English For Academic and Professional Purposes: Quarter 2 - Module 2: Writes Various Kinds of Position Papers
English For Academic and Professional Purposes: Quarter 2 - Module 2: Writes Various Kinds of Position Papers
English For Academic and Professional Purposes: Quarter 2 - Module 2: Writes Various Kinds of Position Papers
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E-mail Address: pangasinan1@deped.gov.ph
Quarter 2 - Module 1:
Writes Various Kinds of Position Papers
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What This Module is About
Anchored on the mission of leaving no learners behind in the “new normal” of education,
this learning material will help you enhance your competencies in English for Academic and
Professional Purposes through variety of purposeful discussion and activities designed for
distance learning.
Integrated with learning tasks that are contextualized and differentiated, this module will
cater to the varied needs of learners and provide them with worthwhile learning opportunities
despite being on a distance-learning setting.
For Parents/Guardians:
Your main role is to make sure your child has a conducive place and enough time to
work on this module at home. To maximize learning, you can also help your child if he/she
encounters some difficulties but make sure it is really your child who does all the required tasks.
Finally, just feel free to contact your child’s English for Academic and Professional Purposes
teacher if needed.
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What I Know This is a pretest assessment as to your
level of knowledge to the subject matter at
hand, meant specifically to gauge prior
related knowledge.
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References This is a list of all sources used in
developing this module.
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What I Need to Know
In the previous lesson, you were able to learn effective ways of making sound
arguments that will support your stand on a specific topic. Moreover, you were taught how to
organize your reasoning, as well as how to identify kinds of claims and assertions to support
your chosen point of view.
This time, you will learn how to effectively write a position paper that you can use in
completing your academic and organizational requirements. This module will also help you learn
how to make sound arguments and evaluate valid support and evidence.
What I Know
Pre-Test
Activity 1: PROs vs. CON
Directions: Choose a topic which you think is timely and relevant to our current situation.
Following the table below, identify and list down as many Pros and Cons you can think about
your chosen topic. A sample is given below.
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Activity 2: Ads Analysis
Directions: Choose one advertisement from any platform (TV, Radio, or Print) and explain why
it is appealing to you. Include a cutout or a screenshot of the advertisement and paste it on your
answer sheet.
Congratulations!!!
Lesson Proper
Writing a position paper is an example of an academic text. This kind of paper features
different claims and its arguments that are accurately constructed. Through this academic text,
students are equipped with skills in reasoning and building arguments that are grounded in
logic. This would also require research, gathering of proofs, and the creation of plausible
assertions that can be backed up with evidence (Saqueton, Uychoco, 2016).
What’s New
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Views My Response Explanation
View A: “I will still be able to learn these skills
through the help of online and virtual AGREE DISAGREE
technologies.”
View B: “As a student who belongs to the
Academic Track, work immersion does not
effectively impact our learning since we are only AGREE DISAGREE
working on a limited environment with limited
educational and work resources.”
View C: “I am taking up Home Economics in the
TVL Track, and we don’t have the tools and
AGREE DISAGREE
equipment needed to learn bread and pastry
production.”
View D: “We have skilled and competent
teachers and trainers. I trust them.” AGREE DISAGREE
What is It
A position paper is a type of academic writing in which the author presents his or her
position on a debatable issue and defends or supports it with evidence (Quipper, 2021).
The main purpose of a position paper is to persuade readers to take the position of the
writer. The position paper presents a unique approach to solve a problem based on what the
writer believes in and agrees with.
Because the position paper focuses on an issue that needs a stand from the writer, there
are certain criteria that you need to identify before writing your position paper:
In order to achieve the purpose of a position paper, it is important for the writer to
address all sides of the issue. The audience or readers should see that the writer clearly
explains the issue at hand and has compelling evidence to support his or her stand.
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AUDIENCE
The audience is a very important consideration to take into account in writing a position
paper. The author should thus know the audience of his or her writing. Below are some guide
questions to ask.
The Introduction
Write the specific issue, together with its importance and effect to the society. End the
introductory paragraph with your position statement or your stand on the issue. Keep in mind
that you could take only one side of the argument.
The Content/Body
The content may have several paragraphs. It may begin with short background
information or a discussion of arguments on both sides of the issue. In each paragraph, write an
explanation or observation to clarify the portion of the position statement, followed by the
supporting evidence.
Primary source quotation, interviews with field experts, a recommendation from scholarly
articles and position papers, historical dates or events, and statistical data can be used as
evidence.
