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Best 120 Position Paper Topics for Compelling Arguments

Top 120 Position Paper Topics for Compelling Arguments

Looking forward to writing a position paper topic for your course? To write an excellent paper, you must take a stance on a particular issue and offer convincing arguments to support your position.

Examples of a Good Topic for a Position Paper

More good position paper topics, exciting argumentative essay topics for position paper, clever research topics for stem students, research topic for position paper on social media issues, quality economics research topics on position paper, more excellent position paper topics for students, interesting and best topic for position paper.

For most students, the challenge they face is developing compelling topics for position paper essays. We have simplified things for you by creating a list of 120-position paper topics that cover various issues. With these position paper topics, students can form a well-supported opinion.

When choosing a topic for your position paper, getting one that interests you is vital. With an interesting topic, you can do thorough research and consider various perspectives. Here are excellent position paper title examples you can use.

Why should COVID vaccine distribution be given with equal access?
Reasons reality shows need regulation policies
Is virtual schooling as good as person-class?
Does adding days in the school year improve learning?
Ways to reduce abortion without legislation policy
Effective ways to protect the rights of artists and writers on the internet
A look at video gaming: the good and the bad
Is it right to push young children to compete in athletics?
The importance of getting more minorities to join the police force
Should there be a policy where college athletes are paid
Ways that mobile phones control our relationships
Effective ways to deal with terrorism
What is culture?
Is global warming a real issue?
The impact of hunting on the environment

Did you know a good position paper topic will guide you in writing a compelling essay? Get great thesis statements about social media and fascinating position research paper ideas below.

What are the pros and cons of the death penalty?
Should parents control the time that their kids spend on social media?
Lecturers vs. classes with open discussion
Which is better: textbooks or online study material?
Should the government regulate the internet?
What impact did COVID-19 have on the global economy?
A look at the ethical consideration of genetic engineering
Do prisoners deserve prison rights?
Is there a link between exposing children to violent video games and behavioral issues?
Are chief officers paid too much?
A review of government surveillance
Child vaccination, the health benefits, and dangers
What are the ethical considerations of autonomous weapons?
Should the government regulate online speech
What is the impact of technology on education

Having suitable argumentative essay topics for position papers can help you get good grades. Here is a look at splendid position paper topics you can use.

Reasons the government should lower the age of voting to 16
Why college should be free for all students
Should the government regulate the amount of sugar in food and drinks
Should complications arising from self-treatment be covered under insurance?
Should fast food chains be held responsible for obesity
Should the legal drinking age be raised to 25
A review of why public transportation should be free
Should endangered species be given the same rights as humans?
Why should the manufacturer be held responsible for cleaning up waste and pollution they cause
A look at why immigration is a valuable source of diversity and talent
Why homeschooling should be encouraged
Should animal testing be banned?
The importance of labeling genetics-modified foods
Why should gun control laws be stricter?
Ways social media is destroying family ties and personal values.

STEM students need clever position paper titles to pass their exams. You must thoroughly research to get the best research topics for STEM students . We have complained about significant social issues research topics you can use.

A look at the impact of gender inequality in the workplace
Gun control and mass shootings
How does mental health stigma affect access to care
Police brutality and accountability
Why are homelessness and housing insecurity high
What regulation should be put in place on domestic violence and abuse
A look at how animal rights and welfare are neglected
Elder abuse and neglect
Why is there a rise in youth unemployment
The effect of child abuse
Income tax policy and reform
LGBTQ rights and discrimination
How to improve voting integrity
Ways climate change affects environmental degradation
A thin line between internet censorship and freedom of speech

You can never go wrong with social media research topics for your position paper. More so, check the following good topic for a position paper.

The pro and cons of living in a technical world
The relationship between technology and education
Is the use of social media memes ethical?
Why should there be a regulation on how people use social media
Why is social media changing the family relationships
In what ways does social media destroy family values and ethics
Should social media be replaced with face-to-face communication? Why?
Consequences of social media companies not upholding privacy policies
How do social media cause depression?
Should politicians use social media in their campaigns
What regulations should be put in place for social media for business marketing and advertising
How does social media addiction affect the society
The role of social media spreading fake news
Does social media impact self-esteem
How does social media affect the spread of viral trends and challenges

Make your essay stand out by using our economics research paper topics. In addition, here are examples of position paper example topics you can use.

How does globalization impact society?
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the economy
Should people care more about global poverty?
Is it true that the benefits of attending college outweigh the costs?
The impact of automation and artificial intelligence on the workforce
Should there be restrictions on private property? Why or why not?
The role of government in regulating the economy
The economics of international aid and development
Are banks necessary?
How do economic strategies like a “trade war” affect global stability?
Why do states provide economic help to ailing sectors?
How do trade agreements impact the economy?
What is the economics of taxation and tax reform
Government control on economic research firms

Ready to come up with good topics for position papers? Consider choosing biochemistry topics . Here are great biochemistry position paper topics to choose from.

What is the role of proteins in cellular signaling
How biochemical conditions and brain activity are linked to crime
A review of the scope and application of biochemistry
The importance of DNA repair
A study of hepatitis B prevalence
What role do lipids play in cellular signaling
Research of the microbial disease evolution
What are the useful reaction of carbohydrates
A look at cancer and disorders in DNA
What is the oxidative stress in disease
A look at how carbohydrates impact metabolism
What are the structure and functions of a virus
What is DNA structure?
Protein quantification in organisms review
What does RNA do in gene expression?

You can never go wrong with biological, psychological, and anatomy research paper topics . Here are ideas to use on your position paper topics in the Philippines.

The importance of anatomy in medical education
What are the structure and functions of the brain
A look at the anatomy of the heart
Is there racism in US criminal justice
A look at how diversity in the workplace helps to retain employees
Why is there strength in large numbers
Psychology and personality are related to each other
Why parents need to study child psychology
What is the psychology behind racism, sexism, homophobia, and prejudice?
What are the impacts of bullying?
Effect of women’s dress code and their safety
A review of the anatomy and psychology of the ear
Why should behavioral psychology be understood and studied by HR personnel
Is food addiction a cause for concern?
How holistic practices like yoga and meditation can improve the mindset of prison inmates

Writing a position paper essay does not have to be a struggle; you only need a relevant topic and a good writer to craft the paper. Choose a topic from the list of 120 plus examples of position paper essay topics discussed above.

Besides offering great topic ideas, we also help students with their position paper writing. You will get quality essays on time when you work with us.

How to Write a Position Paper: Definition, Outline & Examples

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A position paper is a written statement that presents a particular perspective on any issue or topic. It typically argues a specific point of view and presents evidence to support that position. To write a position paper, you need to research and understand the topic, develop a supported argument, and address opposing viewpoints.

In this comprehensive guide, you will find all important information that will help you prepare this type of assignment. More specifically we will talk about:

What is a position paper?
How to write a position paper?
Position paper example you could use for inspiration.

As an experienced paper writer team, we always come to support fellow students by providing them with helpful information and tips. Our readers can find detailed definitions and high-quality supporting materials on this website – all of that available for free!

What Is a Position Paper: Definition

First of all, let’s define it. Your position paper should clearly display and support your own view of a specific problem. Typically, position papers explore more or less controversial questions, which is why they must include argumentation supported by valid data. Providing evidence to the readers is the main distinctive feature of such an essay. Your work should demonstrate your ability to put up a strong case, not just describe your beliefs. Before you write a position paper, think it through and start with understanding your purpose. What do you try to tell your audience, and what is the best way to convey it? This helps with building good argumentation and structuring your essay.

