Position Papers on Social Issues

Issues in School, Community, and Country

• Topics for discussion include social media, giving homework to K-to students, smoking, legalization of divorce, and bullying
• These are issues affecting schools, communities, and countries.

Parts of a Position Paper

• Position papers are essays that express a position on an issue
• The introduction section includes:
  • A thesis statement, including topic and major argument
  • Supporting evidence
  • Background information about the issue
• The body describes a major argument, followed by opposing arguments
• Premises that support opposing arguments are presented
• Minor arguments, with support, are provided
• A conclusion summarizes the major argument and opposing argument, along with minor arguments
• The concluding section contains a call to action

Rubrics for Position Papers

• A rubric, providing grading criteria for position papers, includes:

  • Thesis Statement: 20 points - Is the thesis statement argumentative and supported by evidence?
  • History and Background: 20 points - Does the paper include 2-3 references about background or reference information? Is a citation provided?
  • Convention: 5 points - Does the paper follow correct grammar and sentence structure?
  • Timeliness: 5 points - Is the paper submitted on time?

• Rubric for Introduction:

  • Thesis Statement: 20 points (Is the statement argumentative and supported by evidence?)
  • History/Background: 20 points (Uses 2-3 background references with citations)
  • Convention: 5 points (Correct grammar/sentence structure)
  • Timeliness: 5 points

• Rubric for Body:

  • Description of major argument: 15 points
  • Opposing argument: 10 points
  • Minor arguments: 15 points
  • Convention: 5 points (follows correct grammar/sentence structure)
  • Timeliness: 5 points

• Rubric for Conclusion:

  • Summary: 10 points (Summarizes position and minor arguments)
  • Call for action: 30 points (Suggests a clear path forward)
  • Convention: 5 points (follows correct grammar/sentence structure)
  • Timeliness: 5 points

Creating Introductions and Thesis Statements

• Practice creating thesis statements for different topics, such as youth against bad habits, bottled water in schools, and legalization of abortion
• Instructions are given for creating an introduction for a position paper

This quiz explores the structure and components of position papers, particularly focusing on issues affecting schools, communities, and countries. Participants will engage with topics like social media, bullying, and divorce legalization while honing their skills in constructing a compelling argument.