Position Paper Assignment

The purpose of the Position Paper Assignment is to help students learn how to evaluatecontroversial issues from a more objective standpoint, as well as to teach students how to construct logical and rational persuasive messages.

The assignment is broken in to thee (3) segments: the Supporting Evidence, the Opposing Evidence, and the Refutation.

Supporting Evidence:

In this portion of the paper, you will present the side of the issue you believe to be the stronger side. You will prove your point by presenting evidence which supports your arguments. You need to develop three arguments which you believe prove that this perspective on or side of, the argument is the correct perspective.

To do that, you need to research the issue and present evidence which supports: (a) your belief that this argument is relevant to the issue; (b) your belief that this argument proves the argument is accurate and correct; and (c) your belief that this argument is based on sound information or interpretation of the available information. Explain WHY you think the information you present proves your point.

Opposing Evidence:

While you may believe your perspective is correct, there is obviously another side of the issue, and there are people, perhaps even professional people, who agree with this other side. What are the best three arguments they can construct to prove THEY are correct? Note: you don’t have to agree with them. Present the information as precisely what it is – the other side. You don’t have to say you agree with it – say THEY believe this to be a strong argument, based on whatever factors are most important to them.

You need to use the same criteria to develop these arguments as you did to develop the ones supporting your own point of view. Is the argument relevant? Is it accurate and correct? Is it based on sound information? Remember, explain whythey believe this proves them correct.

Refutation:

In the third portion of the paper, you will take the arguments of the opposing side, and explain what is wrong with them. Why you were not convinced? What is the weakness in the argument? Is it based on faulty information? Is it based on faulty or biased assumptions? Is it coming from a worldview that is too narrow? Did they miss the big picture? What was wrong with it? NOTE: this is NOT just a restating of your supporting side; your refutation arguments must be tailored to specifically address the weakness(es) of each refutation argument.

The key point in developing a strong refutation is to NOT get caught up in the emotions of it all. Think about it: what is more convincing: “you should believe this because I believe this and I know I’m right!” or “You have every right to believe you’re correct, but what about this evidence? What about this information? You need to look at this evidence, too.” The emotional appeal doesn’t always work, and especially not when the topic is one someone is very strongly emotionally invested in. Many of these kinds of issues are ones we haven’t ever thought about from an objective standpoint, and that is the weakness you need to exploit (for lack of a better word) to find a way to potentially change their minds.

General Framework:

We will be working on this paper in sections throughout the semester. If you aren’t sure which side of your issue you are on, you don’t really have to decide until it comes time to do the Refutation portion, because you need to take exactly the same approach on each side of the issue.

At the end of the semester, you will be combining all the sections to construct one cohesive whole, putting the appropriate transitions between sections, and including an introduction and a conclusion.

Example:

If I believed that all college students should be required to take a health course before they could graduate college, what might be some of the arguments I could present?

  1. the U.S. is the unhealthiest developed nation in the world (plenty of stats on this one)
  2. Health care costs are rising dramatically, in part because of our poor health status.
  3. Most college students are grossly undereducated about health issues.
  4. The most pressing health concerns in the US today are chronic health problems stemming from habits we develop throughout our lifetimes.
  5. Health issues are important enough to make the course a graduation requirement, rather than just strongly suggesting students take it.

If I believed that we shouldn’t require it for graduation, what arguments might I present?

  1. Health decisions are personal choices. Why should the rest of us be punished by requiring this course when we are making good choices?
  2. Making it a graduation requirement adds to the amount of time it takes a student to complete the degree.
  3. Most other schools don’t require a health course. Why should we?

Depending on which side of the issue you decide to support, you would then need to devise a way to “explain away” the arguments of the other side, based on facts and evidence.

Evaluation:

Each of the sections will be graded as you turn them in, primarily based on the strength of, and logic behind, your arguments. Spelling, grammar, etc., are ALWAYS important. I will check your referencing style, but will not deduct points at this stage. To be on target for the final paper length, each section should be AT LEAST 3-4 pages in length, and have 5 sources.

The final paper will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

Position Paper Grading Sheet – HST 4770

Overall Quality
Deductions:
Mechanical Errors: _____ -10 for free =
Sources under limit: _____ x 10 =
Pages under limit: _____ x 10 =
Not APA 5th Edition: (15 points)
Sources not in paper and reference page: _____ x 5 =
Final Grade:

Position Paper Grading Sheet – HST 4770

Supporting Evidence Section / 20 points possible
Overall Quality – Includes three arguments--4 points possible
Components:
Supported your belief that the argument was relevant to issue –
4 points possible
Your belief that this argument proves the point is accurate – 4 pts
Adequate research to base argument/position on – 4 points possible
Explanation why you think the information proves your point – 4 pts
Final Grade on Supporting Evidence Section:

Comments this section:

Opposing Evidence Section / 20 points possible
Overall Quality – Includes three arguments--4 points possible
Components:
Supported your belief that the argument was relevant to issue –
4 points possible
Your belief that this argument proves the point is accurate – 4 pts
Adequate research to base argument/position on – 4 points possible
Explanation why you think the information proves your point – 4 pts
Final Grade on Opposing Evidence Section:

Comments this section:

Refutation Section / 30 points possible
Overall Quality – Includes three arguments--4 points possible
Components:
Why you were not convinced?
4 points possible
What is the weakness of the argument? – 4 pts
Is it based on faulty information or assumptions?– 4 points possible
Explanation of what was wrong to prove your point – 4 pts
Final Grade on Refutations Section:

Comments this section: