5 pages zi

*Any and all information (e.g., idea, statement, fact, figure, etc.) that comes from a

source must be appropriately cited within the content of your paper and referenced in

either APA or MLA formatting.

Position Paper Instructions

You will write a 4-6 page formal position paper on the issue examined in the Taking

Sides text. Your position must be informed by the “Yes” and “No” sides of this issue

presented in this text, without additional outside references.

The content of your paper will include the following (see the grading rubric for more

detail):

1. An overall introduction to the issue/question with consideration of the audience, purpose, and circumstances of this paper. Your audience is unfamiliar with this

topic, so it is important to define terms and explain new ideas. Also, engage your

reader’s interest (e.g., an interesting fact or statistic) and be sure to describe both

the “yes” and “no” sides of the issue/question.

2. Your position on the issue. What is your position? Give a detailed description of at least two main points from the Points/Counterpoints part of the Taking Sides

reading and explain the author’s reasoning why they are arguing for those ideas.

Be sure to use quotes and cite ideas from the Taking Sides reading to support your

position.

3. The opposing position of the issue. What does the other side say? What are the objections to your position? Give a detailed description of at least two main points

from the Points/Counterpoints part of the Taking Sides reading and explain the

author’s reasoning why they are arguing for those ideas. Be sure to use quotes and

cite ideas from the Taking Sides reading to support the opposing position.

4. The refutation of the opposing side. Why are the objections raised by the opposing side incorrect and/or not persuasive? Are their faults in their reasoning?

Refute the counterarguments from the opposing position using at least two logical

fallacies, identifying each fallacy used.

5. A summary of your position paper. How has your position developed in this paper? Give a detailed and thorough account how your position has been

developed and why it is persuasive in relation to the opposing side. What new

questions or ideas have been raised from this paper that could be examined further

in future work?

Your paper will include these headings (corresponding with the grading rubric):

Introduction

My Position

Opposing Position

Refutation of Opposing Position

Position Summary

References

Position Paper Grading Rubric:

Less than Adequate Adequate Competent Exemplary

Introduction 0-2 points 3-5 points 6-7 points 8-10 points

 Question or issue absent

 Importance not discussed

 No summary of the positions and points in the paper

 No definitions

 Question or issue unclear

 No reader engagement

 Briefly mentions own position

 Gives a few definitions

 Provides a clear, recognizable question/issue

 Engages reader interest somewhat

 Describes own position

 Defines most terms

 Introduces the question/issue and its importance

 Engages the reader’s interest (i.e., an interesting fact or statistic)

 Describes the yes and no positions

 Defines terms and explains ideas for an audience unfamiliar with this topic

My Position 0-4 points 5-10 points 10-15 points 15-20 points

 No position or position is unclear

 Focuses on no ideas from Points/Counterpoints of the

Taking sides reading

 No quoting/citing from the Taking Sides reading

 Position is basic and involves minimal critical thought

 Gives minimal description of one main idea from the Points/Counterpoints

 Mostly summarizes arguments from article

 Lacks logic or coherence

 Less than adequate quoting/citing from the Taking Sides reading

 Position is clearly stated

 Gives adequate description of two main ideas from the

Points/Counterpoints that support your

position

 Explains what the authors are arguing, but not why they are making those

arguments (i.e., the author’s reasoning)

 Using text to support position, rather than merely summarizing the text

 Adequate quoting/citing from the Taking Sides reading

 Position is clearly stated

 Gives detailed and thorough description of two main ideas from the Points/

Counterpoints that support your

position

 Explains the author’s reasoning why they are arguing for those ideas

 Quotes and cites ideas thoroughly from the Taking Sides reading to support

your position

 Defines terms and explains ideas for an audience unfamiliar with this topic

Opposing

Position

0-4 points 5-10 points 10-15 points 15-20 points

 No position or position is unclear

 Focuses on no ideas from Points/Counterpoints of the

Taking sides reading

 No quoting/citing from the Taking Sides reading



 Position is basic and involves minimal critical thought

 Gives minimal description of one main idea from the Points/Counterpoints

 Mostly summarizes arguments from article

 Lacks logic or coherence

 Less than adequate quoting/citing from the Taking Sides reading

 Position is clearly stated

 Gives adequate description of two main ideas from the

Points/Counterpoints that support your

position

 Explains what the authors are arguing, but not why they are making those

arguments (i.e., the author’s reasoning)

 Using text to support position, rather than merely summarizing the text

 Adequate quoting/citing from the Taking Sides reading

 Position is clearly stated

 Gives detailed and thorough description of two main ideas from the Points/

Counterpoints that support your

position

 Explains the author’s reasoning why they are arguing for those ideas

 Quotes and cites ideas thoroughly from the Taking Sides reading to support

your position

 Defines terms and explains ideas for an audience unfamiliar with this topic

Refutation of

Opposing

Position

0-2 points 3-5 points 6-7 points 8-10 points

 Unclear refutation of the opposing side

 Unclear use of logical fallacies

 Less than adequate use of critical thought in refutation

 Refutes one counterargument from the opposing position using at least one

logical fallacy

 Refutation is basic and involves minimal critical thought

 Refutes most (more than one) counterarguments from the opposing

position using at least one logical

fallacy, identifying the fallacy used.

 Refutation demonstrates adequate critical thinking

 Refutes all (multiple) counterarguments from the opposing position using at

least two logical fallacies, identifying

each fallacy used.

 Refutation demonstrates sophisticated critical thinking

Position

Summary

0-2 points 3 points 4 points 5 points

 Repeats introduction

 Gives partial summary of how your position has been developed and why it

is persuasive through presenting the

opposing side and refutation

 Raises no new questions

 Gives brief summary of your position and how it has developed/has become

more persuasive by presenting the

opposing side and refutation

 Gives one new question or idea that has been raised from this essay

 Gives a detailed and thorough account how your position has been developed

and why it is persuasive through

presenting the opposing side and

refutation

 Explains a new question or idea that has been raised from this essay that

could be examined in further detail in

future work

Writing 0-2 points 3-5 points 6-7 points 8-10 points

 Almost no links between sections, paragraphs, and

sentences

 Cannot follow reader logic

 Lacks coherence and clarity

 Many grammar errors that impede understanding

 No citations/references in either MLA or APA

 Writing using passive sentences

 No formatting

 Few links between sections, paragraphs, and sentences

 The reader has difficulty following written ideas step by step without

having to make leaps

 Some wordiness

 Many grammar errors

 Few or incorrectly used MLA or APA citations

 Some formatting

 Missing some links between sections, paragraphs, and sentences

 The reader usually can follow written ideas step by step without having to

make big leaps

 Occasionally wordy but coherent

 Usually proper grammar

 More active than passive sentences

 Use of most citations/references in either MLA or APA

 Formatted properly (12 pt font, Times or Times New Roman; 1-inch margins;

8.5 x 11 paper)

 Link your sections, paragraphs, and sentences together with clear transitions

 The reader can follow written ideas step by step without having to make big

leaps

 Coherent, clear, and grammatically correct

 More active than passive sentences

 Clarity (avoid wordiness)

 Use of citations/references in either MLA or APA

 Uses provided Headers in paper (e.g., Introduction, My Position)

 Double-spaced with 12-point Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins