Topic 2: Defending a Stand on an Lesson Issue by Presenting Reasonable Arguments

In making the defense, you have to ensure that you are addressing all sides of the issue and
presenting them in a manner that is easy for your audience to understand. Your job is actually to
take one side of the argument and persuade your audience that you have well-founded knowledge
of the topic being presented. The following are the steps in presenting arguments to defend or
support a stand on an issue.

1. Make Issue Criteria

Keep in mind that you have to persuade others and make them believe in your claim. When
shaping it, consider and ask yourself the following questions to ensure that you will be able to
present strong arguments on the issues.
Is it a real issue with genuine controversy and uncertainty?
Can I identify at least two distinctive positions?
Am I personally interested in advocating one of these positions?
Is the scope of the issue narrow enough to be manageable?

2. Collect Evidences from Properly - Cited Sources

Before deciding on a stand to defend, you should do some research on the subject matter.
While you may already have an opinion on your topic and an idea about which side of the
argument you want to take, you need to ensure that your position is well supported. Listing the
pro and con sides of the topic will help you examine your ability to support your counterclaims,
along with a list of supporting evidence for both sides. You will find many different kinds of
evidentiary sources. Here is a list of the most common: surveys, descriptive studies, case studies,
academic journals, popular magazines, biographical information, quotes or summaries of work
from established authorities, statistics, interview of an authority or ordinary citizen, laboratory
research, and textual analysis.

3. Make an Appeal to Your Audience

To convince a particular person that your own views are sound, you have to consider the audience
way of thinking.
Appealing to the audience is another important part of defending a stand on an issue. This can
help you strengthen your position or claim. In an academic argument, logical appeals are the most
common, however, depending on your topic, ethical and emotional appeals may be used as well.
Your claim or position may be supported through three major types of appeals:

a. Logical Appeals
This is the use of facts in order to support and defend a position. This means reasoning with your
audience, providing them with facts and statistics, or making historical and literal analogies. It
persuades the audience by targeting their thinking.

Example: More than one hundred peer-reviewed studies have been conducted over the past decade,
and none of them suggests that coconut milk is an effective treatment for hair loss.
In this argument, the peer – reviewed studies are used as factual supports.

b. Emotional Appeals
This is the use of the audience’s feelings for the subject of the paper such as anger, pity, and
aversion in order to persuade. It may also refer to values that the reader may identify with such as
the importance of family ties, hospitality and the bayanihan spirit.

Example: How can you say that the government shouldn’t censor the internet? Think of the poor
children who might be exposed to inappropriate content.

This type of argument attempts to elicit a strong emotional response, since people will generally
want to protect children, and since no one wants to adopt a stance that will purportedly harm
them.

c. Ethical Appeals

GSC-CID-LRMS-ESSLM, v.r. 03.00, Effective June 9, 2021

This is the use of convincing an audience through the credibility of the persuader, be it a notable
or experienced figure in the field or even a popular celebrity.

Example: As a doctor, I am qualified to tell you that this course of treatment will likely generate the
best results.

Here, people tend to believe the opinions of doctors in the matter of medical treatments. The
audience consider the argument because of the credibility of the speaker.

4. Organize your Viewpoints or Arguments

In presenting arguments, you are typically asked to take a position on an issue or topic and explain
and support your position with research from reliable and credible sources. The argument you are
making should be clear within your thesis statement. You should have several reasons or points of
discussion that help you to support your argument. You will explain and support these reasons. As
with all academic writing, you’ll need to cite any information that you used from a source.

Sample Outline 
I. Introduction 
A. Introduce the topic 
B. Provide background on the topic to explain why it is important
C. Assert the thesis (your view of the issue). 

Your introduction has a dual purpose: to indicate both the topic and your approach to it (your
thesis statement), and to arouse your reader’s interest in what you have to say. One effective way of
introducing a topic is to place it in context – to supply a kind of backdrop that will put it in
perspective. You should discuss the area into which your topic fits, and then gradually lead into
your specific field of discussion (re: your thesis statement).

II. Your Arguments 

A. Assert point #1 of your claims 

1. Give your educated and informed opinion 
2. Provide support/proof using more than one source (preferably three)

B. Assert point #2 of your claims 

1. Give your educated and informed opinion 
2. Provide support/proof using more than one source (preferably three)

C. Assert point #3 of your claims 

1. Give your educated and informed opinion 
2. Provide support/proof using more than one source (preferably three) 

You may have more than 1 overall points to your argument. Each argument should be supported
with properly - cited sources.

III. Counter Argument 

A. Summarize the counterclaims 
B. Provide supporting information for counterclaims 
C. Refute the counterclaims 
D. Give evidence for argument 

You can generate counterarguments by asking yourself what someone who disagrees with
you might say about each of the points you've made or about your position as a whole. Once you
have thought up some counterarguments, consider how you will respond to them--will you concede
that your opponent has a point but explain why your audience should nonetheless accept your
argument? Will you reject the counterargument and explain why it is mistaken? Either way, you
will want to leave your reader with a sense that your argument is stronger than opposing
arguments.

Be sure that your reply is consistent with your original argument. If considering a counterargument
changes your position, you will need to go back and revise your original argument accordingly

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 IV. Conclusion 
A. Restate your argument 
B. Provide a plan of action but do not introduce new information 

Now, you have known that when defending a stand on an issue it is very important that you have to
organize your arguments clearly. Then, let us analyze the situation given and study how the writer
defends his stand on an issue by presenting reasonable arguments in the following sample.

Situation: 
Issue: Technology is not good for children.
Stand on the Issue: Opposition
Writer’s Claim: Technology is good for children for it allows our children to have an amount
of knowledge at their fingertips.

Presentation of Arguments
(This sample paper was modified and adapted from an original paper of a student which was retrieved from
Writing Center.)

Social media, apps, gaming, and television: youth are flooded with
Here, in the introduction, the writer opportunities to access information and entertainment, often at the
begins with a hook, then overall touch of a fingertip. Although many of these technological outlets
topic of technology next, narrows it have a negative connotation of “wasted brain space,” not all
to the benefits of technology use by technology and screen time should be considered of little worth, or
adolescents. purely for mindless entertainment. In fact, because of technology’s
widespread appeal and accessibility, it can be easily used
to incorporate academic or educational purpose into a daily
routine. Technology’s ability to captivate and The thesis statement begins with engage a
targeted audience can be harnessed and the specific topic. Next, the writes redirected from
mindless entertainment into powerful tools states her argument (her which are not
limited to amusement alone. Games, position) on this topic. The thesis television, and
apps can be used to appeal to a child’s intellect ends with the reasons she/he while
developing technical skills; this creates a wealth feels this way. These 2 reasons of opportunities
to enhance the behavioral and scholastic will be the 2 major points of development of
an adolescent. The use of technology and screen time can be
positive for children as it allows children to excel academically by experiencing the expanding definitions of
classrooms and literacy as a whole, and improves low-performing developmental skills.

Television, textbooks, and computer games are just a few technological mediums
We can see that this in which information is presented and widely
The writer
paragraph focuses on accepted as a form of communication.
integrates
the first point of This must be taken into account when determining
his/her research
discussion from the what literacy means and how children receive
by citing an
thesis statement. The information as well as how they master the skill of
author to explain
writer indicates this with developing their competencies.
and support the
the use of Where reading and writing skills in the medium of
claim.
topic sentences within spoken word or paper and ink once strictly defined
her body paragraph literacy, the definition is widely changing to include proficiency in modern
technology such as computers and other digital sources of information of this changing standard in academia,
children must be allowed to explore information in ways that challenge previous methods. For example,
children can access digital applications and according to Keben (2006) that digital play with carefully selected
apps can provide active, hands-on engaging and empowering learning opportunities and facilitate versatility in
children’s literacy experience by providing opportunities for reading and writing, and to listen and communicate
through a range of scenarios and activities.

Apps and digital play are not limited to academic and entertainment
purposes; some are created with the goal of We can see here improving
The writer
developmental outcomes of adolescents. In doing that the focus of so, this
supports
technology can be used to guide a specific this next population of
her
children with learning disabilities, such as those paragraph aligns who present on
points by
the Autism Spectrum, to help them learn life skills with the first point which can
including
improve their independence, comprehension, of discussion from and social
evidence
the thesis
from 3
statement.
other
skills. In a 2015 case study by Allen et al., the parents of a child diagnosed with Intellectual Developmental
Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder created video self-modeling (VSM) apps. These video apps modeled
how one could appropriately interact with others in specific social situations, such as interacting with a cashier
or acquaintance. Their daughter accessed these apps on a tablet in order to view appropriate behavior
modeling. By viewing others demonstrating appropriate behavior on demand and in a medium which she was
comfortable with, the adolescent was able to significantly improve her independence and learned behaviors.
Where she once was able to only model appropriate social behavior in approximately one quarter of her
attempts, after using the VSM app, she was able to triple her success rate, and occasionally exceed that
marked improvement (Allen et al., 2015).

Some scholars and researchers claim that there are negative impacts
of technology on a child’s developing mind. According to one Here in the research study,
scholars claimed that “moderate evidence also suggests that conclusion, the early exposure to
purely entertainment content, and media violence in particular, is writer summarizes negatively
associated with cognitive skills and academic achievement” the main points (Kirkorian, et al.,
2008, p. 8). Although there is validity to the presented argument, made in the paper this theory
excludes educationally driven programming, some of which is and explains the specifically
designed to educate children beyond what they might experience importance of the by age-
appropriate schooling alone. There is incredible value in formal topic. education and the
public school system; however, classroom modalities are not the only way children
learn about the world around them.

When the tool of technology is used to supplement formal education, it can be important in aiding the
positive development of a student’s growing mind. Television programs can
Here, the writer introduce new ideas or reinforce those which have already been presented, making
has included a concepts more familiar and contextual. Social skills can be learned by low-
paragraph that performing children via tablet apps or videos, which allows for developmental growth
identifies a in a convenient and easily accessible
way. The definition of a classroom itself has changed, and online learning is a space in which high-performing
students can flourish. At this stage, you should have several ideas on how to defend a stand on an issue by
presenting reasonable arguments. Also, you have learned that using properly cited – sources makes your
claim stronger. Having been said, let us explore the next part of this module to strengthen your understanding
and skills.

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Topic 3: Position Paper

What is a position paper?

Position paper is a typical kind of scholarly or academic paper. It is composed subsequent to finding out about
and examining a specific issue. It is written by an author in order to make an argument which must be based
from proofs or evidences.

What is the purpose of a position paper?

Position paper aims to present the stand of the author or a person on an issue. It also incorporates supportive
evidence that are based on facts. The evidence is needed to establish and strengthen the claims or arguments
of the writer on the issue.

What are the parts of a position paper?

Position paper consists of three parts such as the introduction, body, and conclusion.

First part is the introduction. It consists the introduction of the issue, explanation of the topic in order
to provide the background information of the issue and the assertion of the thesis statement.

Second part is the body. It includes the summary of the counterclaims, and your arguments. Summary
of the counterclaims refer to the counter arguments of others who disagree with your claims or stand on an
issue. In this part, you must also provide supporting information and refute the counterclaims by providing
evidence. After it is the presentation of your arguments. It is the part where you must assert your claims by
giving educated and informed opinions. These should be supported or proven by providing evidence from
various sources, preferably three.

The last part is the conclusion. It includes the restatement of the thesis statement, arguments and the
implications. You may include plan of action but do not introduce new information.

Reminders:

1. Make sure that your position paper has a clear topic and issue that has adequate findings and support.
2. Make sure that the issue you are writing about is real and has two distinctive sides that you can take.
3. Make sure you can provide evidence and support to side and claims.

Examples:
Topic: ROTC
Issue: Inclusion of ROTC in SHS curriculum
Stand: In Favor
Claims: 1) It promotes culture of discipline and responsibility.
2) It provides opportunity to inculcate the values of patriotism, nationalism, and
character- building.
3) It provides training that will develop students’ leadership skills.
Thesis Statement:
ROTC should be part of the SHS curriculum because it promotes culture of discipline and
responsibility, provides opportunity to inculcate the values of patriotism, nationalism, and
character-building, and provides training that will develop students’ leadership skills.

As you can see in the box, an issue is derived from a topic. Before you decide on writing your position
paper, make sure you check if the issue is real or timely. Then you proceed on analyzing if the issue has two
sides before you decide if you are in favor or against it. After which, you need to provide at least three main
reasons why you are in favor or not. Make sure that you can supplement your reasons with facts and evidence
in order to strengthen your claims. Having a clear topic, issue, your stand and your three claims is not enough
unless you have your thesis statement. Hence, you have to make sure that your thesis statement will include
the topic, issue, your stand and three claims.
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How should a position paper be outlined?
I. Introduction
A. Presentation of the topic
B. Presentation of the background information
C. Presentation of the thesis statement

II. Body
A. Presentation of the Summary of the Counterclaims
B. Presentation of the Arguments
1. First Argument
a. Evidence/Support
2. Second Argument
b. Evidence/Support
3. Third Argument
c. Evidence/Support

III. Conclusion
A. Restatement of the thesis statement, arguments, action plan

Why is writing position paper relevant?

Writing a position paper will help you gain insight on the issue. It will also improve your critical thinking
ability since it requires research skills in gathering, evaluating and analyzing information.