Keep in mind that unlike a persuasive essay , convincing your readers to accept your point isn’t your primary task. Your piece should mainly focus on information that makes an argument strong. That’s why you should use supportive evidence that backs up your viewpoints.

Purpose of a Position Paper

Why do you need a position paper? First of all, it serves as great supporting material when talking about your viewpoint in front of an audience. Writing a position paper beforehand helps to organize your thoughts on the topic and set your defenses properly. Besides, you can use it when speaking to ensure you haven’t forgotten to mention something important. You might also be required to submit your paper before or after your speech. If it is your college or university assignment, this document will be your main output, which is why its structure and format are so important.

Position Paper Outline

One of the main first steps is preparing an outline for a position paper. After you’ve done some research and gathered enough data on your topic, spend additional time and create a concise draft. It should display your paper’s entire structure, including the key arguments, without going into much details. Your writing should follow a basic 5 paragraph essay outline . Once done with your plan, you can review it and easily spot major gaps or inconsistencies. Checking your work at this stage is typically much more productive than after writing the full text. Here is an example of position paper outline:

Hook the reader with stats, numbers or facts
Introduce the issue
Include a thesis statement presenting your central idea and stand on the problem
Present counterclaims
Offer evidence that backs up counterarguments
Refute the counter arguments using examples
Strong opinion
Supporting examples
Restate your main claim
Offer a course of action

Hopefully, this position paper template will speed up your progress with your own work. Check the attachments below – complete sample papers along with outlines are available there.

Position Paper Structure

What exactly does the structure of a position paper include? This is quite easy: similarly to any other scholarly essay, your position paper should contain three main parts:

Introduction

Main body part
Conclusion.

You’ll write a good position paper if you make it readable and concise in addition to preparing string argumentation backed by valid evidence. Otherwise, your poorly structured text won’t impress your readers. We’ve prepared more helpful information on how you should compose each of these sections. You can find it below, so please read it attentively. Also, check out the sample position papers available on this page. You can find more tips and ideas below.

Good introduction for a position paper should make your reader well familiar with the problem you are arguing about. This typically involves explaining why it is important for everyone or why you’ve decided to discuss it. Besides, the introduction must engage your audience so that they would be interested in hearing more about your position and evaluating its validity. This is how to start writing a position paper:

Clearly state your position, giving the thesis statement.
Give enough context about the problem and its background, explaining why you stand this ground.
‘Hook’ your readers by making it sound interesting.

The latter can be achieved by making some hints about upcoming evidence, using some kind of wordplay, or just making a suitable joke.

Body of a position paper is where its argumentation should be placed. When you make a position paper, be sure to divide it into logically interconnected paragraphs – each one for one of your major arguments expressed in the topic sentence . Make proper transitions between them. Leave at least one paragraph for the counter argumentation you may have faced and for its rebuttal. The evidence you’ve collected to support your claim should also be presented in the main body, together with quotes and references (if any). Remember to use solid and relevant data and avoid unnecessary facts, as they don’t bring value and may just make the text less readable. Pay attention to the consistency and readability of this section. Its structure and contents show how well you’ve built your argumentation. And that is what makes position papers persuasive.

This is how to write a conclusion for a position paper that adds real value to it:

Properly summarize your argumentation, showing how it supports your take.
Make it sound strong; ensure that it is logical and well-readable.
Keep it brief, don’t repeat anything from the main part.

Remember that your proposition paper conclusion will be the last thing your audience reads, so making a strong and persuasive ending would help with leaving a good impression on it. You’ll find a conclusion template in one of the sections below.

How to Write a Position Paper in 9 Steps

Let’s get to the point – you must write a good position paper, and now you’re looking for some helpful tips on that. We’ve got your back! First and foremost, the best beginning is to set up a strong position. Otherwise, your essay will simply be uninteresting. Now make sure you can actually prove what it states. But that’s just the beginning: think about captivating headings, add some clever techniques and diligent work to that, keeping focus on your goal – and you’ll get an excellent paper. What should be added? Just keep reading. We’ve prepared an elaborate guide on how to write a position paper step by step. Let’s go and check it!

1. Choose a Topic

Creating position papers requires some hard work, but choosing a proper subject may save a lot of time and effort. If it is uninteresting or too narrow, that might result in an issue. Better to choose a topic that:

Is relevant and controversial: this will draw your readers’ interest.
Is understandable for you, so it would be easier for you to discuss some points about it.
Has received some coverage in news, books, or other sources, making it simpler to find enough evidence about it.

Before commencing the writing process, search among good topics for position papers and select one most suitable for taking a point around it.

2. Do Research Before Writing a Position Paper

Conducting preliminary research for position papers is a key step before starting with actual writing. This is where you can collect evidence about your subject:

Google it This is easier but remember to filter out results with low credibility.
Media If this is a recent and big event, it should be mentioned in the news; make sure to pick the most credible resources.
Check the sources used by books or articles written on the subject This way, you might find some ‘hidden gems’ that are difficult to google.

Don’t know if you’ll write a winning position paper? Follow the next steps closely. And don’t forget to explore the free samples available on this page, check their structure and style.

3. Draft a Position Paper Thesis

Thesis of a position paper is basically its foundation. Make it strong, and you’ll ensure your success. Don’t be too wordy. One sentence is enough to deliver your thesis and summarize your position on the topic. You can put it closer to the start or put it at the end of your introduction so that it summarizes the explanations you would give about the problem. Examples of a position paper thesis:

• Online education is cost-effective, being more affordable for both students and educational institutions. • Schools should offer low-income pupils summertime educational resources.

4. Create an Outline

Once you have decided about the direction you’re taking with your essay, proceed with the position essay outline. This step is often overlooked, but it will be much easier to find and correct mistakes and gaps at this early stage. So, writing a position paper outline actually saves you time. This is how to write a position paper outline:

Keep it brief, just one sentence per idea. No need to always use full sentences, just make them readable.
Include your thesis, mention the context, then write one sentence per each argument.
Briefly summarize it, one sentence will suffice as well.

Don’t forget to review your outline carefully.

5. Begin Writing Your Position Paper

Once you’ve ensured the outline of an essay doesn’t have any gaps or logical flaws, go ahead and complete the full-text version. If you wonder how to start a position paper at this stage, begin with the introduction. You already have its shortened draft, so just add necessary details and list explanations if needed. But don’t give particular arguments or refute opposing opinions yet, those should come in the main body part. See how to write an introductory paragraph for a position paper in the next section.

Position Paper Introduction Example

Looking for introduction position paper examples? We’ve got one for you. Here’s how you can start your essay:

Traditional education is commonly regarded as a better alternative since live interaction with teachers often facilitates the learning process. However, given the ever-growing problem with student loans, the affordability of online education has become an important factor. Additionally, when studying online, people don’t have to commute, thus saving extra time and money. So, we can see that online education is more effective for common students.

Check our sample position paper for introduction examples. They are available for free download.

6. Include Evidence in Your Position Paper

As we’ve already explained, position papers must be backed by solid evidence. You have to prove your point, and that requires addressing it with data, not just stating it with confidence. When you write your position paper, there are two main requirements for backing your claim:

collect valid and relevant data;
present it in your text properly.

Here’s an example of evidence in a position paper:

As shown by many researchers (particularly by Kim and Norton in their work, 2018), more than 60% of students in the US attend online courses on a regular basis.

