ENGL 122 Position Paper Assignment Topic :

ENGL 122 Position Paper Assignment

Topic : Safety for women

The purpose of the Position Paper Assignment is to help students learn how to evaluate controversial 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 three (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 why they 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 become distracted 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 next few weeks. If you are not sure which side of your issue you are on, please take time to brainstorm about this, because you need to take exactly the same approach on each side of the issue.

           At the end of the assignment, 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 and preparing for an end of semester presentation.

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.