A position paper differs from the personal essay in tone and in purpose.   Its tone is usually more serious or academic and its purpose is to take and support a position on a controversial issue.  (By controversial I mean that your position is not obvious - that an intelligent person might disagree.)  The position paper should address an issue outside the immediate experience of the writer although the writer may incorporate personal experience or local events into the essay.  Where the body of an personal essay includes the "telling details" that make a personal experience vivid, the body of the position paper includes the "telling details" that make the issue and argument clear.

For this assignment, you are required to cite at least three sources in your paper and at least one of the sources must represent an opposing viewpoint.  It is often effective to use one source to provide  some kind of broad statistical data that shows the breadth of the problem or issue.

Possible Questions (From college applications):

1. What do you consider to be the major international or national issues today?  Address one, outlining possible causes, effects and resolutions.

2. Outline a national, state and/or local issue.  Discuss the issue's relevance to you and the causes, effects and possible resolutions.

3. Exam any book or work of art that has affected your philosophy or viewpoint.

4. Discuss the most pressing problem you think our society faces today and its relevance to you.

Process:

• Prewriting:  The best formal essays are focused and logical but fueled by the passion of the writer.  Use freewriting, webbing or listing to find an issue that you really care about.  Grounding a national issue in a personal or local concern gives you the advantage of really knowing the issue and helps avoid the "poverty is bad", "racism is unfair" sincere but ineffective essay.
• Drafting: Remember to write a few first drafts on different issues before selecting a focus.
• Conferring:  Use the conference in class and out to help you find how effective your ideas and writing are.  Don't wait until the last minute.
• Revising:  Start early so you have plenty of time to revise.  Remember to revise for one or two things at a time.
• Editing: At the end, be sure that your presentation does not interfere with the communication of your ideas.

1.  Show an understanding of the problem (breadth, depth and causes)

•  Show the breadth of the problem with "telling" statistic.  (How many affected etc.)  Cite your sources in the text.
•  Show the depth of the problem with a personal story (yours or another's).
•  Discuss the causes.  Use expert opinions to support your own.  (Remember the solution must address the causes.)

2.  Present a solution that addresses the causes.

•  Support the solution with examples of how it would work or how it works somewhere else.
•  Suggest ways to get over expected obstacles.

3.  Write a conclusion that comes more than full circle.

•  Return to the personal story and how it might have been or could be different or:
•  Return to the "telling" statistics and say how they might of must be changed or:
•  Tell a story that demonstrates the potential of the solution or the depth of the problem.

Suggestions:

• Start with a local incident or issue (development of Putnam Park, integration/quality education, smoking at Joel Barlow, etc.) or something you to which you have a personal connection .
• In prewrites explore your thoughts about the core or essential issues. (Often two important issues or beliefs are in conflict for example freedom vs. responsibility.)
• Give yourself the opportunity to develop or change your opinion.  In your essay take a stand on the issue and support your stand with examples, facts or quotes.
• Mentioning other sources in your argument makes your case stronger and makes you appear well informed.