7. Provide Counterarguments and Refute Them

Still learning how to write position paper? If it is your first one, consider an important fact: ignoring evident contradictions to your claim doesn’t add credibility. Instead, you must work with counter arguments which is similar to writing an argumentative essay . You may be aware of the opposite opinions or think and assume which objections your opponents would make. Better mention them in your essay and show how you counter these claims. Here are some examples of counterarguments for position papers:

Evidently, e-learning doesn’t allow face-to-face interaction with your tutor, which may make it harder to exchange experience. However, the affordability factor still makes it a better choice, especially for motivated students. The price difference between traditional and online education might not be that big. But if we add the price of commuting and time spent on that, this difference becomes much bigger.

8. Summarize Your Position

When writing your position paper, it is important that you make it sound impressive in the end. Your position paper conclusion should properly summarize all arguments and rebuttal of counterarguments . Keep it brief, without repeating much, just highlight how all your findings support the claim. You can also add some extra notes, e.g., making additional assumptions, different predictions about this problem’s impact in the future, or hints about extra evidence you haven’t mentioned before to keep your text brief. This may help to make a lasting impression on your audience. Finally, review your conclusion once again, ensuring that it is logical and doesn’t contradict any claims, arguments, or assumptions provided above. Check the next section for an example of how to write a position paper conclusion.

Example of a Position Paper Conclusion

Need an actual conclusion for a position essay example? It can be something like this:

According to the statistical data presented above, e-learning is already gaining increasing popularity among students below 25 ages all over the globe. Since it is better compatible with the part-time work schedule most students have to follow, this format has actually proven its efficiency in recent years. And it is quite safe to assume it will become a new dominant way of education within the next decade or two.

You can also find the conclusion of a position paper essay example if you check the free samples that are available on this page.

9. Proofread Your Position Paper

After your position essay is complete, you absolutely should spend some extra time and review it again. Try adopting a critical view, putting yourself in your potential opponent’s shoes. Are there any logical gaps or grammar mistakes left? Paper position is not clear enough? Wrong source mentioned? Nearly every text has some issues to correct. Sometimes even evident typos are left overlooked when writing. It is best to have someone else review a position paper since its writer may be biased toward their own text. Another way is reading it aloud to yourself prior to submission. Some flaws may be uncovered this way too.

Position Paper Format

Your position papers format is another element that shouldn’t be overlooked. Proper headline and paragraph styles make your text more readable. Also, there might be specific requirements for making citations. All your evidence must be presented correctly so that it doesn’t get mixed with your own opinions. Format depends on the discipline. You might need to use one of the popular styles: MLA, APA, or Chicago. If you don’t see which one of them is required, better ask your tutor. You can find some position paper format sample in our free attachments, available below.

Position Paper Examples

Need an example of a position paper so that you could learn how all these recommendations can be implemented? We’ve got some for you! Scroll down to the bottom of the page, and you’ll find sample of position papers available for free download. Each position paper example essay has been written by professional research writers and can be used for inspiration or as a reference. Just don’t copy any of those materials in your own text, as you should only submit 100% original works. Position paper example 1

Position paper example 2

Position paper example 3

Position Paper Sample 4

Tips for Writing a Position Paper

Finally, some extra tips on writing a position paper that is really persuasive:

Choose topics that are interesting for you. This will motivate you to discuss them.
Plan ahead and consider your deadlines. Don’t spend too much time conducting the preliminary research or perfecting your argumentation if it is already valid.
Pay attention to your sources. Some books or research might be considered dubious by your opponents or might have some obvious gaps.
Review your position papers as many times as possible. Ideally, ask a person with an opposite side on this issue to read and refute it.
Keep it professional. Maintain a confident tone but stay logical and correct, avoid emotional or derogatory remarks.

More examples of position papers are available here – you can check them below.

Final Thoughts on How to Write a Position Paper

So, in order to write a position paper, you need to choose an appropriate topic and elaborate on your position regarding the specific problem. Then you should defend it using logic, facts, and confidence. Still not clear what are position papers and how one should write them? Check out this sample position paper for students available below, and you’ll find all our tips illustrated there. Follow its structure and style, just don’t copy anything to avoid plagiarizing.

If you are stuck in any stage of the writing process, don’t hesitate to use professional academic writing services. StudyCrumb is always here for you to solve any academic challenge you may have. Let us know your task, and we will match you with the most fitting expert who can write an excellent position paper for you.

FAQ About a Position Paper

1. how long should a position paper be.

The length of a position paper is usually limited to one page and a half (up to 350 words). Don’t make it too long, stick to the facts and brief statements. When given with confidence, concise claims are more persuasive. At the same time better include all necessary evidence, not rely just on confidence. So don’t make it less than one page.

2. What are the kinds of support in a position paper?

You can use these support types in your position paper:

Factual knowledge: either well-known facts (e.g., historical or biological) or data retrieved from credible sources;
Statistical trends: always helpful for making assumptions but also need to be backed by sources;
Informed opinion: citations from renowned specialists in fields related to your topic.

3. What is forbidden in a position paper?

When writing a position paper, avoid the following:

Taking opinions for facts.
Using threats or derogatory language as a means of persuasion.
Comparing unrelated situations and making some conclusions from that.
Copying other works without citing them.

Rachel R. Hill is a real educational devotee. She prides in writing exceptional general guides while listening to every need of students.

Position Paper – Example, Format and Writing Guide

Table of Contents

Position Paper

Definition:

Position paper is a written document that presents an argument or stance on a particular issue or topic. It outlines the author’s position on the issue and provides support for that position with evidence and reasoning. Position papers are commonly used in academic settings, such as in Model United Nations conferences or debates, but they can also be used in professional or political contexts.

Position papers typically begin with an introduction that presents the issue and the author’s position on it. The body of the paper then provides evidence and reasoning to support that position, often citing relevant sources and research. The conclusion of the paper summarizes the author’s argument and emphasizes its importance.

Types of Position Paper

There are several types of position papers, including:

Advocacy Position Paper : This type of position paper presents an argument in support of a particular issue, policy, or proposal. It seeks to persuade the reader to take a particular action or adopt a particular perspective.
Counter-Argument Position Paper: This type of position paper presents an argument against a particular issue, policy, or proposal. It seeks to convince the reader to reject a particular perspective or course of action.
Problem-Solution Position Paper : This type of position paper identifies a problem and presents a solution to it. It seeks to convince the reader that the proposed solution is the best course of action to address the identified problem.
Comparative Position Paper : This type of position paper compares and contrasts two or more options, policies, or proposals. It seeks to convince the reader that one option is better than the others.
Historical Position Paper : This type of position paper examines a historical event, policy, or perspective and presents an argument based on the analysis of the historical context.
Interpretive Position Paper : This type of position paper provides an interpretation or analysis of a particular issue, policy, or proposal. It seeks to persuade the reader to adopt a particular perspective or understanding of the topic.
Policy Position Paper: This type of position paper outlines a specific policy proposal and presents an argument in support of it. It may also address potential objections to the proposal and offer solutions to address those objections.
Value Position Paper: This type of position paper argues for or against a particular value or set of values. It seeks to convince the reader that a particular value or set of values is more important or better than others.
Predictive Position Paper : This type of position paper makes predictions about future events or trends and presents an argument for why those predictions are likely to come true. It may also offer suggestions for how to prepare for or respond to those events or trends.
Personal Position Paper : This type of position paper presents an individual’s personal perspective or opinion on a particular issue. It may draw on personal experiences or beliefs to support the argument.

