Writing a Position Paper

Position Paper

• An essay presenting an opinion and claim about an issue supported by arguments and evidence
• Used as a formal statement of position on a socially important issue
• Requires careful planning and research
• Involves announcing your position and proposing solutions
• The solution should be unique or offer a unique perspective

Values Communicated

• In writing a position paper, logical thinking is important
• Use a rational, systematic series of steps based on sound mathematical procedures
• Objective Expression of Ideas involves expressing facts or conditions
• A balanced assignment of conflicting ideas shifts from opposing to supporting arguments and expresses both sides
• Modes of reasoning include inductive reasoning which derives generalizations from specific examples and situations
• Deductive reasoning proceeds from a general statement to specific references

Qualities of a convincing Position Paper

• Contains a clear, defensible proposition
• Assesses conflicting and opposing views
• Takes a firm stand and lists arguments in an organized manner
• Includes factual evidence and proof to support the argument

Tips for Writing a good Position Paper

• Use simple language
• Give each idea its own paragraph, with a topic sentence
• Proofread for mistakes and cite sources

Situations for Position Paper Use

• Position papers can be used in present society, specifically dealing with social issues

Four Factors

• The public must recognize the situation as a problem
• The situation goes against general societal values
• A considerable portion of the population sees the problem as a valid concern
• The problem can be fixed or lessened through the combined efforts of community members

Areas That Use Position Paper

• Position papers are useful when speaking about Educational Issues in thoughts and debates centered on educational policy and practices
• Position papers can be used in discussing technology as the means by which people can adapt, control and even change the environment
• Social relations the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people who are connected
• War and Peace have been fought since the beginning and Position papers help share and discuss

Environmental Issues

• The environment has a critical association between the well-being of a society and the quality of the environment in which a society lives
• Environmental issues are harmful consequences of human activity on the natural environment, laws should not be given the liberty to operate
• Politics relates to creating policies, holding public office, wielding authority, making decisions and laws for the good of society, and then enforcing those decision and laws

Features of a Well-Defined Controversial Issue

• The issue should be defined clearly to show high importance
• It can't be resolved by fact, and rooted deeply in belief
• Position papers are opinion judgements rather than certainities

Position Paper Requirements

• It makes explicit the opinion it advocates by announcing it directly in a thesis statement, which may appear at any point in the essay
• Avoid equivocation in the subject matter
• It presents an argument designed to persuade readers that the opinion is valid and reasonable

Structuring a Position Paper

• An introduction briefly presents the topic aims to catch the audience's attention
• Background information explains why the topic matters
• Your position in the form of a thesis
• Summarize counterclaims, providing supporting information and refuting them
• Give evidence for your argument
• Conclusions summarize main ideas, reinforcing your position and suggesting courses of action

Writer in Manifestoes

• Persuades readers to accept their view on a topic

Analyzing Arguments

• Readers should gauge and assess the writer's arguments
• It contains a statement that summarizes the main idea and gives the reasons and details

Proper Factual Evidence

• The writer must persuade
• Must be able to support a claim with proofs
• Facts- important details that a writer uses to support the topic or issue he is trying to defend in an argumentative essay
• Citing sources avoids writers from committing to plagiarism

Plagiarism and Citations

• Plagiarism- getting or copying of ideas without proper acknowledgement of the original author
• In-text citation details are style specific
• APA style (Psychology, Science, Education) includes author and year
• MLA style (Humanities) uses author and page number

APA Style (Psychology, Science, Education)

• First citation refers to the group as author (American Psychological Association [APA], 2015)
• Subsequent citations use (APA, 2015)
• Multiple works must be separated with semi colons and include Gass & Varonis, 1984; Krech Thomas, 2004
• Direct quotes require a page number and quotation marks

Position Paper Writing

• It presents one side of an arguable opinion
• The goal is to prove the validity of your opinion
• Challenge the topic and address the opposing view with counter-evidence
• Collect supporting evidence

Steps for Position Paper

• Select a topic and create an outline
• The outlined format, has: Introduction, Counterargument, Your Argument, and Conclusion with information

Writing a Survey Report

• It analyzes and organizes data from survey findings to make recommendations with the goal of convincing others to follow the recommendations

Steps for Survey Report

• Break the report into sections
• Include common headings like the Title Page, Table of Contents, and Executive summary
• An executive Summery will appear after the table of contents and provides a concise paraphrase of the report's key points
• The Methodology is included in the Key results of the survey
• State the survey Objectives and explain the hypothesis and target including: Study or target population: "Who is being studied?"
• Provide background information by explaining similar research and surveys.

