Writing a Position Paper

Through the educational process, students are taught to write different academic papers. Once you can get a task to write a position paper. Let’s learn what it is and how you can successfully execute this assignment. Before you get to perform this task, it is great to understand exactly how to define a position paper.

A writer of a position paper is aimed to claim something, proving it through some arguments, facts, statistics, and other evidence. A student has to organize research for a position paper, make an outline, and create an excellent paper. This step-by-step guide helps you to deal with this interesting task.

How to start a position paper

Choose a topic for your position paper

You have to understand your topic very well, as your goal is to take a certain position on the subject and prove it with evidence. If you do not understand the topic, you will not be able to show your position perfectly. Your topic can be simple or complex, but the arguments have to be logical and decisive. You must know the opposite view as well as you know your stance when you take a position. If you find evidence for the other side of your position, you can reasonably address them, and then explain why they are not relevant. You can make a list of the advantages and disadvantages of both sides of the argument. Such an approach can help you to choose the best position that you can discuss with confidence.

Conduct research and collect evidence

As soon as you have decided that your position is supportable and the opposite position is weaker than your own, you have to start conducting research. You can use the internet or go to the library, but make sure that your sources are reputable. It is recommended to prepare different sources, you can collect opinions from experts and use personal experience. The target of this is to provide your arguments with powerful support.

Make the outline

Introduce the thesis

Pay attention to the thesis of your paper, as this is an important element that will dictate the direction of the whole work.

The introduction

The second important part of your paper is the introduction. Here you can attract the attention of your readers or make them avoid reading it. To achieve success, you can apply suspense. It will make readers want to know more about the issue in the body. It will be a hook for them, and you should be ready-witted while creating the introduction. If you can not deal with this part of the paper, you will run the hazard of losing the reader’s attention at all. No one will want to spend his precious time on reading something boring and ambiguous.

Create the body

In the body support both sides of the argument, but stay oriented for the position that you are interested as a creator of the position paper. It is a good strategy, as your readers will not think that you are biased. You will look like a person who can convince and promote ideas, be a leader.

Do not forget to support your evidence with the explanation. Your reader should correctly understand your view. Start with your argument, support it with evidence, and give the explanation in order your readers could be satisfied.

Create the conclusion

Use two or three sentences to rephrase the thesis of your position paper. You have to state your position in the last paragraph clearly. End your story with a call of implementation.

The example of a good position paper

The topic of the following paper is «Violence against Women.» Look how effectively the writer uses tips.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, «no one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.» Although this doctrine was adopted in 1948, the world has fallen quite short of this goal. Violence against women pervades all states, and the international community must ensure that all persons are afforded equality and respect. Despite cooperative efforts at combating gross human rights abuses, such as the adoption of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, the United Nations has not been able to alleviate the injustice women worldwide experience daily.

The Kingdom of Denmark believes that nations must look to empower women in all aspects of society to end violence against women. This includes promoting equal gender roles in government, civil society, education and business. However, Denmark also recognizes the need to combat human rights abuses against women as they occur, and no nation is immune to gender violence.

In 2002, the Danish government launched an extensive action plan to combat domestic violence against women. The plan includes measures to help treat abused women, identify and prosecute the perpetrators, and incorporate professional medical and psychological staff into the rehabilitation process. The action plan currently reaches out to both governmental and non-governmental groups on the local level throughout the nation.

The Danish Centre for Human Rights in Copenhagen, Denmark’s foremost national human rights institution also promotes and protects human rights. Based on the Centre’s research, Denmark’s parliament can promote human rights-based legislation and education/awareness programs throughout the nation. The Centre also addresses the UN Commission on Human Rights annually regarding human rights developments in Denmark and internationally. Denmark has no record of committing major human rights violations, most importantly any targeted at women. In its 2003 Annual Report, Amnesty International also found no human rights violations against Danish women.

Women are invaluable to Denmark’s society and have achieved significant economic and social gains in the 20th century. Currently, 75 percent of medical students in Denmark are women. Denmark is confident that this Commission can bring about an end to violence against women without compromising the sovereignty of member states. Education remains perhaps the most useful tool in protecting victims of gender-based violence. Governments, UN agencies, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) can plan a coordinated campaign that educates national populations on the various ways women are violently targeted. Similarly, harmful traditions, such as honor killings and female genital mutilation, must be stopped by reforming traditional views of women in society. Children of both sexes need to be taught at an early age to value the rights of women to prevent such violence in their generation.

In order to prevent gender violence, nations must work together to build a culture of support, equality, and community. As such, the Kingdom of Denmark looks forward to offering its support, in whatever form possible, to nations firmly committed to ending violence against women in all its forms.