Writing the Position Paper

1. Writing the Position Paper Day 1 – Basic overview and counterarguments

2. Paragraphs • Each paragraph needs a focus and a clear topic sentence. • Follow the outline. • Each paragraph should have at least 5 sentences. (That’s not enough for an A paper) • Each paragraph of the body needs at least one parenthetical documentation. • Not all parenthetical documentations should be from one source.

3. Parenthetical documentation review Author’s last name or title if there is no author. (Zinn 18). (The History of Columbus 18). No web addresses as parenthetical documentation!! (www.history.com) is wrong! As Howard Zinn stated in The History of Columbus, “The Iroquois were a matrilineal tribe where the husband moved into the home of his wife’s family” (18).

4. Paragraphs 2 & 3 Counterargument You will need to address arguments your readers may have. After mentioning the counterargument, you will then need to refute it. You can do it two ways. • Address arguments after each reason if there is a natural place for the counterargument. • Have a special section in your paper for counterarguments. This will come after you fully develop your reasons.

5. Use these transitions to help your counterarguments flow: of course certainly doubtless to be sure to doubt that Despite another argument they feel they argue Some will argue Some believe granted that it may be true that one of their arguments while these arguments may be true examples disprove this argument

6. Begin with the opponent’s point of view. Many people say. . . Some people argue that. . . Some are concerned that . . .

7. Acknowledge their point of view. While this may be true, . . . It is understandable that . . . Give your argument against their point of view. However,

8. Example of a counterargument and refutation: (Transitions are underlined) Despite the promising benefits of competition-based system of education, people against school choice believe that school choice will do more harm than good. One of their arguments is that the education system needs more time and more money, not a switch to a competition-based system. They argue that the current system of education has not been given adequate funds or time; therefore, because of this belief, the school system has not been given the opportunity to improve. Yet, countless examples disprove this argument. One such study was done by a Harvard professor by the name of C. M. Hobxby She studied the “effect of parental choice on school-system performance” She discovered that the performance of the schools improved a great deal through the presence of competition; in addition to this, she discovered that even though performance improved greatly, the price of education at the public schools did not increase excessively (37).