Position Paper Format

Here is a format you can follow when writing a position paper:

Introduction: The introduction should provide a brief overview of the topic or issue being discussed. It should also provide some background information on the issue and state the purpose of the position paper.
Definition of the problem : This section should describe the problem or issue that the position paper addresses. It should explain the causes and effects of the problem and provide evidence to support the claims made.
Historical perspective : This section should provide a historical perspective on the issue or problem, outlining how it has evolved over time and what previous attempts have been made to address it.
The organization’s stance : This section should present the organization’s stance on the issue or problem. It should provide evidence to support the organization’s position and explain the rationale behind it. This section should also address any counterarguments or alternative perspectives.
Proposed solutions: This section should provide proposed solutions or recommendations to address the problem or issue. It should explain how the proposed solutions align with the organization’s stance and provide evidence to support their effectiveness.
Conclusion: The conclusion should summarize the organization’s position on the issue or problem and restate the proposed solutions or recommendations. It should also encourage further discussion and action on the issue.
References: Include a list of references used to support the claims made in the position paper.

How to Write Position Paper

Here are the steps to write a position paper:

Choose your topic: Select a topic that you are passionate about or have knowledge of. It could be related to social, economic, environmental, political, or any other issues.
Research: Conduct thorough research on the topic to gather relevant information and supporting evidence. This could include reading scholarly articles, reports, books, and news articles.
Define your position: Once you have gathered sufficient information, identify the main arguments and formulate your position. Consider both the pros and cons of the issue.
Write an introduction : Start your position paper with a brief introduction that provides some background information on the topic and highlights the key points that you will discuss in the paper.
Present your arguments: In the body of your paper, present your arguments in a logical and coherent manner. Each argument should be supported by evidence from your research.
Address opposing views : Acknowledge and address the opposing views on the issue. Provide counterarguments that refute these views and explain why your position is more valid.
Conclusion : In the conclusion, summarize your main points and reiterate your position on the topic. You can also suggest some solutions or actions that can be taken to address the issue.
Edit and proofread : Finally, edit and proofread your position paper to ensure that it is well-written, clear, and free of errors.

Position Paper Example

Position Paper Example structure is as follows:

Introduction:
A brief overview of the issue
A clear statement of the position the paper is taking
Background:
A detailed explanation of the issue
A discussion of the history of the issue
An analysis of any previous actions taken on the issue
A detailed explanation of the position taken by the paper
A discussion of the reasons for the position taken
Evidence supporting the position, such as statistics, research, and expert opinions
Counterarguments:
A discussion of opposing views and arguments
A rebuttal of those opposing views and arguments
A discussion of why the position taken is more valid than the opposing views
Conclusion:
A summary of the main points of the paper
A call to action or recommendation for action
A final statement reinforcing the position taken by the paper
References:
A list of sources used in the paper, cited in an appropriate citation style

Purpose of Position Paper

Here are some of the most common purposes of position papers:

Advocacy: Position papers are often used to promote a particular point of view or to advocate for a specific policy or action.
Debate : In a debate, participants are often required to write position papers outlining their argument. These papers help the debaters clarify their position and provide evidence to support their claims.
Negotiation : Position papers can be used as part of negotiations to establish each party’s position on a particular issue.
Education : Position papers can be used to educate the public, policymakers, and other stakeholders about complex issues by presenting a clear and concise argument supported by evidence.
Decision-making : Position papers can be used by decision-makers to make informed decisions about policies, programs, or initiatives based on a well-reasoned argument.
Research : Position papers can be used as a starting point for further research on a particular topic or issue.

When to Write Position Paper

Here are some common situations when you might need to write a position paper:

Advocacy or lobbying : If you are part of an organization that is advocating for a specific policy change or trying to influence decision-makers, a position paper can help you articulate your organization’s position and provide evidence to support your arguments.
Conferences or debates: In academic or professional settings, you may be asked to write a position paper to present your perspective on a particular topic or issue. This can be a useful exercise to help you clarify your thoughts and prepare for a debate or discussion.
Public relations: A position paper can also be used as a tool for public relations, to showcase your organization’s expertise and thought leadership on a particular issue.
Internal communications: Within an organization, a position paper can be used to communicate a particular stance or policy to employees or stakeholders.

Advantages of Position Paper

There are several advantages to writing a position paper, including:

Organizing thoughts : Writing a position paper requires careful consideration of the issue at hand, and the process of organizing thoughts and arguments can help you clarify your own position.
Demonstrating expertise: Position papers are often used in academic and professional settings to demonstrate expertise on a particular topic. Writing a well-researched and well-written position paper can help establish your credibility and expertise in a given field.
Advocacy: Position papers are often used as a tool for advocacy, whether it’s advocating for a particular policy or for a specific point of view. Position papers can help persuade others to adopt your position on an issue.
Facilitating discussion : Position papers can be used to facilitate discussion and debate on a particular issue. By presenting different perspectives on an issue, position papers can help foster dialogue and lead to a better understanding of the topic at hand.
Providing a framework for action: Position papers can also be used to provide a framework for action. By outlining specific steps that should be taken to address an issue, a position paper can help guide decision-making and policy development.

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Thesis Statements

What this handout is about.

This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can craft or refine one for your draft.

Introduction

Writing in college often takes the form of persuasion—convincing others that you have an interesting, logical point of view on the subject you are studying. Persuasion is a skill you practice regularly in your daily life. You persuade your roommate to clean up, your parents to let you borrow the car, your friend to vote for your favorite candidate or policy. In college, course assignments often ask you to make a persuasive case in writing. You are asked to convince your reader of your point of view. This form of persuasion, often called academic argument, follows a predictable pattern in writing. After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you’ll make in the rest of your paper.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement:

tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
makes a claim that others might dispute.
is usually a single sentence near the beginning of your paper (most often, at the end of the first paragraph) that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you may need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because your instructor may assume you will include one. When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively. (Check out our handout on understanding assignments for more information.)

How do I create a thesis?

A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis” that presents a basic or main idea and an argument that you think you can support with evidence. Both the argument and your thesis are likely to need adjustment along the way.

Writers use all kinds of techniques to stimulate their thinking and to help them clarify relationships or comprehend the broader significance of a topic and arrive at a thesis statement. For more ideas on how to get started, see our handout on brainstorming .

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

If there’s time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some feedback. Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following :

Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question. If the prompt isn’t phrased as a question, try to rephrase it. For example, “Discuss the effect of X on Y” can be rephrased as “What is the effect of X on Y?”
Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.
Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?
Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response is likely to be “So what?” then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s okay to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.
Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

Suppose you are taking a course on contemporary communication, and the instructor hands out the following essay assignment: “Discuss the impact of social media on public awareness.” Looking back at your notes, you might start with this working thesis:

Social media impacts public awareness in both positive and negative ways.

You can use the questions above to help you revise this general statement into a stronger thesis.

Do I answer the question? You can analyze this if you rephrase “discuss the impact” as “what is the impact?” This way, you can see that you’ve answered the question only very generally with the vague “positive and negative ways.”
Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not likely. Only people who maintain that social media has a solely positive or solely negative impact could disagree.
Is my thesis statement specific enough? No. What are the positive effects? What are the negative effects?
Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? No. Why are they positive? How are they positive? What are their causes? Why are they negative? How are they negative? What are their causes?
Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? No. Why should anyone care about the positive and/or negative impact of social media?

