1. Position Papers Writing Today Chapter 11

2. Engaging With the ideas of others Purpose: Purpose: To explain both sides of a controversy To explain both sides of a controversy Argue for one side over the other Argue for one side over the other Highlight the differences between opposing views Highlight the differences between opposing views Use solid reasoning Use solid reasoning Factual evidence Factual evidence This is not a commentary This is not a commentary Do not express opinion about a current issue of event. Do not express opinion about a current issue of event.

3. Why we need to know College – paper College – paper Workplace –argue for or against business strategies or alternatives Workplace –argue for or against business strategies or alternatives

4. Organization Introduction Introduction Summary of opponents’ position Summary of opponents’ position Limitations of opponents’ position Limitations of opponents’ position Your understanding of the issue Your understanding of the issue Reasons why your understanding is better than your opponents’ understanding Reasons why your understanding is better than your opponents’ understanding Conclusion Conclusion Introductions Major point of difference opponents’ position Your position Major point of difference Opponents’ position Your position * Reasons why your understanding is better than your opponents’ understanding Conclusion

5. Overview Argue fairly Argue fairly Argue reasonably Argue reasonably Present both sides of an issue as objectively as possible Present both sides of an issue as objectively as possible Discuss how/why your side is superior to the other’s Discuss how/why your side is superior to the other’s

6. Introduction State the issue begin debated State the issue begin debated Identify the issue’s two or more sides Identify the issue’s two or more sides Make an explicit claim (thesis) that the position paper will support Make an explicit claim (thesis) that the position paper will support You must have a good attention grabber You must have a good attention grabber

7. An Objective Summary Will reveal your opponents’ understanding of the issue Will reveal your opponents’ understanding of the issue It will not show bias; it is strictly informative It will not show bias; it is strictly informative

8. Discussion Should be organized and fluent Should be organized and fluent Discuss the limitations of your opponents’ understanding Discuss the limitations of your opponents’ understanding What are they missing? What are they missing? What have they neglected to consider? What have they neglected to consider? What are they ignoring in their argument? What are they ignoring in their argument? Do not come across as sarcastic or dismissive. Fairly point out their weaknesses.

9. Summarize Your side; your understanding of the issue. Your side; your understanding of the issue. Objective ObjectiveInclude: 1. Good reasoning 2. Examples 3. Facts 4. Data

10. Discussion Explain why your side’s understanding is superior to your opponents’ understanding Explain why your side’s understanding is superior to your opponents’ understanding You may concede some points (if possible) to your opponents You may concede some points (if possible) to your opponents Create a balance Create a balance In the end, your side has more strengths than weaknesses. In the end, your side has more strengths than weaknesses.

11. Conclusion Drive home your main point Drive home your main point Inspire Inspire Look/make relevant to the future Look/make relevant to the future Conclusion should be brief

12. Remember That your argument should be something: That your argument should be something: You are interested in You are interested in Has an opposition Has an opposition Is Relevant Is Relevant Your side of the argument should show the plausibility that it will benefit the majority.

13. Research Use solid sources Use solid sources Find out what others know Find out what others know Look for a variety of online, print, and empirical sources. Look for a variety of online, print, and empirical sources. Empirical sources such as interviews, expert testimony, surveys, field observations. Empirical sources such as interviews, expert testimony, surveys, field observations. Place your self in your opponent’s place when researching their side. Place your self in your opponent’s place when researching their side.

14. Assignment Read Harris’s In Defense of Torture beginning on page238. Read Harris’s In Defense of Torture beginning on page238. Discussion: page 241 questions 1,2,3,and 2 Discussion: page 241 questions 1,2,3,and 2 Dailey’s Friends with Benefits: Do Facebook Friends Provide the Same Support as Those in Real Life? beginning on page 241 Dailey’s Friends with Benefits: Do Facebook Friends Provide the Same Support as Those in Real Life? beginning on page 241 Discussion: page 244 questions 1,2,3 and 1,2 Discussion: page 244 questions 1,2,3 and 1,2 You don’t need to write a three page commentary nor get on Facebook. Simply discuss based on what you have already experienced. You don’t need to write a three page commentary nor get on Facebook. Simply discuss based on what you have already experienced.

15. Closing These strategies can be used to help you focus on a topic as well as focus on your strategies. These strategies can be used to help you focus on a topic as well as focus on your strategies. Page 245 Questions 1,2,3