ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC…
PARTS OF A POSITION PAPER
LESSON 1: WRITING A POSITION
PAPER ● Introduction
- Used to grab the attention of readers
- Define the issue and discuss the background
- Provide a general statement of your position
POSITION PAPER via thesis statement
- Presents the writer's stand or viewpoint on a ● Body
particular issue. - Stating main arguments
- Providing sufficient evidence for each
argument
GUIDELINES IN WRITING A POSITION PAPER - Providing counterarguments against the
1. Choose an issue possible weaknesses of your arguments
* Debatable issue ● Conclusion
* Current and relevant issue - Restating your standing and main arguments
* Written in a question form and answerable by - Suggest a course of action
yes or no - Stating what makes your position superior
2. Conduct in-depth research on the issue and more acceptable
3. Take note to define unfamiliar terms when - End with powerful closing argument
mentioning for the first time
4. Be aware of the various positions about the
issue LESSON 2: COUNTER
5. Reflect on your position and identify its ARGUMENTS AND REBUTTALS
weaknesses.
6. View the issue on a different perspective
7. Citing in valid and reliable sources
COUNTER ARGUMENTS
8. Limit the paper to two pages
9. Analyze your target readers and align your - Any position that contradicts a position you are
arguments presenting in your paper
10. Summarize the other side's
counterarguments | Note:
11. Use active voice as much as possible - Identifying and responding to counter
12. Arrange your evidence logically using an arguments allows you to test your ideas.
inductive or deductive approach - If you can articulate counterarguments well
13. Check your argument for fallacies and and then respond to them, your argument will
eliminate stand stronger and the reader will be more likely
14. Use ethical, logical, and emotional appeal to be persuaded.
IMPORTANCE OF COUNTER ARGUMENTS
PAGE 1
, ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC…
● Readers are intelligent 1. Quote acknowledged experts that support
○ Be careful not to underestimate the your position
intelligence of your readers. 2. Redefine the criteria of "known" concepts
● You need to be clear 3. Find agreement and show how your new
○ Discussing a counter argument can be idea supports a shared idea
used to sharpen and clarify the point 4. Pointing out faulty assumptions in your
you are trying to make critic's arguments where...
● You are not one-sided (1) the facts are wrong,
○ Dealing with counter arguments (2) analysis is correct,
enhances your credibility as an (3) values it is based on are not acceptable
interlocutor on the subject you are
discussing | FLOW OR SEQUENCING OF
ARGUMENT-REBUTTAL
| WHERE TO PUT THE COUNTER ARGUMENTS? * Argument - Counter Argument -
- BEFORE proposing the thesis in the Reason/Support for counter argument - rebuttal
INTRODUCTION with citation and source tag
- BEFORE the conclusion of the paper
LESSON 3: LOGICAL FALLACIES
HOW TO CONSTRUCT A COUNTER
ARGUMENTS?
LOGICAL FALLACIES
● Develop your provisional thesis and gather
the best evidences for support - Errors of reasoning/Can make your argument
● Spend some time thinking from the fall apart due to faulty connection making
perspective of someone who disagrees with - Fallacy – deceptive or misleading idea or an
your argument unsound argument
● Select the other side's most powerful claim - Logical Fallacy – most basic term "flaw in logic"
and evidence and determine which part of - It used faulty evidence that doesn't support a
your argument it most directly challenges claim
● Make the strongest case for the - Makes your argument invalid OR weakens your
counterargument that you can argument
● Respond to the counterargument
1. Imagine a Skeptical Reader
5 TYPES OF LOGICAL FALLACIES
2. Cite an actual source, critic or group of
critics ● Ad Hominem
3. Look at your arguments for possible... - Attacking a person's character rather than
(1) problems with your conclusion, the person's arguments
(2) disadvantages to what you propose,
(3) alternative explanations that makes
more sense ● Appeal to Authority
- The argument quotes an expert WHO IS NOT
HOW TO CONSTRUCT A REBUT?