After thinking about your answers to these questions, you decide to focus on the one impact you feel strongly about and have strong evidence for:

Because not every voice on social media is reliable, people have become much more critical consumers of information, and thus, more informed voters.

This version is a much stronger thesis! It answers the question, takes a specific position that others can challenge, and it gives a sense of why it matters.

Let’s try another. Suppose your literature professor hands out the following assignment in a class on the American novel: Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn. “This will be easy,” you think. “I loved Huckleberry Finn!” You grab a pad of paper and write:

Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.

You begin to analyze your thesis:

Do I answer the question? No. The prompt asks you to analyze some aspect of the novel. Your working thesis is a statement of general appreciation for the entire novel.

Think about aspects of the novel that are important to its structure or meaning—for example, the role of storytelling, the contrasting scenes between the shore and the river, or the relationships between adults and children. Now you write:

In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.

Do I answer the question? Yes!
Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not really. This contrast is well-known and accepted.
Is my thesis statement specific enough? It’s getting there–you have highlighted an important aspect of the novel for investigation. However, it’s still not clear what your analysis will reveal.
Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? Not yet. Compare scenes from the book and see what you discover. Free write, make lists, jot down Huck’s actions and reactions and anything else that seems interesting.
Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? What’s the point of this contrast? What does it signify?”

After examining the evidence and considering your own insights, you write:

Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.

This final thesis statement presents an interpretation of a literary work based on an analysis of its content. Of course, for the essay itself to be successful, you must now present evidence from the novel that will convince the reader of your interpretation.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Lunsford, Andrea A. 2015. The St. Martin’s Handbook , 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. 2018. The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing , 8th ed. New York: Pearson.

Ruszkiewicz, John J., Christy Friend, Daniel Seward, and Maxine Hairston. 2010. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers , 9th ed. Boston: Pearson Education.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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How To Write the Perfect Position Paper

Opinions are like cars. Lots of people have them, but very few know how they actually work. At some point in high school, or college, you will be required to have an opinion on something. That’s the easy part. The hard part is providing that your opinion has merit. That’s the basic premise behind writing a position paper, or a persuasive essay. This is the time-tested academic tradition where you are required to stake out a meaningful position on an important subject and, subsequently, to provide relevant and verifiable evidence that your position is grounded in solid fact.

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This is an important skill, not just in school or on social media, but in real life. So if you’re on the hunt for solid facts, check out our constantly growing library of The Most Controversial Topics For Your Position Paper .

We recognize, however, that knowing a lot of facts isn’t the same as being able to write about these facts in a convincing or authoritative way. Writing an excellent position paper is a multi-step process that requires you to integrate both fact and opinion into a coherent and compelling essay. Lucky for you, we’ve got a handy step-by-step guide on how to do this.

Read on to find how you can write the perfect position paper in 10 steps...

How To Write a Position Paper

1. choose a topic that interests you.

Start with something you actually care about. If given the freedom, choose a subject that has personal meaning for you. Having real passion for the subject matter can be energizing as you dive into the research and it can infuse your writing with authenticity.

Many students like to write about controversial topics. Our study starters cover the top 25 controversial topics today .

2. Develop a Thesis Statement

Once you’ve got a subject, it’s time to define exactly where you stand on the issue. What is the point you hope to prove in your position paper? And how do you plan to prove it? If you’re not sure exactly where you stand, this is the starting point in your research. Find out what some of the leading thinkers, journalists, and public figures are saying on the subject. Which viewpoint resonates most with you? You should come away from this process with a thesis statement that both indicates your viewpoint and lays out the supporting points that will ultimately shape your essay. For instance, if you’re writing about a policy issue, your thesis might say something like “The newly proposed policy to ______ would be beneficial to the general public because it would ______, _________, and ________.

3. Identify Credible Sources

As you begin your research, it is absolutely critical that you identify only credible sources including primary sources, scholarly journals, and articles from legitimate news outlets. Of course, every source has its own implicit biases. But as you identify and use these sources, it’s your job to identify and recognize those biases. You can use a source provided by a politically biased think tank as long as you explicitly identify that bias. The most important thing you can do, as you gather resources, is ensure that they come from valid outlets , that you recognize any affiliations that might shape their perspective, and that you eliminate any sources that peddle in disinformation.

For more tips on how to do this, check out our article on How Students Can Spot Fake News .

4. Build Your Reference List

Now that you’ve identified credible resources, create your reference list. Citation is a building block of both the research process and the broader concept of academic integrity. As a student, you are expected to draw on the findings of those who came before you. But you have to credit those scholars in order to do so. Make sure you adhere to the formatting style indicated by your academic institution, course, and instructor , whether you are required to write in MLA, APA, Chicago, or its exotic-sounding twin, Turabian. Purdue’s website provides one of the more reliable style guides for your formatting reference needs .

We have a database to help you find influential scholars in a variety of subjects. We also point out influencers related to nearly 30 of the most controversial topics

5. Do Your Research

This step is all about gathering information. Now that you’ve locked in your sources, it’s time to dive deeper. If you enjoy learning new things, this is the fun part. Get comfortable and start reading. Research is the process of discovery, so take your time. Allow yourself to become absorbed in the subject matter, to be immersed, to lose yourself in the information. But come up for air every once in a while so you can take notes. Gather the ideas, statistics, and direct quotes from your research that ultimately strengthen your argument. And don’t shy away from information that contradicts your argument either. This is meant to be a learning process, so allow your position on the subject to evolve as you are presented with new information. The thesis that you’ve written is a starting point, but it’s not set in stone. If your research leads you in a different direction, don’t be afraid to refine or even revise your thesis accordingly.

6. Outline Your Position Paper

Now that your thesis has been reinforced by research, create a basic outline for what you’ll be writing . If you do this part correctly, the rest should simply be a process of filling in the blanks. Below is a basic framework for how you might structure a position paper:

Introduction
Setting up the subject
Thesis Statement
Basic Argument
Identification of Supporting Evidence
Supporting Evidence 1
Explanation
Supporting Evidence 2
Supporting Evidence 3
Counterpoint
Identification of Opposing Viewpoint(s)
Refutation of Opposing Viewpoint(s)
Reiterate Thesis
Tie Together Supporting Arguments

7. Build Your Argument

The outline above is merely a framework. Now it’s up to you to infuse that framework with your personality, your perspective and your voice. Your thesis and supporting quotes are the bones of your essay, but you’ll be adding the flesh to those bones with your set ups and explanations. This is your chance to explain why the evidence located in your research makes you feel the way you do. Remember, you are writing a fact-based essay on something that should trigger emotions in both you and the reader. Do not be afraid to lean into these feelings for your writing, as long as you keep those feelings strongly grounded in the facts of the case.

8. Address the Counterpoint

No argument is complete without recognition of its counterpart. Your willingness to acknowledge opposing viewpoints is a show of faith in your own argument. This gives you a chance to provide an honest appraisal of an opposing viewpoint and to confront this appraisal with fact-based refutation.

9. Tie It All Together

Now that you’ve spent your time fully immersed in the argument, it’s time to pull the pieces together. Revisit your introduction. Your opening paragraph should be crisp, engaging, and straight to the point. Don’t bury the lead. The purpose of your essay should be stated early and clearly. Likewise, build a concluding section that offers a compelling way of restating the thesis while incorporating some of the new things we’ve learned from reading your essay. Tie your various supporting arguments together to illustrate that we have all learned enough to agree with your initial position. And revisit each of your supporting paragraphs to ensure that each idea logically flows into the next. Write natural segue sentences between paragraphs and ensure that the connection between each supporting argument and your thesis is clear .

