ENG 1272 MOD 2 Position paper

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ENG1272 Writing a Position Paper Planning Document

Answer the following questions to help plan your position paper. Answer in complete sentences. Submit to the Blackboard Assignment Dropbox.

1. Is it a real issue, with genuine controversy and uncertainty?

2. Can you distinctly identify two positions?

3. Is the issue narrow enough to be manageable?

4. List out the pro and con sides of the topic to help you examine your ability to support your counterclaims, along with a list of supporting evidence for both sides. Supporting evidence includes the following:

a. Factual Knowledge – information that is verifiable and agreed upon by almost everyone

b. Statistical Inferences – interpretation or examples of an accumulation of facts

c. Informed Opinion – opinion developed through research and/or expertise of the claim

d. Personal Testimony – your personal experience or one related by a knowledgeable party

5. Who is your audience?

6. What do they believe?

7. Where do they stand on the issue?

8. How are their interests involved?

9. What evidence is likely to be effective with them?

10. Is your topic interesting?

11. Can you manage the material within the specifications set by the instructor?

12. Does your topic assert something specific and propose a plan of action?

13. Do you have enough material to support your opinion?