IFSM201

Position Essay Concepts and Applications of Information Technology (IFSM201)

Fall, 2021

Overview

This assignment is part 1 of 2. Part 1 (Position Essay) will focus on whether you are ‘for’ or ‘against’ the

topic and be worth 10 points (10% of the final course grade). Part 2 (Persuasive Paper) will focus on the

opposite view of the topic and be worth 14 points (14% of the final course grade). The Position Essay is

due Week #5 and will need to be completed prior to working on the Persuasive Paper. The second part,

the Persuasive Paper will be due in week 8 of the course.

Information Technology aims to provide efficiency and effectiveness to professional and personal lives.

Hardware, software and telecommunications advancements are intended to assist people with the

symbiotic decision making that makes our organizations and lives more vigorous. Unfortunately,

technology can also have negative consequences and effects on human lives. The purpose of these

assignments is to focus on a topic that is of interest to you, research the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ associated

with the topic, and demonstrate strong arguments in favor and against the topic.

Description of a Position Essay

A position essay is a paper that professionals and scholars write in order to express their view on a

certain topic. These topics are often relevant to current events in society and include researching the

topic in order to write a well-informed and convincing position essay. You will start by choosing one of

the topics listed below, stating your opinion on the topic, and justifying your opinion based on reasons,

statistics, examples, and facts gathered from research. This justification needs to be based on academic

sources, including the UMGC Digital Library and other scholarly works. Other’s opinions, for instance

Internet blogs, are not scholarly sources and should not be used.

Topics - You are to select one topic from the list below and follow the instructions to write the

papers:

• Violent video games have a negative psychological impact on children. • News on the Internet is trustworthy. • Autonomous vehicles are safe to ride in. • The ‘digital divide’ had no effect on education during the pandemic. • The government should have the authority to demand a mobile phone be unlocked during a

criminal investigation.

• Society has become too reliant on technology. • The benefits of artificial intelligence are worth the potential hazards. • Social Media websites should be mandated to protect personal privacy.

There are two (2) basic elements to a Position Essay:

• Position: It's essential to determine which side of the argument you are taking. For example, you may be arguing that tobacco products or cannabis should be made illegal. Make a point to

express why you took your initial position. For example, you may provide exact reasons to show

how tobacco products may be damaging people’s health.

• Evidence: This is where you should provide factual substantiation for your reasons from outside resources. It is very important to give citations and references for where you gathered your

evidence. If there is no proof, the evidence may not be taken into account. For example, you

could cite health studies or scientific papers related to the effects of tobacco products on

peoples’ health to prove your statement.

Note: do not present counterpoints in this paper – we will focus on the arguments in the second

assignment, the Persuasive Paper.

Format of Paper

• Introduction where you introduce the central message of your paper (the thesis statement). Example: Tobacco products can induce various health problems, including cancers, heart

attacks, and obesity. State the topic and your opinion.

• Background of the subject where you provide details on the topic. Example: historical information on people who have smoked long-term and those who have been exposed to

tobacco smoke for long periods of time, and the long-term effects of smoking.

• Main arguments — Talk about the main points of your position. For example, you could write about the feeling of addiction that makes it difficult to give up smoking.

• Conclusion — Summarize / restate your opinion (position). Present all of the main arguments and provide solutions or studies that need to be conducted in the future.

Points to consider

• Decide whether you agree or disagree with the subject of the topic, then make a list of your viewpoints and reasons.

• Write well-developed paragraphs, joining the sentences with appropriate linking words and phrases. Do not forget to start each paragraph with a topic sentence which summarizes what

the paragraph is about.

Assignment Expectations

The paper should be a minimum of three (3) pages in length, Times New Roman 12 pt., and double

spaced. Title page and references are not including in the page minimum. You should have a minimum

of five (5) academic references. Be sure to properly cite all sources, per APA standards. Upload the

paper to the Assignments folder in either Word or pdf format.

Grading Rubric

Unsatisfactory (0-69)

Developing (70- 79)

Proficiency (80- 89)

Mastery (90- 100)

Score

Introduction (10 points)

Topic is unclear. Topic is clear but does not present any overview of the main argument or refutation.

Topic is clear but does not present a comprehensive overview of the main argument.

Topic is clear and presents an overview of the main argument.

/ 10

Background of Subject (20 points)

Background information lacks structure and evidence.

Background information lacks a clear direction – supporting evidence is loose and or irrelevant.

Background information flows nicely for the most part despite some disjointed transitions.

Background information flows easily and provides a clear guide for the reader.

/ 20

Main Arguments (40 points)

Author does not clearly state their opinion as a main argument, and neglects to support statements with relevant examples.

Author includes minimal examples or justification of stance on topic. Support of position is obvious and/or unclear. Details are irrelevant or undeveloped.

Author clearly states their opinion as a main argument but provides insufficient justification through relevant examples.

Author clearly states their opinion as a main argument and justifies his/her stance with relevant examples.

/ 40

Conclusion (20 points)

Conclusion lacks structure and does not summarize author’s opinion and research. .

Conclusion lacks clear direction, providing little sense of closure to the paper.

Conclusion mostly flows cohesively and summarizes author’s opinion and research.

Conclusion flows cohesively and summarizes author’s opinion and research.

/ 20

Writing Mechanics (10 points)

Numerous writing errors and serious issues with citations and references.

Repeated issues with writing causing issues with clarity. Some issues with citations and references.

Occasional, minor issues with writing mechanics. Citations and references were very good.

Essentially free from mechanical, grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors. Citations and references meet APA standards.

/ 10

TOTAL / 100