How to Write a Position Paper

Just like an argument paper, a position paper supports one side of an issue,
similar to in a debate. Your goal will be to provide convincing evidence to the
reader that your position is the correct stance to take on an issue. You can
write a great position paper by choosing your position carefully, developing
your argument, drafting your paper, and revising and editing your work.

Choosing Your Position

1.

1. Make sure your topic is arguable. If you are choosing your own topic, then
you will want to make sure that it has multiple sides. The topic should be
controversial, with at least 2 clear sides. Sometimes a topic might seem to have
2 sides, but in actuality most people would agree on 1 side.
 For example, you wouldn’t want to write a paper arguing that
children need proper care, as no one would disagree with that stance.
 A better topic may be taking a stance on what should be done if
children are not receiving proper care.
2.

2. Research your topic and the alternative sides. You need to fully

understand your issue in order to choose and defend a position. Consider the
background information, recent developments, and the reasons behind each
side. Remember to examine at least 2 sides of your issue.
 Visit your local library to find books, journals, and newspapers.
 Access online databases, credible websites, and news sources.
 To decide if a source is credible, look for peer-reviewed journals,
check the credentials of the author, locate the information in two
separate sources, and check the date to make sure the information is
the most recent available. You should also avoid self-published
sources.
3.
 3. Make a pros and cons list for at least 2 positions on your topic. Based
on your research, write down the reasons for and against each position that
you are considering taking. This will help you choose a position that is easy to
defend using the evidence that you have collected.
 Looking at both sides not only helps you pick the best position, it
will also help you choose a good counterargument.
 For example, if you are writing a paper about whether or not your
community should invest in new park equipment, your two sides
would be either in favor of the new park equipment or against it. A pro
of buying new equipment might be purchasing safer equipment, while
a con would be the expense of the purchase.
4.

4. Think about your views on the issue. You may have strong views on the
topic, which could help guide your choice. If you do have an opinion, make a
list of the reasons behind it to see if they can help you build an argument.
 In some cases, it’s easier to argue a position if you don’t have
strong opinions either way. This is because you can focus on the
evidence, not on your personal views.
5.

5. Consider your audience's views on the topic. How your paper is received

will depend on the audience and their stance on the issue. If you are preparing
your paper for a class, it could be helpful to consider the views of your
instructor. Similarly, a paper such as a policy paper would benefit from
localizing the issue, just as a paper for an international journal would appeal to
more readers if it includes a wider worldview.
 While you don’t have to change your position to fit your audience,
you may want to adjust your reasons behind the position or the
counter-argument you choose.

Building Your Argument

1.
1. Establish your claim. Your claim is your position on the topic, which is
what you will defend in your paper. You should base your claim on what you
can prove with your evidence.
2.

2. Identify your supporting reasons. Most position papers provide 2 or 3

supporting reasons for your claim, but a longer paper may include more
reasons. Your supporting reasons will come directly from your evidence, so
choose statements that you can prove.
 If possible, look for supporting reasons that are shown through 2
or more different pieces of evidence, as this will make your argument
stronger.
 Use your assignment sheet or the parameters of your paper to
determine how many supporting reasons you should include. For
many academic papers, you will use 2 to 3 reasons.
3.

3. Compile your supporting evidence. Identify which pieces of evidence you

will use to support your argument, and mark them in a way that is convenient
for you. For example, you could write your citations on index cards for use
while you write the paper, or you could type them directly into a document and
then copy-and-paste them into your paper when you reach the drafting phase.
 Use an organizing strategy that works for you.
 Compiling your evidence now will help you more easily write your
paper.
 Keep in mind that it is important to cite your sources. If you use a
direct quote from a source, then put it into quotation marks and
identify the author when you use it. If you paraphrase or summarize
something from a source, give credit to the author for the ideas.
 Don’t go overboard on including evidence! Remember that most of
the ideas in the paper should be your own. It’s good to quote sources,
but avoid quoting entire paragraphs from other sources. Keep your
 quotes to a sentence or two and try to avoid including more than one
quote per paragraph.
4.

4. Identify a counter-argument that you can easily dismiss. Using a

counter-argument can help you strengthen your claim because it shows the
audience that you have considered other options. By introducing and then
dismissing the counter-argument, you are showing that your position is the
correct one to take. A good counter-argument is easy to dismiss, allowing you
to refute it using your evidence.
 For example, if you are writing a position paper arguing that your
community should purchase new playground equipment, your
counter-argument could be that the purchase will be too expensive. To
strengthen your argument, you would cite this possible point against
you but show why it's not a valid reason to dismiss your position. A
good way to do that would be to show that the equipment is worth the
expense or that there is outside funding to pay for it.
 You will also want a piece of evidence that supports your counter-
argument. This evidence, which should be easy to dismiss, will be
included in your paper.

