A position paper can help politicians identify their stances on issues.
A position paper is an essay that states and defends an opinion, weighing that opinion against those held by opposing writers or groups. Because writing a position paper requires the writer to understand both sides of an argument and defend his own side, position papers are frequently used by political groups and politicians to make informed decisions and justify their actions. As you write a position paper, the format will determine the overall effectiveness of the paper, as well as its effect on its reader.
Instructions
1. Set the page format before writing the paper. The paper should be written in an easily readable font, such as Times New Roman or Helvetica, and set in 12-point size. The title should be in boldface, centered on the page. Text should be left-aligned and non-justified.
2. Open your paper with a brief overview of the issues. This opening paragraph should present a thesis that explains your position, and also briefly touch upon some of the issues that you will discuss in the rest of the paper. Don't go into too much detail, but instead give a broad synopsis.
3. Present your argument. You can use opinions in a position paper, but you must back up your statements with factual evidence, statistical examples and information from valid sources, such as university studies or polling data.
4. Introduce a counter-argument. Pick a few arguments opponents might make, or have made, against your position. This section should be well-researched and should show that you are aware of the counter-arguments that you disagree with, as well as the background work that has led to that opinion.
5. Suggest a resolution. Here, you should address the counter-argument and explain why you do not believe it is valid. Again, you should back up your statements with facts and research.
6. End with a conclusion paragraph that rephrases your thesis and briefly summarizes the paper. If you are preparing this paper for an organization or policy-maker, you should suggest a course of action based on the original thesis and the research you brought up throughout the paper.
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