Position vs Report Papers

• A position paper presents an arguable opinion about an issue.

Characteristics of a Position Paper

• Presents a clear stance, arguing for or against an issue.

• Uses logical reasoning, with arguments supported by evidence.

• Includes and refutes counterarguments.

• Employs a well-structured format: introduction, body (arguments and counterarguments), and conclusion.

• May follow argumentative methods like ALAC, BALAC, or IRAC:

• ALAC: Assertion, Logical Explanation, Argument, Conclusion

• BALAC: Both Perspectives, Assertion, Logical Explanation, Argument, Conclusion

• IRAC: Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion

• A report paper presents and analyzes information systematically.

Characteristics of a Report Paper

• Objective and factual, presenting data without personal opinions.

• Incorporates sections such as introduction, methodology, findings, and conclusion.

• Based on research and evidence from credible sources.

• Uses clear and concise language.

• Utilizes non-textual aids like tables, graphs, charts, diagrams, or infographics to present data effectively.

• A survey paper reviews existing research on a particular topic.

Characteristics of a Survey Paper

• Summarizes multiple studies.
• Compares and contrasts viewpoints, highlighting similarities and differences between studies.
• Identifies research gaps.
• Uses credible sources, citing peer-reviewed journals and academic papers.
• Analyzes survey question types:
• Open-ended questions: Allow detailed responses, providing rich data but are hard to analyze.
• Close-ended questions: Provide predefined choices, making them easy to analyze but can limit responses.
• Scale questions: Measure degrees of opinion and are quantifiable, but have potential for bias.

Explicit vs. Implicit Text

• Explicit text clearly states ideas, making the meaning direct and easy to understand.
• Implicit text implies meaning, requiring interpretation.
• Explicit text is preferred for academic papers to ensure clarity and reduce misinterpretation.
• Implicit text is generally avoided in academic writing to maintain rigor.

Claims in Argumentation

• Claim of Fact: Asserts something is true.
• Example: "Climate change is caused by human activities."
• Claim of Policy: Proposes a course of action.
• Example: "Governments should reduce carbon emissions."
• Claim of Value: Evaluates something based on morals or aesthetics.
• Example: "Sustainability is the most ethical business practice."

Claims appropriate for different papers:

• Position Paper: Uses Claim of Fact and Claim of Policy; avoids Claim of Value.
• Report Paper: Uses Claim of Fact; avoids Claim of Policy and Value.
• Survey Paper: Uses Claim of Fact; avoids Claim of Policy and Value.

Logical Fallacies

• Fallacies are errors in reasoning that weaken arguments.
• Ad Hominem: Attacking the person instead of the argument.
• Example: "You can't trust his opinion on climate change; he's not even a scientist."
• Slippery Slope: Claiming one event will lead to extreme consequences without proof.
• Example: "If we allow students to use calculators, soon they won’t learn basic math."
• Strawman: Misrepresenting an argument to refute it more easily.
• Example: "People who support space exploration just want to waste taxpayer money."
• Red Herring: Distracting from the issue by introducing an unrelated topic.
• Example: "Why worry about climate change when we have bigger problems like terrorism?"
• Post Hoc (False Cause): Assuming that because one event happened after another, it was caused by it.
• Example: "I started wearing lucky socks, and my team won. The socks must be lucky."
• False Analogy: Comparing two things that are not sufficiently similar.
• Example: "Running a business is like coaching a sports team; both need a strong leader."
• Appeal to Authority: Using an unqualified person's opinion as evidence.
• Example: "A celebrity said this diet works, so it must be true."
• Appeal to Emotion: Manipulating emotions instead of presenting logical arguments.
• Example: "Think of the poor animals suffering in labs; we must ban all experiments!"
• Appeal to Force: Using threats to persuade someone.
• Example: "If you don’t agree with me, you’ll regret it later."
• Appeal to Ignorance: Arguing something is true because it hasn’t been proven false.
• Example: "No one has proven aliens don’t exist, so they must be real."
• Appeal to Popularity (Bandwagon): Arguing something is true because many people believe it.
• Example: "Everyone is using this supplement, so it must be effective."