Purpose
Identify an interesting problem or current issue that merits your taking a stand; translate your stand (or position) into a thesis statement; support the reasons for your position with specific details and examples; and marshal your reasoning and appeals to persuade others to accept your position by modifying their thinking, behavior, or influence.
Invention
Keep in mind as you brainstorm/draft:
1. You might begin by thinking about what your position paper might accomplish: Argue a point. Take a stand. Solve a problem. Change a behavior. Introduce new policy or procedure. Correct a misconception. Refute an argument or belief.
2. In general, a position paper aims to either establish conviction (encourage someone to identify with and understand your position, persuade someone to change their mind) or to prompt action (attempt to make change based on your position).
3. Given these typical aims, your audience could range from one that is completely unsympathetic to your position to one that is understanding and ready to be persuaded to action.
4. Make sure that your proposed topic is debatable and lends itself to genuine disagreement.
5. Consider which available means are going to be most effective for making your major claim or for supporting points. A paper could deploy definition, comparison, cause-and-effect analysis, process analysis, or narration (or a combination of these available means) in order to argue your point. (For example: perhaps you want to argue for healthier dining options in the residence hall. A paper might deploy cause and effect related to the so-called “Freshmen 15,” incorporate a short narrative involving an acquaintance of yours who is struggling to find healthy dining choices, and spend space arguing that the current definition of “healthy food” at Penn State dining centers is inadequate and needs to be redefined.)
6. Be sure you find at least three sources from which you draw evidence to back up your argument as well as frame your rebuttal argument. Practicing paraphrasing sources and pulling out good quotes to use in your paper
Expectations
A successful position paper will:
1. Define the situation or problem that calls for your attention (exigence);
2. Include reliable sources that are appropriately cited and back up your claims;
3. Establish an audience who is (or should be) invested in this situation or problem;
4. Communicate your purpose (to express or defend a position, to question or argue against a belief or action, to invite or convince an audience to change an opinion or practice);
5. Marshal emotional appeals, logical reasoning, details and examples to enhance your points;
6. Employ a tone that expresses your opinion and advances your views without being confrontational;
7. Acknowledge and respond to opposing viewpoints; and
8. Supply a clear, identifiable conclusion that you want your audience to reach about the issue.
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