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The End Statement or the Conclusion
On the last part of writing the paper, summarize and reinforce the concepts and facts
presented without repeating the introduction and its content. It is also optional to include the
procedure used to deal with the issue and your suggested possible solution or recommendation.
Pre-Writing Process
Before writing a position paper, you must (1) identify the issue to be discussed. The
issue must be interesting, valid, and specific. The issue must also have two identifiable positions
or sides – either in favor or against the claim or position statement. (2) Research both positions
and (3) collate the arguments, scholarly articles and in-depth studies from academic books and
journals.
After performing a thorough research on a certain issue and its arguments, you need to
(4) choose the position or side you want to support. Remember that this type of paper requires
you to take only one side of argument – either in favor or against the issue.
Writing Process
During this stage, the author writes the introduction, the body, and the conclusion of the
position paper.
a. Introduction – The writer defines the issue using the information that he or she
gathered from research and states his or her main position.
b. Body – The writer presents the main claims using a logical pattern. He or she uses
either inductive or deductive reasoning to present the evidence that supports each claim.
Also, he presents and disproves counterclaims.
c. Conclusion – The writer restates his or her position and claims and urges the readers
to take his or her side.
Revising
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Revision is important because it is necessary for the author to go over his or her work
and spot the mistakes and take the chance to improve his or her paper. In this stage, the author
develops his or her ideas further and ensures the mistakes and fallacies have been attended to.
Below are considerations the author should look into during this stage:
a. Content – Is the author able to support the position fully? Should he or sheprovide
more information?
b. Language – Has the author used formal language? Is the language biased? Does
he or she use the right words?
c. Organization – Do the ideas flow smoothly from one sentence to another or from
one paragraph to another? Are there any transitional devices used in order to make
sure that the paragraphs are coherent and cohesive?
d. Mechanics – Are there any grammar or spelling errors? Are there words that should
be capitalized?
The quality of education reflects on the achievement scores of The writer presents that the
the Filipino students. To note, the Philippines ranked twenty-third basis of the position
statement is the scores of
(23rd) out of twenty-five (25) countries that participated in the
the Filipino students. The
international test - the "Trends in International Mathematics and examination performance
Science Study" (TIMMS). The mathematics and science test shows a low quality of
were taken by grade four students in 2003. DepEd itself pointed education and it must be
out that the decline in quality of education is partly attributed to improved immediately.
the ten-year basic education cycle. Notice that the data was
taken from TIMMS and
must be cited in a footnote.
The paper still stands on the claim that the additional school years
are needed by our educational system. Based on the evidence
presented including the low-test scores in mathematics and sciences
by grade four Filipino students, it shows that the additional two years
will aid the student in gaining mastery of school subjects. Since our In this end statement,
country has one of the highest numbers of 6labor workforce in the the writer summarizes
world, focusing on both on enhancing knowledge and skills are and reinforces the
applicable to strengthen our workforce. evidence. The
recommendation is
also provided at the
should focus on teacher training and development, for the law and
its implementation will not fully succeed without these teachers that
are fully equipped and highly skilled.
Source: https://link.quipper.com/en/organizations/5468b9d32294ee085c000042/
curriculum#curriculum
1. EXPLORE. Read wisely about the topic. To succeed in building a position, you must
read what other people have written about it first.
2. BRAINSTORM. Consult with a friend or colleague. Remember, “two heads are better
than one.”
3. CREATE ASSERTIONS. Include assertions to create arguments that are strong and
convincing to readers.
4. GATHER THE EVIDENCE. Prove the points provided by presenting substantial and
relevant evidence. It is not appropriate to use moral or religious truths as these differ
from person to person, and one cannot assume that the person reading has the same
religious background.
5. HAVE CREDIBLE RESOURCES. Do not just rely on your knowledge. Research and
identify credible resources through journals, laws, and many more.
6. REFINE THE ARGUMENT. Further explanation is needed between the link of the
assertion and evidence, the use of further examples and situations, and the explanation
and contextualization of the evidence and its importance.
What’s More
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Enrichment Activities
Activity 1: I Am With You.
Directions: From your answers in Activity 1 (Are You With Me?), choose from among the views
that you agreed with and write your own stand about it. Use your answer sheet and copy the
format below. A sample is given to you.
Chosen viewpoint: “I will still be able to learn these skills through the help of online and
virtual technologies.”
Your Stand: Work Immersion for Senior High School students are possible, even in this
pandemic, through virtual demonstrations and other online platforms.