Research information

• Look for surveys done by researchers in peer-viewed academic journals
• Compare their results to yours and your results support or conflict with their claims
• Define the research focus and explain why previous studies have not yet addressed this information

Conducting The Survey

• Explain the methodology of how the study was conducted
• It helps readers determine Who you ask including email?
• Was a sample size and were participants offered anything.

The General Theme when Describing Type of Questions Asked

• Sum up the general theme of your questions that ask participants to answer questions about their daily routine and dietary practices.
• Include a Questionnaire in an appendix

Survey Results

• Results needs to be shown in a new section, that shows an organized response to a survey question.
• Making claims about the results needs to be avoided
• Charts and graphs can be relevant visual data

Trends

• Highlight interesting patterns or trends to help your readers understand the implication behind the questions.
• State the surveys implications at the beginning of the end

Steps for The Conclusion

• Write a paragraph that summarizes the key takeaway points of your survey, alarm, or intrigued by something.
• Recommendation about what needs to be done about this issue and can include: More research, changing current guidelines or action needed
• Appendexes will help add visual, textual results and documentation to the survey

Formatting Tips

• Title page needs to come before the report and the first page should state the name and your school.
• research according to the style required by the survey report
• APA in Chicago is an acceptable addition

The Paper

• There needs to be an objective presence on the paper, clear of judgement or personal opinions
• Concise simple sentences should be followed for an easier result.

Revising

• An important factor in finalization is the need to spellcheck, check for grammatic errors, and revise

Writing a Field Report

• Base your report on the observation and analysis of an event, place or person
• An academic presence and tone is required

Observational Considerations

• Note the different aspects, while writing down thoughts to reference back to
• Observing a clear and concise report is something to uphold

Techniques in Recording Observations

• Using short term notation on actions that are repeated may increase the quality of your work
• Small paragraphs might help with increasing memorization

Important details

• Photographs assist with detailing events that take place, and may save time notating
• Audio and Video recordings give one details on the events that happen

Objects Of Notation

• Location
• How the object and arrangement will affect the culture of the subject

Actions

• Record moments in full when actions or events take place
• Take down Physical characterizations of events that are subject to notes

What to Note For Format

• Objective, theories, and data

Interpretation/Analyzing

• A general undertone should be in the expression

Module

• A summarization and report is needed of the conclusions given
• Any material that isn't mentioned in the text will only assist the point, maps or statistics

What is a Technical Report

• A documentation made by a searcher to show results to its partners
• It's not in line with normal view points unless stated

Information In A Report

• Data, medium, style, tone, and expression with an outlined introduction with numbered concepts to follow by

What is needed for Writing

• A writer should be concise in data delivery
• Structure in the design of the paper to give support as the conclusion appears
• Details/Sources
• Short sum up, to the point theme

Pretesting Survey Questions

• Questionaires are a search to gather data
• Social biases may appear so ensure a positive light will assist in the work
• Testing is essential to finding early issues

Effective Questionnaires and Processes

• Be articulate and stay un biased
• The number of people in testing will determine the quality of your work
• Look for any bias or inconsistencies when building
• The process of breaking down a data is something that helps you identify any problems and improve
• You'll be able to test effectiveness

Revisions

• Survey with smaller groups
• You'll learn more on where needed to help guide the message
• Writing with inverted ideas to help with messaging
• Data will help find more insight
• Survey report must have a great structure

The Process of Collecting

• Objectively from a survey
• Clear and Visual appeal
• Based on research

Survey goal

• How are people to present to help understand the survey question
• Report about the surveys
• Good writing can make the process easier
• Data-graphs and reliable connections
• Be aware of ethical issues when writing
• Contact- how when and where were questions sent, to who?
• Data- past and present will be mentioned when describing

Data Points

• Numbers to help organize the data and stay consistent
• Text is used to complement with information
• Visuals and data should be used to make the context better
• Analyze what’s being said
• Simplicity, with Structure being a key indicator in what to mention
• Always refer back to source
• Visual can aid, graphs.