented. It is important to support your argument with evidence to ensure
the validity of your claims, as well as to refute the counterclaims to show that you are
well informed about both sides.

Issue/Topic Criteria

To take a side on a subject, you should first establish the arguability of a topic
that interests you. Ask yourself the following questions to ensure that you will be
able to present a strong argument:

 Is it a real issue, with genuine controversy and uncertainty?

 Can you identify at least two distinctive positions?
 Are you personally interested in advocating one of these positions?
 Is the scope of the issue narrow enough to be manageable?

Analyzing an Issue and Developing an Argument

Once your topic is selected, you should do some research on the subject matter.
While you may already have an opinion on your topic and an idea about which
side of the argument you want to take, you need to ensure that your position is
well supported. Listing the pro and con sides of the topic will help you examine
your ability to support your counterclaims, along with a list of supporting
evidence for both sides. Supporting evidence includes the following:
 Type of Information Type of Source

introductory information and overviews directories, encyclopedias, handbooks

in-depth studies books, government reports
scholarly articles academic journals
current issues newspapers, magazines
statistics government agencies and associations
position papers and analyses association and institute reports

Many of these sources can be located online through the library catalogue and
electronic databases, or on the Web. You may be able to retrieve the actual
information electronically or you may have to visit a library to find the information in
print.

** You do not have to use all of the above supporting evidence in your papers. This is
simply a list of the various options available to you.

Considering your audience and determining your viewpoint

Once you have made your pro and con lists, compare the information side by
side. Considering your audience, as well as your own viewpoint, choose the
position you will take.

Considering your audience does not mean playing up to the professor or the adviser. To
convince a particular person that your own views are sound, you have to consider his
or her way of thinking. If you are writing a paper for an accounting professor/adviser
obviously your analysis would be different from what it would be if you were writing for
an economics, history, or communications professor/adviser. You will have to make
specific decisions about the terms you should explain, the background information you
should supply, and the details you need to convince that particular reader.

In determining your viewpoint, ask yourself the following:

 Is your topic interesting? Remember that originality counts. Be aware that your
professor/adviser will probably read a number of essays on the same topic(s), so
any paper that is inventive and original will not only stand out but will also be
appreciated.
 Can you manage the material within the specifications set by the instructor?
 Does your topic assert something specific, prove it, and where applicable,
propose a plan of action?
 Do you have enough material or proof to support your opinion?

Purpose
The purpose of a position paper is to generate support on an issue. It describes the
author’s position on an issue and the rational for that position and, in the same way that
a research paper incorporates supportive evidence, is based on facts that provide a
solid foundation for the author’s argument. It is a critical examination of a position using
facts and inductive reasoning, which addresses both strengths and weaknesses of the
author’s opinion.
 Elements of the Position Paper

The classic position paper contains three main elements:

An Introduction, which identifies the issue that will be discussed and states the author’s
position on that issue.
The Body of the paper, which contains the central argument and can be further broken
up into three unique sections:
 Background information
 Evidence supporting the author’s position
 A discussion of both sides of the issue, which addresses and refutes arguments
that contradict the author’s position

A Conclusion, restating the key points and, where applicable, suggesting resolutions to
the issue.

POSITION PAPER DIAGRAM

I. Introduction
___A. Introduce the topic
___B. Provide background on the topic to explain why it is important
___C. Assert the thesis (your view of the issue). More on thesis statements can be
found below.

Your introduction has a dual purpose: to indicate both the topic and your
approach to it (your thesis statement), and to arouse your reader’s interest in
what you have to say. One effective way of introducing a topic is to place it in
context – to supply a kind of backdrop that will put it in perspective. You should
discuss the area into which your topic fits, and then gradually lead into your
specific field of discussion (re: your thesis statement).

II. Counter Argument/Bodies

___A. Summarize the counterclaims
___B. Provide supporting information for counterclaims
___C. Refute the counterclaims
___D. Give evidence for argument

You can generate counterarguments by asking yourself what someone who

disagrees with you might say about each of the points you've made or about
your position as a whole. Once you have thought up some counterarguments,
consider how you will respond to them--will you concede that your opponent
has a point but explain why your audience should nonetheless accept your
argument? Will you reject the counterargument and explain why it is mistaken?
Either way, you will want to leave your reader with a sense that your argument is
stronger than opposing arguments.

When you are summarizing opposing arguments, be charitable. Present each

argument fairly and objectively, rather than trying to make it look foolish. You
want to show that you have seriously considered the many sides of the issue, and
that you are not simply attacking or mocking your opponents.

It is usually better to consider one or two serious counterarguments in some

depth, rather than to give a long but superficial list of many different
counterarguments and replies.

Be sure that your reply is consistent with your original argument. If considering a
counterargument changes your position, you will need to go back and revise
your original argument accordingly.

III. Conclusion
___A. Restate your argument
___B. Provide a plan of action but do not introduce new information

The simplest and most basic conclusion is one that restates the thesis in different
words and then discusses its implications.

Stating Your Thesis

A thesis is a one-sentence statement about your topic. It's an assertion about

your topic, something you claim to be true. Notice that a topic alone makes no
such claim; it merely defines an area to be covered. To make your topic into
a thesis statement, you need to make a claim about it, make it into a sentence.
Look back over your materials--brainstorms, investigative notes, etc.--and think
about what you believe to be true. Think about what your readers want or need
to know. Then write a sentence, preferably at this point, a simple one, stating
what will be the central idea of your paper. The result should look something like
this:
Original Subject: an important issue in my major field

Focused Topic: media technology education for communication majors

Thesis: Theories of media technology deserve a more prominent place in this University’s
Communication program

Or if your investigations led you to a different belief:

Thesis: Communication majors at this University receive a solid background in

theories of media technology

It's always good to have a thesis you can believe in.

