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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Decide on backing: do you need to back up your warrants?
- Plan rebuttal: acknowledge other possible stands on your claim and respond to them in terms of weaknesses in their arguments, and strengths of yours.
- 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:
- A clear introduction, in which you preview your paper, note why the issue you have chosen is important, and present your claim.
- A body in which you present your sub claims and evidence, and your rebuttal of other stands.
- A conclusion in which you return to your claim and give a sense of closure.
- 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.