Writing Your Position Paper

The purpose of your position paper will be to:

1)identify current issues surrounding your topic,

2)organize your research on the issue,

3)prepare your argument for your upcoming debate, and

4)familiarize yourself with the counterargument to prepare your responses for those who disagree with you during the debate.

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Your position paper should contain the following:

Introductory Paragraph – Your introduction has a dual purpose: to indicate both the topic and your approach to it (your thesis statement), and to arouse your reader’s interest in what you have to say.

A. Introduce the topic
B. Provide background on the topic to explain why it is important
C. Assert the thesis (your view of the issue).

Stating Your Thesis

A thesis is a one-sentence statement about your topic. It's an assertion about your topic, something you claim to be true. Notice that a topic alone makes no such claim; it merely defines an area to be covered. To make your topic into a thesis statement, you need to make a claim about it, make it into a sentence. Your thesis statement should be a simple one, stating what will be the central idea of your paper. The result should look something like this:

Because modern cinematic techniques have allowed filmmakers to get more graphic, horror flicks have desensitized young American viewers to violence.

2nd – 4th Paragraphs/Your Arguments – You may have more than 3 overall points to your argument, but you should not have fewer.

A. Assert point #1 of your claims
1. Give your educated and informed opinion
2. Provide support/proof using more than one source

B. Assert point #2 of your claims
1. Give your educated and informed opinion
2. Provide support/proof using more than one source
C. Assert point #3 of your claims
1. Give your educated and informed opinion
2. Provide support/proof using more than one source

5th – 6thParagraphs/Counter Arguments – You can generate counterarguments by asking yourself what someone who disagrees with you might say about each of the points you've made or about your position as a whole.You should include and respond to at least 2 counterarguments.
A. Summarize the counterarguments
B. Refute the counterarguments
C. Give evidence for your counterarguments

Final Paragraph/Conclusion
A. Restate your argument – The simplest and most basic conclusion is one that restates the thesis in different words and then discusses its implications.

B. Be sure not to introduce new information.

Works Cited Page – Use MLA format for all sources.

Adapted from and

Position Paper RUBRIC / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Thesis Statement / Developed a strong thesis and included it in the appropriate place in the paper. The thesis was the focal point of the paper and was both strongly and thoroughly supported throughout the paper. / Developed a thesis and included it in the appropriate place in the paper. The thesis was the focal point of the paper and supported throughout the paper. / Developed a thesis and included it in the appropriate place in the paper. Most of the information supported the thesis statement. / Thesis Statement needs to be developed further or is not included in the paper, and/or the thesis is not fully supported in the paper. / A clear position is not present throughout the paper.
Strong Reasons / Position is supported with well-developed and thought out reasons (minimum of three). Reasons show strong analysis and conclusions based on the information. / Position is supported with well-developed and thought out reasons (minimum of three). Reasons are well developed, but analysis and conclusions need to be strengthened. / Position is supported with a minimum of three distinct reasons. Reasons are developed, but more analysis and conclusions are needed. / Reasons are weak and/or repetitive. They need to be developed and explained further. / Reasons are not developed and/or are repetitive. Ideas can be difficult to understand.
Depth and Variety of Evidence / Position is supported in depth with a variety of sources (at least 3). Substantial, valid, and accurate information in the form of expert opinion, statistics, research studies, etc. has been used throughout the paper. Information is relevant and supports the writer’s ideas. / Position is supported with a variety of sources (at least 3). Adequate, valid, and accurate information has been used throughout the paper. Information is relevant and supports the writer’s ideas. / Position is supported with a variety of sources (at least 2). Valid and accurate information has been used throughout the paper and/or most of the information is relevant and supports the writer’s ideas. A mix of general and specific information is used. / Position needs to be supported with more valid and accurate information. Some of the information may not be relevant and/or does not support the thesis. / Little to no support from researched information is present in the paper.
Sources / At least 3 sources are used and all are cited using MLA format. / At least 3 sources are used and/or MLA format is used for most sources. / 2 sources are used and MLA format is used for all sources. / 2 sources are used and/or sources are not in MLA format. / Less than 2 sources used.
Organization and Mechanics / Ideas are well organized and free of mechanical errors. / Most ideas are well organized and free of mechanical errors. / Organization of the paper needs to be strengthened. Mechanical errors are present throughout the paper. / Paper has little organization and many diversions, often shifting in purpose. Many mechanical errors are present and transitions are not utilized. / Paper lacks organization and there are numerous mechanical errors which make comprehension difficult.
Transitions / Transitional words and phrases are used to connect ideas and maintain coherence between paragraphs. / Some transitional words and phrases are used to connect ideas and maintain coherence between paragraphs. / Too few transitions used, or used correctly. / Attempts made to use appropriate transitions. / Lack of transitions.

Total Points/30: ______Comments:

Total Score: ______

Adapted from

Submitting Your Position Paper

Be sure to submit your position paper to turnitin.com before the deadline. Any paper submitted late will receive a point deduction. If you have questions about using turnitin.com, please see me.

2nd Period turnitin.com submission:

Class ID – 11098292

Enrollment Password – civics2

3rd Period turnitin.com submission:

Class ID – 11098301

Enrollment Password – civics3

4th Period turnitin.com submission:

Class ID – 11098320

Enrollment Password – civics4

**To be considered for grading, a paper copy of your position paper (including your works cited page) must be submitted to me no later than Monday, November 23. Also, you must submit your paper to turnitin.com no later than 11:59 p.m. Monday, November 23. Any papers submitted after these deadlines will receive a point deduction.