QUALIFIED in the particular subject matter
PAGE 2
PARTS OF A POSITION PAPER
LESSON 1: WRITING A POSITION
PAPER ● Introduction
- Used to grab the attention of readers
- Define the issue and discuss the background
- Provide a general statement of your position
POSITION PAPER via thesis statement
- Presents the writer's stand or viewpoint on a ● Body
particular issue. - Stating main arguments
- Providing sufficient evidence for each
argument
GUIDELINES IN WRITING A POSITION PAPER - Providing counterarguments against the
1. Choose an issue possible weaknesses of your arguments
* Debatable issue ● Conclusion
* Current and relevant issue - Restating your standing and main arguments
* Written in a question form and answerable by - Suggest a course of action
yes or no - Stating what makes your position superior
2. Conduct in-depth research on the issue and more acceptable
3. Take note to define unfamiliar terms when - End with powerful closing argument
mentioning for the first time
4. Be aware of the various positions about the
issue LESSON 2: COUNTER
5. Reflect on your position and identify its ARGUMENTS AND REBUTTALS
weaknesses.
6. View the issue on a different perspective
7. Citing in valid and reliable sources
COUNTER ARGUMENTS
8. Limit the paper to two pages
9. Analyze your target readers and align your - Any position that contradicts a position you are
arguments presenting in your paper
10. Summarize the other side's
counterarguments | Note:
11. Use active voice as much as possible - Identifying and responding to counter
12. Arrange your evidence logically using an arguments allows you to test your ideas.
inductive or deductive approach - If you can articulate counterarguments well
13. Check your argument for fallacies and and then respond to them, your argument will
eliminate stand stronger and the reader will be more likely
14. Use ethical, logical, and emotional appeal to be persuaded.
IMPORTANCE OF COUNTER ARGUMENTS
PAGE 1
, ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC…
● Readers are intelligent 1. Quote acknowledged experts that support
○ Be careful not to underestimate the your position
intelligence of your readers. 2. Redefine the criteria of "known" concepts
● You need to be clear 3. Find agreement and show how your new
○ Discussing a counter argument can be idea supports a shared idea
used to sharpen and clarify the point 4. Pointing out faulty assumptions in your
you are trying to make critic's arguments where...
● You are not one-sided (1) the facts are wrong,
○ Dealing with counter arguments (2) analysis is correct,
enhances your credibility as an (3) values it is based on are not acceptable
interlocutor on the subject you are
discussing | FLOW OR SEQUENCING OF
ARGUMENT-REBUTTAL
| WHERE TO PUT THE COUNTER ARGUMENTS? * Argument - Counter Argument -
- BEFORE proposing the thesis in the Reason/Support for counter argument - rebuttal
INTRODUCTION with citation and source tag
- BEFORE the conclusion of the paper
LESSON 3: LOGICAL FALLACIES
HOW TO CONSTRUCT A COUNTER
ARGUMENTS?
LOGICAL FALLACIES
● Develop your provisional thesis and gather
the best evidences for support - Errors of reasoning/Can make your argument
● Spend some time thinking from the fall apart due to faulty connection making
perspective of someone who disagrees with - Fallacy – deceptive or misleading idea or an
your argument unsound argument
● Select the other side's most powerful claim - Logical Fallacy – most basic term "flaw in logic"
and evidence and determine which part of - It used faulty evidence that doesn't support a
your argument it most directly challenges claim
● Make the strongest case for the - Makes your argument invalid OR weakens your
counterargument that you can argument
● Respond to the counterargument
1. Imagine a Skeptical Reader
5 TYPES OF LOGICAL FALLACIES
2. Cite an actual source, critic or group of
critics ● Ad Hominem
3. Look at your arguments for possible... - Attacking a person's character rather than
(1) problems with your conclusion, the person's arguments
(2) disadvantages to what you propose,
(3) alternative explanations that makes
more sense ● Appeal to Authority
- The argument quotes an expert WHO IS NOT
HOW TO CONSTRUCT A REBUT?
QUALIFIED in the particular subject matter
PAGE 2
