Planning Steps Position Papers

  Position Paper Planning - Steps

Successful position papers are written in five basic steps:

Step One: Analyze the Source & Take a Position

• Do you understand the source? If you are uncertain, call or e-mail your teacher or a classmate or post the question for discussion on the course discussion board.
• Why does it matter? Think about why this issue matters to society. You will need to explain the significance of the topic and how the source relates to a specific ideological perspective. Who would support this ideology? Who would oppose it? Why would this issue be controversial today?
• What is your position? You must take a position on the source and provide reasons and examples that helps you answer 'to what extent should we (as a society) embrace the ideological perspective in the source?
• Defend your position. You must be able to defend your position with evidence, facts, and theories from social studies.
• Take one of several possible positions in relation to the source: in favour of the source, opposed to the perspective in the source or partially embrace the source.

Step Two: Construct an Argument

• After you have formed a position, think about how you will defend it. What are the main reasons you believe what you do? What information will help you defend your position? Most of the information you need to complete an essay in Social Studies is in your course notes or your text.
• Think about what events and facts you have learned  in social studies that will support your position. 
• Find examples. Locate specific examples to support your view. You will be evaluated on your defence of the position you take and your use of examples. These examples can be historical, theoretical or from current events.

Step Three: Organize your Ideas

• Before you begin the actual writing of your position paper, organize your opinions, facts, and examples so that they make sense.
• An outline is essential to order your thoughts. Develop an outline to provide structure for your written response. (More about the outlines is given in another tutorial.)
• Your teacher may ask to see your outline before you write the essay.

Step Four: Write the Position Paper

• Using your outline as a guide, write the first rough draft of your position paper in paragraph form. Do not worry about spelling and grammar just yet. The first time around is just to get all your thoughts and information on paper while following your outline structure.
• You do NOT need a 'fancy' title. 
• You may use 'I' or 'We' statements throughout the position paper. 

• Read your response carefully. Do your reasons make sense? Do your facts support it? Are you sure the "facts" you have presented are true? If your reasoning does not make sense or if many of your facts are incorrect, you need to revise and edit your response. The defence of position and quality of examples are worth the most marks on your position paper; be sure you have strong supporting arguments.
• Now, spell check and read the paper aloud so that you can catch any errors. You may wish to have someone read your draft and make suggestions for improvement.

Scoring Criteria:

In social studies, position papers are graded according to the same scoring criteria used by Alberta Education on Part A of the diploma exam. They are scored out of 30 marks. 

• Analysis of Source:  6 marks or 20% of overall assignment mark.
• Argumentation:  8 marks or 26.6% of overall assignment mark.
• Evidence:  8 marks or 26.6% of overall assignment mark.
• Communication: 8 marks or 26.6% of overall assignment mark.