1. The main purpose of a position paper is to persuade readers to take the position of the
writer.
2. You can establish your paper’s credibility by presenting your claim based on relevant
research about your topic.
3. An effective position paper addresses all side of the issue.
4. The audience is not an important factor in writing a position paper.
5. Moral and religious truths are credible source of evidence.
6. Biases are necessary in position paper writing.
7. Overly opinionated stands are considered effective as the main point in your paper.
8. Disproving counterclaims reinforces your arguments that support your stand.
9. Research on both positions on the topic.
10. Informal language is accepted in position paper writing.
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WHY I HATE FACEBOOK
The use of social networking sites, in particular Facebook, can not only skew your
understanding of reality, but it can also cause you actual, physical harm. According to Jean
Conklin, a clinical psychiatrist at University of Maryland Hospital, in Baltimore, “Facebook is
to your mind what sugar is to your body – bad all around.”
The main reason we all ought to stop looking at Facebook is because it makes us
think that the people in our lives (or virtually in our lives, anyway) are happier, more fulfilled,
and more successful than they probably are - which makes us feel more depressed,
frustrated, and unfulfilled than we probably are.
Why? Think about it. How quickly do people post good news to Facebook? Exotic
vacations: engagements, anniversary parties, raises, promotions. . . when was the last time
you read that the devastatingly handsome new boyfriend of your college roommate is a
recovering alcoholic, or that the new six‐figure job that your old friend got two months ago did
not last two weeks because it turns out she did not have the people skills required to make it
work? “Thinking that everyone else is doing better in life than you are isn’t motivating,” says
Clint White, career counselor with My New Job, Inc. “It’s depressing, and can be debilitating
for some people, who think there’s something wrong with them because they have problems
in their life that no one else seems to have.” Mr. White cited fifty ‐ four clients in the past year
alone whom he has seen who were seeking a career change for no reason other than that
they did not believe that they are measuring up to their Facebook peers.
This messes with your immune system, and prevents the release of growth
hormones, and all these things keep your body in a state of chronic stress. If you have
digestive problems; if your hair or nails grow very slowly and it takes forever for cuts and
scrapes to heal; if you feel irritable and nervous or are susceptible to every virus and bacteria
that cruises through town, you may not need a trip to the doctor―you many just need to
delete your Facebook page. People survived for hundreds of years in an industrial society
without the necessity of blasting out every intimate detail of their lives to everyone with whom
they have ever crossed paths, or with whom that person has ever crossed paths. . . a real
relationship encompasses the good and the bad and includes genuine human to human
interaction. So, shut down the computer. Go out to lunch with a friend. Call your mother. Take
your kid to the zoo. And for goodness sake, do not post anything on Facebook about it when
you get!
Source: https://www.englishworksheetsland.com/grade7/readinginfo/7/3facebook.pdf
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Assessment 2: Come, find me.
Directions: Match the terms with their appropriate descriptions by writing the letter in the space
provided.
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What I Can Do
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Assessment
Multiple Choice
Directions: Read the questions carefully. In your answer sheet, write the letter of the best
answer.
2. Which of the following is the author’s main goal in writing a position paper?
A. Present and defend position with evidence.
B. Research on topic
C. Make claims
D. Entertain the readers
6. This is the stage where the writer chooses the topic for the position paper.
A. Post writing B. Revision C. Prewriting D. Proofreading
7. Which action is done during the revising stage of writing a position paper?
A. writing the body of the paper C. choosing a topic
B. summarizing arguments D. checking the organization of the paper
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8. Which of the following is TRUE about counterclaims?
A. Counterclaims disprove and weaken your claims in the position paper.
B. Counterclaims add to the length of the paper and makes an impression on the
readers.
C. Counterclaims add to the length of the paper and makes an impression on the
readers.
D. A position paper should present counterclaims to show that other people may
take the opposing side.
9. The following are evidence that would convince the readers to take the writer’s stand,
except:
A. Personal experiences B. Opinions C. Statistics D. Facts
10. Suppose you defend the stand that animals should not be kept in zoos. You can use any
of the following in your position paper to defend the stand except:
A. statistics showing that keeping animals in zoos prevents them from becoming
endangered.
B. statistics stating that the life expectancy of animals in zoos is lower than that of
animals in the wild
C. descriptions of the environment in zoos and how inadequate the facilities are for
animals.
D. the inhumane practices in some zoos
Additional Activities
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