10. Proof, Edit, Revise, Repeat

Now you’ve assembled an essay, but it needs work. That’s not an insult. Anything ever written always needs work. Start with proofing. Look for typos, grammatical errors and incomplete sentences. Give your essay a technical cleaning. But you should also read for style, tone and substance. Does your argument hang together? Is it compelling? Do you adequately prove your point? You may find that this is an opportunity to trim gratuitous information or to add supporting information that might strengthen your argument. And as you revise your essay, try reading your work out loud. Hearing your own words out loud can reveal areas where your point might not come across as clearly. Spend as much time as you need on this step. Don’t be afraid to make substantive changes during this process. Invariably, your final draft will be significantly stronger than your rough draft.

And I’ll leave you with just one more thought-one that has always helped me as a writer. This tip comes from author Henry Miller’s famous 11 Commandments of Writing . Among the numerous valuable tips you can draw from his list, my personal favorite says “Don’t be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on whatever is in hand.”

This is great advice at any stage in your writing career. Dive in and write fearlessly.

And now that you’ve got a step-by-step roadmap for attacking your position paper, get more valuable tips, tricks, and hacks from our comprehensive collection of Study Guides and Study Starters .

And if you are struggling with how to take effective notes in class, check out our guide on note taking .

A Brief Guide to Writing a Position Paper

13 July, 2020

13 minutes read

Author: Mathieu Johnson

Speaking your thoughts out loud happens to be easier than doing the same in writing. Why is that so? Every time you prepare a speech, you need to write it down first. And your writing needs to be precise because readers are about to know what you’ve put down on a paper. When it comes to a position paper, your mission is to express your opinion on a controversial topic. You will have to take a side on a specific topic and make up a case based on your opinion. To succeed in this writing task, you may need some guidelines.

What Is Position Paper?

A position paper is a kind of essay in which you express your opinion or position regarding a particular subject matter. It can be used for different purposes, from a discussion of international challenges to an analysis of business strategies. As a result, a position paper format is widely used in business and politics. Also, it can take a form of a report revealing your plans for the subject matter at hand. A position paper should contain a smooth flow of thoughts and ideas that provide a rock-solid evidence for your line of reasoning.

What Are The 3 Parts of a Position Paper?

A position paper consists of three main parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. Here is an explanation of what you can write in each part:

Introduction

The introductory part aims to attract the reader’s attention to the covered subject matter. Ideally, you should begin with several opening sentences about the specific issue to hook the reader.

The body part involves background information, evidence to back up your opinion, and analysis of both sides of the subject matter. By conducting thorough research, you will collect enough data to support your claims. The main point is to address both aspects of the argument. That way, you will show the reader that you are objective in your statements.

In the conclusion part, you need to restate the key points of your essay without adding anything new. Depending on your topic, it makes sense to suggest a solution to the problem.

How to Write a Position Paper?

To start writing a position paper , you should have a clearly stated topic that is debatable with logical details. While writing a paper, you should examine your vision of the problem through the prism of available arguments. Consider practicability, cost-effectiveness, and local environment when evaluating possible solutions and necessary actions. In other words, you should express, explain, and back up your opinion. And don’t forget to be specific in stating and supporting your arguments.

Select a Position Paper Topic

If you want to create a good position paper, you should focus on a subject matter that has enough findings to support it as well as some controversy to produce an argument. If you are dealing with a position paper assignment, you will want to skip your personal values and focus on something that can get you the highest grade. Here are some of the position paper topics to consider:

Should reality TV shows be regulated?
What are the positive and negative sides of video gaming?
Are there any parallels between video gaming and addiction?
Can beauty contests have a positive impact on women?
Should children have a schedule for school and after-school activities or be given more free time for playing?
What affects the rapid increase in child obesity?
How to reduce the number of abortions without legislation?
How can pro-life and pro-choice groups cooperate?
Should the production of Barbie dolls be banned?
What is the meaning of true beauty?
Should young children be forced to compete at athletics?
What are the reasons for blood cancer?
How does COVID-19 pandemic affect the business sector?
Is COVID-19 a real problem or a huge fake?
How does COVID-19 affect our lives?
Should media coverage be taken under control?
Is private school tuition really worth it?
How can the country’s school system be amended?
What role should technology play in the business sector?
Should college athletes receive a salary?
Should college athletes be allowed to skip classes?
Technologies are changing the way people think.
How are online technologies affecting the way we live?
What laws should regulate the use of cell phones in cars?
Should parents limit teenagers’ use of social media?
Should scientists be allowed to experiment on human embryos?
What causes people to immigrate illegally?
Is there any way to reduce the immigration rate?
Can illegal immigration be justified?
How do people justify war?
How significant is race to American identity?
What is the world culture?
What is the value of knowing your cultural background?
Should schools teach multiculturalism?
Is global warming a problem?
Is racism the problem of the modern community?
How can clean water be provided to everyone?
Is the problem of air pollution exaggerated?
What needs to be done to reduce the level of air pollution?
Who should take responsibility for air pollution?
Will the worldwide population increase?
What needs to be done to stop poaching of endangered species?
Is hunting good for the environment?
Are citizens responsible for their local environment?
What can manufacturers do to reduce the air and water pollution across the world?
What is the real importance of clean water?
Is there any connection between health and pollution?
What can people do to stop global pollution?
How can people be encouraged to recycle more?
How does global warming increase?

Preliminary Research

How do you write a position paper? Where to start from? Preliminary research requires you to find sufficient evidence for the covered subject matter. At the same time, you don’t need to rely on a subject matter that falls apart under a challenge of hefty research. You will also need to specify the sources you are planning to use. Follow them in bibliography and make some notes about every particular book, journal, or document you take information from. Thus, you will save a lot of time in the writing process.

By searching a couple of education and social sites, you will be able to find professional research data. Our professional essay writer recommends to narrow your focus, you will develop a list of questions that you have to answer in your paper. If you find no valuable information after spending several hours on research, you should understand that your position cannot be supported by sufficient findings on trustworthy sites.

Challenge Your Topic and Collect Supporting Evidence

You will need to dispute the truth or validity of your topic by finding supporting evidence. If you have some doubts, you may need some time to identify all the possible challenges that you have to deal with. Your position paper will address the opposing view and address it with counterevidence. It will make sense to have some discussions with friends, colleagues, or family about the topic. That way, you will be able to learn some additional thoughts and ideas that can be used for further research. As soon as you find some counterarguments, you will need to analyze them. Once it is done, you will see whether they are sound or not.

Another useful approach to challenging the topic requires you to mention your arguments on one side and opposing arguments on the other one. In which part of the paper do you have more points collected? Which points are stronger? If counterarguments seem to outnumber your arguments, you will have to reconsider your subject matter or your opinion on it .

Position Paper Outline

Before taking action, you’ll need to develop a position paper outline to organize your thoughts and ideas. With an outline, you will find it easier to write a position paper. So how will you do that? It depends on your personal preferences. Some writers find it easier to apply pictures and diagrams, others just follow a template offered by the teacher. If you feel like writing an outline yourself from scratch, don’t hesitate to do so. You can create it on your computer or write it down in your notebook. After all, there is no right or wrong approach to developing an outline. The main point is that an outline contains all the key points that you have to add to your position paper. You may want to look at a position paper sample before starting the writing process. Here is the format to be followed:

Decide on your topic with some background details. Develop a thesis sentence that addresses your position. Some examples are as follows:

Smoking is a bad habit causing breathing problems.
Fast food packages should be marked with health warnings .
Air pollution requires certain actions from the national governments.

