Getting Started Position Papers

Getting Started w Goal: Create a persuasive position paper that makes clear claims supported by good reasons and credible evidence.

Getting Started w You’re going to have to take a stand on some sort of issue.

Getting Started w Selecting a Topic: Issues you really care about.

Getting Started w Selecting a Topic: Issues you really care about. Issues other people would or could really care about.

Getting Started w Selecting a Topic: Issues you really care about. Issues other people would or could really care about. Issues you already know something about.

Getting Started w Try to think of issues that encompass multiple perspectives or have aspects that make it difficult for people to agree on what should be done or how they should feel.

Getting Started w Try to think of issues that encompass multiple perspectives or have aspects that make it difficult for people to agree on what should be done or how they should feel. w Try to avoid broad topics on which people’s viewpoints are highly emotional and entrenched.

Getting Started w Keep These Questions in Mind: Do I enjoy reading about this topic?

Getting Started w Keep These Questions in Mind: What does this topic make me think about?

Getting Started w Keep These Questions in Mind: Where was this article published? Where might I publish my own position paper, as an essay, a letter, a brochure, or a posting on a Web site? Who would my readers be? What am I interested in that they would be interested in as well?

Getting Started w Keep These Questions in Mind: What was the author’s purpose in writing this piece? In other words, what did the author think readers should do or feel about the topic?

Getting Started w Other Ideas: Brainstorm. Work with a small group to create a list of potential topics. Work with a few other students to identify two or three topics that have promise.

Getting Started w Other Ideas: Choose a topic from the list. Brainstorm a list of statements about the topic. Explain what you know.

Getting Started w Once You Have Identified a Topic:

Getting Started w Once You Have Identified a Topic: Examine your own experience.

Getting Started w Once You Have Identified a Topic: Examine your own experience. Find out what others are saying about your topic.

Getting Started w Once You Have Identified a Topic: Examine your own experience. Find out what others are saying about your topic. Do some reading.

Getting Started w Once You Have Identified a Topic: Examine your own experience. Find out what others are saying about your topic. Do some reading. Conduct a brief reality check.

Getting Started w Analyzing Context:

Getting Started w Analyzing Context: Audience knowledge, values, and needs.

Getting Started w Analyzing Context: Audience knowledge, values, and needs. Audience expectations for content.

Getting Started w Analyzing Context: Audience knowledge, values, and needs. Audience expectations for content. Audience expectations for layout.

Getting Started w Analyzing Context: Audience knowledge, values, and needs. Audience expectations for content. Audience expectations for layout. Circumstances.

Getting Started w Analyzing Context: Audience knowledge, values, and needs. Audience expectations for content. Audience expectations for layout. Circumstances. Purposes.

Getting Started w Still not sure how to proceed? Review the Student Context Analysis in the text on pages

Getting Started w Reminder: Library week is coming up. w You must have your individual and group topics identified by that time.