A Brief Guide to Writing a Position Paper
Speaking your thoughts out loud happens to be easier than doing the same in writing. Why is that so? Every time you prepare a speech, you need to write it down first. And your writing needs to be precise because readers are about to know what you’ve put down on a paper. When it comes to a position paper, your mission is to express your opinion on a controversial topic. You will have to take a side on a specific topic and make up a case based on your opinion. To succeed in this writing task, you may need some guidelines.
Speaking your thoughts out loud happens to be easier than doing the same in writing. Why is that so? Every time you prepare a speech, you need to write it down first. And your writing needs to be precise because readers are about to know what you’ve put down on a paper. When it comes to a position paper, your mission is to express your opinion on a controversial topic. You will have to take a side on a specific topic and make up a case based on your opinion. To succeed in this writing task, you may need some guidelines.
The introductory part aims to attract the reader’s attention to the covered subject matter. Ideally, you should begin with several opening sentences about the specific issue to hook the reader. United Nations Security CouncilCountry: United Kingdom
Delegate: Name Surname
Topic: The Revival of Colonization
What is a Position Paper? Comprehend Its Essence Before You Start Writing
You cannot immerse in the writing process without the proper understanding of a position paper definition. Unfortunately, a range of students misunderstands the purpose and even the whole context of a position assignment. They perceive it as an ordinary report on a specific issue, while its essence is much more complex and enticing.
A position paper is a project that discloses an arguable judgement about a specific issue. It can be also called a position piece if you explore a narrow issue or something brief. Such essays are typically published in academic journals or in political mass media. Such a position can be similarly expressed on jurisprudential matters.
Writing a Good Position Paper
As you already realized, a good position paper essay should reflect an argumentative and convincing opinion its author selects as their preference. Your audience should be all ears when trying to comprehend your standpoint. They should be reassured that your argument is authentic and credible. When taking a specific position, you must still explore versatile elements of the subject matter, as sounding one-sided may not be substantial enough. However, one part of your argument should be more extensive, as it should embody a fundamental problem. Your readers or listeners should be persuaded regarding the sufficient knowledge on the topic you possess. Hence, you cannot present sheer opinions without imposing evidence. Both claims and counterclaims should be well-balanced.
Criteria of the Issue Under Investigation
You should not neglect establishing the credibility of a topic that evoked your interest. If you struggle with presenting a strong argument, the following questions might help you out:
- What is the core trigger of the issue in question?
- What are its major controversies?
- Is it possible to discern two contrasting positions on the issue?
- Is there your interest that makes you explore the topic?
- Is the subject matter broad or narrow? Can you manage it properly in a succinct investigation?
The elements of an effective position paper assignment to focus on:
1. If you explore a topic related to a particular country, you should briefly introduce its history and influence in relation to the subject matter
Those specific aspects allude to the significance of a thorough research to compose a decent position paper. An in-depth investigation endows your essay with value. Consequently, the initial step that would instigate a successful start of your research position paper is reading a background guide. It helps you to make a field of your scrutiny narrower.
As you already realized, a good position paper essay should reflect an argumentative and convincing opinion its author selects as their preference. Your audience should be all ears when trying to comprehend your standpoint. They should be reassured that your argument is authentic and credible. When taking a specific position, you must still explore versatile elements of the subject matter, as sounding one-sided may not be substantial enough. However, one part of your argument should be more extensive, as it should embody a fundamental problem. Your readers or listeners should be persuaded regarding the sufficient knowledge on the topic you possess. Hence, you cannot present sheer opinions without imposing evidence. Both claims and counterclaims should be well-balanced. If you are asked to present or read your final text in front of a group of people, you shall clearly understand who your listeners or readers are. If you are supposed to write an academic paper, your target audience can be your teachers or a group of students. Understanding who you will present your paper to influence the style of writing, information, and examples you shall use.Position Paper Writing Format (Structure)
Structuring your text is a must if you want to make it sound logical and clear. However, it’s twice a must if you a writing an academic paper.
Before starting to write your academic paper itself, you shall first start by writing a plan and thinking carefully about your position paper format and each component of its plan.
Thesis
What is a thesis? It’s just a short part of your position paper that plays a very great role. It consists of one or two sentences. However, this sentences shall reveal the concept and reflect the topic of your position paper to attract your reader and to make it understandable what the whole writing work is about.
A thesis may include some shocking facts, figures or even popular or interesting quotes. Such elements make a thesis hooking and stimulate a reader’s desire to continue reading the paper.
Introduction
This part serves for introducing your reader to a topic. Here you can give some concepts and facts that may help readers to understand the whole text. It would also be nice to explain why discussing the topic may be important.
This part shall be informative, however, it shall not reveal the main information and conclusions that can be made after reading your position paper.
Body Paragraph
This paragraph is the main and the most important, as well as the most valuable and interesting part of your writing. Here you shall include all the facts and statements that prove your idea.
It’s always great to use some illustrative examples, quotes, simple but exciting explanations. You can use sub-paragraphs that will make your text more structured and easier to read and to understand. It’s also nice to use lists and illustrations if it’s allowed.
Conclusion
Many students think that conclusion is a short and very concise rewriting of the body paragraph. However, this is not really right. A conclusion may include some key facts mentioned above in your work, but its main aim is revealing and showing the solution to the problem.
Think about a conclusion that can be made after reading the whole work, about problems it may solve and how it can be used. Many writing experts advise to write a conclusion as an answer to those issues or questions that are shown in a thesis.
Be sure you note all important information down. Even if you feel you remember everything well, it’s better to save the information writing notes.