POSITION PAPER ASSIGNMENT

The position paper will grow out of your exploratory paper, but is not simply a revision--it is a new paper. For this paper you will take a position (or stand) on your issue, support it with evidence, and defend it against anticipated rebuttals. Use the Toulmin model in creating and analyzing your argument.

Use the following process:

  1. Write your claim or proposition. This should be one clear sentence stating your stand, or the conclusion that you want your audience to understand and accept.
  2. Write out your grounds, or the evidence that supports your claim. A good starting point for this is to write out sub-claims, and list evidence you already have that supports them. At this stage you may also identify additional evidence that you still need to support your claim, and/or you may recognize the need to modify your claim.
  3. Identify your warrants. In the writing process, you should actually list them. Then decide whether or not you will need to spell them out in your final paper.
  4. Decide on backing: do you need to back up your warrants?
  5. Plan rebuttal: acknowledge other possible stands on your claim and respond to them in terms of weaknesses in their arguments, and strengths of yours.
  6. Decide whether or not to qualify your claim.

Once you have completed this process, write a draft of the paper, incorporating what you have written above when appropriate. Finished paper should be 4-5 pages long, and you should cite at least four sources for your evidence.

Every finished paper should have the following format:

  1. A clear introduction, in which you preview your paper, note why the issue you have chosen is important, and present your claim.
  2. A body in which you present your sub claims and evidence, and your rebuttal of other stands.
  3. A conclusion in which you return to your claim and give a sense of closure.
  4. A reference page in which you list all works you cited--and ONLY the works you cited.

FINAL ADVICE: USE THE WRITING CENTER!! Get started early enough to be able to get their feedback. Be sure to take a copy of this assignment with you n addition to your paper draft.