Decide on potential contradictions to your position. Here are some examples: :

A medical examination needs to be conducted on an annual basis to monitor the possible negative health conditions .
Health warnings can affect the companies’ revenues.
The national program can be quite costly.

Cover the opposing points. Make sure that you aren’t contradicting your own thoughts and ideas. Sample points are as follows:

It can be hard to determine the monitoring process.
Citizens don’t want their government to abuse its power.
Program funding will fall on the shoulders of average taxpayers.

Explain your position through the prism of counterarguments. This is how you can contradict some of the counterarguments and back up your own one. Sample points are as follows:

The government has already tried to reduce smoking statistics in the country.
Restaurants will enhance the quality of food in case of using health warnings .
The government’s primary role is to protect citizens.

Sum up your arguments and express your opinion in different words. You should finish your paper by focusing on your arguments and responding to the counterarguments. You need your reader to understand and accept your opinion on the covered subject matter.

When you create a position paper, you should act with confidence. In the end, your mission is to reveal your position from the best side.

Tips on Writing a Position Paper from Our Experts

Even if you have a position paper example, you still may need some practical recommendations to make things easier for you. Here are some tips you need to follow during the writing process:

Decide on a topic. While choosing the topic for discussion, you should find the one you have a clear idea of. You can broaden your outlook by reading some literature on the desired subject matter. Ideally, you should embark on different viewpoints to consider them for further analysis.
Express your position idea. Focus on one specific aspect of the topic in order to express it in a one-sentence opinion. Make sure you have found a really arguable idea. If the topic cannot be debated, then it can hardly be used for writing a good position paper.
Be precise in your statement. Try to express your opinion briefly and clearly. A position paper is not meant to be vague.
Lead the narrative in the present tense. You are discussing the topic here and now, so the use of the past tense is quite inappropriate.
Minimize the use of superlatives . Avoid using superlatives such as biggest, major, extremely, and so on because they make the context sound exaggerated.
Use frequently used terms. To make the content look appealing and well-written , you should use the most common thematic terms such as world community, member states, recommendations, development, realization, regulations, international, and so on.
Use commonly used verbs . You should include some commonly used verbs such as comprehend, enable, recognize, acknowledge, believe, suggest, consider, addresse, highlight, and so on.
Proceed with final proofreading . You cannot consider your position paper as completed unless a successful spelling and grammar check is done. To achieve the maximum result, you should read your paper aloud a couple of times. That way, you will find it easier to indicate and fix mistakes.

While there is no universal formula for writing a perfect position paper, you can still follow some simple tips that’ll make you closer to the desired result. Just think analytically and act logically throughout the writing process.

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25 Thesis Statement Examples That Will Make Writing a Breeze

Understanding what makes a good thesis statement is one of the major keys to writing a great research paper or argumentative essay. The thesis statement is where you make a claim that will guide you through your entire paper. If you find yourself struggling to make sense of your paper or your topic, then it's likely due to a weak thesis statement.

Let's take a minute to first understand what makes a solid thesis statement, and what key components you need to write one of your own.

A thesis statement always goes at the beginning of the paper. It will typically be in the first couple of paragraphs of the paper so that it can introduce the body paragraphs, which are the supporting evidence for your thesis statement.

Your thesis statement should clearly identify an argument. You need to have a statement that is not only easy to understand, but one that is debatable. What that means is that you can't just put any statement of fact and have it be your thesis. For example, everyone knows that puppies are cute . An ineffective thesis statement would be, "Puppies are adorable and everyone knows it." This isn't really something that's a debatable topic.

Something that would be more debatable would be, "A puppy's cuteness is derived from its floppy ears, small body, and playfulness." These are three things that can be debated on. Some people might think that the cutest thing about puppies is the fact that they follow you around or that they're really soft and fuzzy.

All cuteness aside, you want to make sure that your thesis statement is not only debatable, but that it also actually thoroughly answers the research question that was posed. You always want to make sure that your evidence is supporting a claim that you made (and not the other way around). This is why it's crucial to read and research about a topic first and come to a conclusion later. If you try to get your research to fit your thesis statement, then it may not work out as neatly as you think. As you learn more, you discover more (and the outcome may not be what you originally thought).

Additionally, your thesis statement shouldn't be too big or too grand. It'll be hard to cover everything in a thesis statement like, "The federal government should act now on climate change." The topic is just too large to actually say something new and meaningful. Instead, a more effective thesis statement might be, "Local governments can combat climate change by providing citizens with larger recycling bins and offering local classes about composting and conservation." This is easier to work with because it's a smaller idea, but you can also discuss the overall topic that you might be interested in, which is climate change.

So, now that we know what makes a good, solid thesis statement, you can start to write your own. If you find that you're getting stuck or you are the type of person who needs to look at examples before you start something, then check out our list of thesis statement examples below.

Thesis statement examples

A quick note that these thesis statements have not been fully researched. These are merely examples to show you what a thesis statement might look like and how you can implement your own ideas into one that you think of independently. As such, you should not use these thesis statements for your own research paper purposes. They are meant to be used as examples only.