Notice, though, that a sentence stating an obvious and indisputable truth won't
work as a thesis:

Thesis: This University has a Communication major.

That's a complete sentence, and it asserts something to be true, but as a thesis

it's a dead end. It's a statement of fact, pure and simple, and requires little or
nothing added. A good thesis asks to have more said about it. It demands some
proof. Your job is to show your reader that your thesis is true.

Remember, you can't just pluck a thesis out of thin air. Even if you have
remarkable insight concerning a topic, it won't be worth much unless you can
logically and persuasively support it in the body of your essay. A thesis is the
evolutionary result of a thinking process, not a miraculous creation. Formulating a
thesis is not the first thing you do after reading the essay assignment. Deciding on
a thesis does not come first. Before you can come up with an argument on any
topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships
between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about
the beneath-the-surface significance of these relationships. After this initial
exploration of the question at hand, you can formulate a "working thesis," an
argument that you think will make sense of the evidence but that may need
adjustment along the way. In other words, do not show up at your adviser’s office
hours expecting them to help you figure out your thesis statement and/or help
organize your paper unless you have already done some research.

Writing with style and clarity

Many students make the mistake of thinking that the content of their paper is all
that matters. Although the content is important, it will not mean much if the
reader can’t understand what you are trying to say. You may have some great
ideas in your paper but if you cannot effectively communicate them, you will not
receive a very good mark. Keep the following in mind when writing your paper:

Diction

Diction refers to the choice of words for the expression of ideas; the construction,
disposition, and application of words in your essay, with regard to clearness,
accuracy, variety, etc.; mode of expression; and language. There is often a
tendency for students to use fancy words and extravagant images in hopes that
it will make them sound more intelligent when in fact the result is a confusing
mess. Although this approach can sometimes be effective, it is advisable that
you choose clear words and be as precise in the expression of your ideas as
possible.

Paragraphs

Creating clear paragraphs is essential. Paragraphs come in so many sizes and

patterns that no single formula could possibly cover them all. The two basic
principles to remember are these:

1) A paragraph is a means of developing and framing an idea or impression.

As a general rule, you should address only one major idea per paragraph.

2) The divisions between paragraphs aren’t random, but indicate a shift in

focus. In other words you must carefully and clearly organize the order of
your paragraphs so that they are logically positioned throughout your
paper. Transitions will help you with this

Transitions

In academic writing your goal is to convey information clearly and concisely, if

not to convert the reader to your way of thinking. Transitions help you to achieve
these goals by establishing logical connections between sentences, paragraphs,
and sections of your papers. In other words, transitions tell readers what to do
with the information you present them. Whether single words, quick phrases or full
sentences, they function as signs for readers that tell them how to think about,
organize, and react to old and new ideas as they read through what you have
written.

Transitions signal relationships between ideas. Basically, transitions provide the

reader with directions for how to piece together your ideas into a logically
coherent argument. They are words with particular meanings that tell the reader
to think and react in a particular way to your ideas. In providing the reader with
these important cues, transitions help readers understand the logic of how your
ideas fit together.

Grammar and Spelling

You must make certain that your paper is free from grammar and spelling
mistakes. Mechanical errors are usually the main reason for lack of clarity in
essays, so be sure to thoroughly proof read your paper before handing it in.

Plagiarism and academic honesty

Plagiarism is a form of stealing; as with other offences against the law, ignorance
is no excuse. The way to avoid plagiarism is to give credit where credit is due. If
you are using someone else’s idea, acknowledge it, even if you have changed
the wording or just summarized the main points.

To avoid plagiarism, you must give credit whenever you use

  another person's idea, opinion, or theory;
 any facts, statistics, graphs, drawings--any pieces of information--that are not
common knowledge;
 quotations of another person's actual spoken or written words; or
 paraphrase of another person's spoken or written words.

In addition to plagiarism, SPSPS has policies regarding other forms of academic

dishonesty. For more information on SPSPS’ policies regarding academic honesty
consult http://www.spsps.edu.ph. If any of the school’s policies are not clear you must
ask your professor or adviser for clarification. Again, ignorance is no excuse.

SOURCES

The information included in the document “Writing a Position Paper” was adapted from the
following sources:

Guilford, C.(2001). Occasions for Argumentative Essays. Writing Argumentative Essays. Retrieved
August 26, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.powa.org/argufrms.htm Previously
adapted from: Hairston, M. (1982) A Contemporary Rhetoric (3rd ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Northey, M. (1993). Making Sense: a student’s guide to research, writing, and style (3rd ed.). Toronto:
Oxford University Press.

UHWO Writing Center (1998) Writing a Position Paper. Retrieved August 26, 2002 from the World
Wide Web: http://homepages.uhwo.hawaii.edu/~writing/position.htm

UNC-CH Writing Center (2000). Constructing Thesis Statements. Writing Center Handouts. Retrieved August
26, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis.html

UNC-CH Writing Center (2000). Effective Academic Writing: The Argument. Writing Center Handouts.
Retrieved August 26, 2002 from the World Wide
Web: http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/argument.html

UNC-CH Writing Center (2000). Paragraph Development. Writing Center Handouts. Retrieved August 26,
2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis.html

UNC-CH Writing Center (2000). Transitions. Writing Center Handouts. Retrieved August 26, 2002 from the
World Wide Web: http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis.html

SFU – Writing a Position Paper from the World Wide Web:

https://www.sfu.ca/cmns/130d1/WritingaPositionPaper.htm

BSU – Academic Writing from the World Wide Web: https://bowiestate.libguides.com/