Drafting Your Paper

1. Develop your thesis. Your thesis will control your paper, so you should
write it first. For a position paper, you can vary how you write your thesis.
Since you are using a counter argument, you may only have two supporting
points, depending on the requirements of your paper.
 One easy way to set up your argument in your thesis is to include
both your counter-argument and claim, preceded by the word
“although.” For example, “Although installing new playground
equipment in the park will be expensive, new playground equipment
would provide a safe play area for children and offer options for special
needs children.”
 If you’re an expert writer, you may not need to include supporting
reasons in your thesis. For example, “As parents learn the benefits and
dangers of outside play, communities across the nation are turning
their eyes toward their parks, making safe, accessible equipment a
public necessity.”
2.
2. Write your introduction. Provide your audience with background
information on your topic, including the history and recent developments. You
should include information that is relevant for your stance, which will narrow
what you tell the reader. For example, if you are writing a paper about gay
marriage in Maine, you would only include background information relevant to
that state.
 Start with a hook that introduces your topic. For example, you
could provide a statistic of how many children are injured on old
playground equipment every year.
 Include a few sentences that provide more information on your
topic, narrowing down toward your stance.
 End your introduction with your thesis.
3.
3. Include at least 2 body paragraphs. A short position paper may only
contain 2 body paragraphs - one for the counter-argument and one for the
supportive points. However, most position papers will have 3 or 4 body
paragraphs, with 2 dedicated to supportive evidence. Depending on the length
of your paper, you may decide to include more.
 Follow the requirements for your paper, which may state how
many paragraphs you should include.
4.
4. Use topic sentences that link back to your thesis. Each body paragraph
should begin with a topic sentence. The topic sentence is like a mini-thesis that
controls your whole paragraph. Your topic sentence should introduce what you
will talk about in the paragraph, whether it’s the counter-argument or one of
your supporting reasons.
 For example, you could write: “Installing new playground
equipment would make the park more inclusive for special needs
children because updated designs are accessible to those who are
differently abled.”
5.
5. Provide evidence to support your position. Each of your reasons needs at
least 1 piece of evidence, though using more evidence will strengthen your
argument. Pull your evidence from your research, focusing on the following:
 Facts
 Statistics
 Quotes
 Documented stories
6.
6. Provide commentary to explain your evidence. Commentary explains to
the reader why your evidence supports your reason and your position, so your
commentary should clearly explain the link between your evidence and thesis.
In your own words, tell the reader what you want them to take away from this
piece of evidence, and why it proves that you are correct. You should include 2
to 5 sentences of commentary for each piece of evidence.
 Without commentary, there is no link between your evidence and
your position, leaving your argument weak.
7.
7. Conclude your essay by reasserting your position. A strong conclusion
restates your position and the reasons why it’s the correct viewpoint. You will
summarize your argument and briefly dismiss your counter-argument. In a
position paper, you’ll also want to end with a call to action.
 Restate your thesis. For example, "While new playground
equipment is expensive, it's worth the investment because it serves the
best interests of the community by providing children with a safe area
to play and making the park more accessible for special needs
children."
 Sum up your argument.
 End on a high note with a call to action. For example, "Children
need a safe, accessible place to play, so the only choice is to install
new park equipment in Quimby Park."
8.
8. Cite your sources. Since your position paper will contain evidence, you
need to include where you sourced that information. Follow the preferred
citation style of the recipient of your paper, whether that’s an instructor,
organization, journal, or other entity.
 If you don’t cite your sources, then you will be guilty of plagiarism.
You could lose credit or face harsher penalties if you are caught
stealing someone else’s words or ideas.
 SAMPLE POSITION PAPER
Committee: Commission on Human Rights
Topic: Violence against Women
Country: The Kingdom of Denmark
Delegate: William Hayward Wilson, Shea University

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “no one shall be subjected
to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Although this doctrine was adopted in 1948, the world has fallen quite short of
this goal. Violence against women pervades all states and it is the duty of the
international community to ensure that all persons are afforded equality and
respect. Despite cooperative efforts at combating gross human rights abuses,
such as the adoption of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against
Women, the United Nations has not been able to alleviate the injustice women
worldwide experience daily.
The Kingdom of Denmark believes that in order to end violence against women,
nations must look to empower women in all aspects of society. This includes
promoting equal gender roles in government, civil society, education and
business. However, Denmark also recognizes the need to combat human rights
abuses against women as they occur, and no nation is immune to gender
violence.
In 2002, the Danish Government launched an extensive action plan to combat
domestic violence against women. The plan includes measures to help treat
abused women, identify and prosecute the perpetrators, and incorporate
professional medical and psychological staff into the rehabilitation process. The
action plan currently reaches out to both governmental and nongovernmental
groups on the local level throughout the nation.
The Danish Centre for Human Rights in Copenhagen, Denmark’s foremost
national human rights institution also promotes and protects human rights.
Based on the Centre’s research, Denmark’s parliament can promote human
rights-based legislation and education/awareness programs throughout the
nation. The Centre also addresses the UN Commission on Human Rights
annually regarding human rights developments in Denmark and
internationally. Denmark has no record of committing major human rights
violations, most importantly any targeted at women. In its 2003 Annual Report,
Amnesty International also found no human rights violations against Danish
women.
Women are invaluable to Denmark’s society and have achieved significant
economic and social gains in the 20th century. Currently, 75 percent of
medical students in Denmark are women. Denmark is confident that this
Commission can bring about an end to violence against women without
compromising the sovereignty of member states. Education remains perhaps
the most useful tool in protecting victims of gender-based violence.
Governments, UN agencies, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) can
plan a coordinated campaign that educates national populations on the various
ways women are violently targeted. Similarly, harmful traditions, such as
honor killings and female genital mutilation, must be stopped by reforming
traditional views of women in society. Children of both sexes need to be taught
at an early age to value the rights of women in order to prevent such violence
in their generation.
Another way to stop gender violence would be to reproach member states that
consistently violate treaties such as the Convention on Political Rights of
Women (1952), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (1979), and the Declaration on the Elimination
of Violence against Women (1993). Although this Committee cannot impose
sanctions, it can pass resolutions verbally condemning states that commit
human rights violations. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights can
also meet with representatives of governments that violate the above treaties to
discuss possible solutions.
In order to prevent gender violence, nations must work together to build a
culture of support, equality and community. As such, the Kingdom of Denmark
looks forward to offering its support, in whatever form possible, to nations
firmly committed to ending violence against women in all its forms .

Reference/s:
 https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Position-Paper