Vaccinations Because many children are unable to vaccinate due to illness, we must require that all healthy and able children be vaccinated in order to have herd immunity.
Educational Resources for Low-Income Students Schools should provide educational resources for low-income students during the summers so that they don't forget what they've learned throughout the school year.
School Uniforms School uniforms may be an upfront cost for families, but they eradicate the visual differences in income between students and provide a more egalitarian atmosphere at school.
Populism The rise in populism on the 2016 political stage was in reaction to increasing globalization, the decline of manufacturing jobs, and the Syrian refugee crisis.
Public Libraries Libraries are essential resources for communities and should be funded more heavily by local municipalities.
Cyber Bullying With more and more teens using smartphones and social media, cyber bullying is on the rise. Cyber bullying puts a lot of stress on many teens, and can cause depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. Parents should limit the usage of smart phones, monitor their children's online activity, and report any cyber bullying to school officials in order to combat this problem.
Medical Marijuana for Veterans Studies have shown that the use of medicinal marijuana has been helpful to veterans who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Medicinal marijuana prescriptions should be legal in all states and provided to these veterans. Additional medical or therapy services should also be researched and implemented in order to help them re-integrate back into civilian life.
Work-Life Balance Corporations should provide more work from home opportunities and six-hour workdays so that office workers have a better work-life balance and are more likely to be productive when they are in the office.
Teaching Youths about Consensual Sex Although sex education that includes a discussion of consensual sex would likely lead to less sexual assault, parents need to teach their children the meaning of consent from a young age with age appropriate lessons.
Whether or Not to Attend University A degree from a university provides invaluable lessons on life and a future career, but not every high school student should be encouraged to attend a university directly after graduation. Some students may benefit from a trade school or a "gap year" where they can think more intensely about what it is they want to do for a career and how they can accomplish this.
Studying Abroad Studying abroad is one of the most culturally valuable experiences you can have in college. It is the only way to get completely immersed in another language and learn how other cultures and countries are different from your own.
Women's Body Image Magazines have done a lot in the last five years to include a more diverse group of models, but there is still a long way to go to promote a healthy woman's body image collectively as a culture.
Cigarette Tax Heavily taxing and increasing the price of cigarettes is essentially a tax on the poorest Americans, and it doesn't deter them from purchasing. Instead, the state and federal governments should target those economically disenfranchised with early education about the dangers of smoking.
Veganism A vegan diet, while a healthy and ethical way to consume food, indicates a position of privilege. It also limits you to other cultural food experiences if you travel around the world.
University Athletes Should be Compensated University athletes should be compensated for their service to the university, as it is difficult for these students to procure and hold a job with busy academic and athletic schedules. Many student athletes on scholarship also come from low-income neighborhoods and it is a struggle to make ends meet when they are participating in athletics.
Women in the Workforce Sheryl Sandberg makes a lot of interesting points in her best-selling book, Lean In , but she only addressed the very privileged working woman and failed to speak to those in lower-skilled, lower-wage jobs.
Assisted Suicide Assisted suicide should be legal and doctors should have the ability to make sure their patients have the end-of-life care that they want to receive.
Celebrity and Political Activism Although Taylor Swift's lyrics are indicative of a feminist perspective, she should be more politically active and vocal to use her position of power for the betterment of society.
The Civil War The insistence from many Southerners that the South seceded from the Union for states' rights versus the fact that they seceded for the purposes of continuing slavery is a harmful myth that still affects race relations today.
Blue Collar Workers Coal miners and other blue-collar workers whose jobs are slowly disappearing from the workforce should be re-trained in jobs in the technology sector or in renewable energy. A program to re-train these workers would not only improve local economies where jobs have been displaced, but would also lead to lower unemployment nationally.
Diversity in the Workforce Having a diverse group of people in an office setting leads to richer ideas, more cooperation, and more empathy between people with different skin colors or backgrounds.
Re-Imagining the Nuclear Family The nuclear family was traditionally defined as one mother, one father, and 2.5 children. This outdated depiction of family life doesn't quite fit with modern society. The definition of normal family life shouldn't be limited to two-parent households.
Digital Literacy Skills With more information readily available than ever before, it's crucial that students are prepared to examine the material they're reading and determine whether or not it's a good source or if it has misleading information. Teaching students digital literacy and helping them to understand the difference between opinion or propaganda from legitimate, real information is integral.
Beauty Pageants Beauty pageants are presented with the angle that they empower women. However, putting women in a swimsuit on a stage while simultaneously judging them on how well they answer an impossible question in a short period of time is cruel and purely for the amusement of men. Therefore, we should stop televising beauty pageants.
Supporting More Women to Run for a Political Position In order to get more women into political positions, more women must run for office. There must be a grassroots effort to educate women on how to run for office, who among them should run, and support for a future candidate for getting started on a political career.

Still stuck? Need some help with your thesis statement?

If you are still uncertain about how to write a thesis statement or what a good thesis statement is, be sure to consult with your teacher or professor to make sure you're on the right track. It's always a good idea to check in and make sure that your thesis statement is making a solid argument and that it can be supported by your research.

After you're done writing, it's important to have someone take a second look at your paper so that you can ensure there are no mistakes or errors. It's difficult to spot your own mistakes, which is why it's always recommended to have someone help you with the revision process, whether that's a teacher, the writing center at school, or a professional editor such as one from ServiceScape .

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Top 10 Tips for Writing a Strong Position Paper

As scientists and researchers, you might be familiar with objective research papers, which tend to consider both sides of an argument and present findings based on facts. But are you aware of another important piece of academic writing known as the position paper? In this article, we will discuss different aspects that make position paper share expert tips on writing a great position paper that clearly presents an argument or opinion.

Table of Contents

What Is a Position Paper?

A position paper discusses a controversial issue and focuses on one aspect of an argument, providing valuable insights on how to interpret issues where science is ambiguous. It can also act as a medium for scientists and researchers to put forth solutions to resolve problems. Similar to objective research papers, position papers are still rooted in facts, statistics, evidence, and data. Additionally, they further enable authors to take a position on what these facts and data are telling us.

The purpose of a position paper is to gather support for an opinion on an issue by explaining the author’s stance and providing factual evidence to back it up. It critically evaluates the position, acknowledging its strengths and weaknesses.

Types of Position Paper

There are several types of position papers, each serving a unique purpose.

Ready to gauge your understanding of position papers? Take our short quiz today!

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How to Write a Position Paper?

1. choosing a good topic.

Selecting a good topic for your position paper is just as important as having a well-structured paper that presents a strong argument. A well-written paper about an uninteresting or uncontroversial topic is simply a waste of time and effort. So how can you best choose a topic for your argument ?

Like all types of research, you should begin with preliminary research. A good topic for a position paper will answer yes to the following questions :

Does the topic represent a genuine controversy?
Are there two clear positions?
Do you care enough to argue for one of those positions?
Is the scope of the topic manageable?

Once you have found a topic that meets these criteria, you will need to conduct research to build a solid case in favor of your argument. This means finding supporting evidence (for both sides!) just as you would for an ordinary research paper . By including supporting evidence for the opposing side, you will be able to more clearly refute the conflicting arguments. In other words, you can point out weaknesses in the evidence cited by the opposing side or highlight strengths of evidence that supports your stand in comparison.

2. Conducting a Preliminary Research

Conducting preliminary research is crucial before delving into any topic. Evaluate evidence quality from reputable sources institutional websites, white papers, policies, scholarly articles, research reports, etc. Stay objective, dedicating some time for research. Be adaptable; reconsider your topic if evidence is lacking or contradictory. Prioritize quality over quantity in source selection. This ensures a well-supported and credible argument.

3. Crafting and Testing Your Thesis Statement

Crafting a thesis statement is a pivotal step in developing a coherent paper. This statement depicts your stance on the topic. A clear and focused thesis statement serves as the backbone of your argument, guiding the reader and shaping the trajectory of your analysis. Once established, subject it to rigorous examination by challenging it.

While it may seem counterintuitive, actively challenging your own thesis statement is a vital exercise in academic integrity and intellectual rigor. By earnestly considering opposing viewpoints and potential counterarguments, you not only demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter but also fortify your position through logical reasoning and evidence-based support.

4. Collecting Supporting Evidence

When gathering evidence for your position paper, prioritize relevance and credibility. Use expert quotes sparingly, ensuring they directly support your argument. Prefer research-based evidence over anecdotes, focusing on quality rather than quantity. Verify the credibility of sources and regularly update evidence to reflect the latest research. Following these guidelines enhances the credibility and persuasiveness of your paper.

5. Drafting and Structuring the Position paper

The structure of a position paper is flexible, but it should generally follow a simple flow that clearly conveys the problem and the position of the author(s). A position paper should begin by clearly stating the problem and its relevance to the scientific community or even to the society as a whole. It should then address the main position of the author. For example:

a. Background: For decades, the WHO has urged the adoption of a tax on unhealthy foods to discourage the consumption of products that are harmful to our health.

b. Relevance: Sugar has been shown to have a negative impact on health, and play a major role in the rising obesity rates in America.

c. Position: The United States should adopt a tax on drinks with added sugar, to reduce the consumption of sugar, and promote healthier eating habits.

The author should then clearly list the common arguments and possible objections against this position. To continue with our example:

Argument 1: A sugary drink tax that focuses on soda may not impact other products that have an equally negative health impact such as fruit juice or candy.

Argument 2: A sugary drink tax is regressive and places a financial burden on the poorest consumers.

A strong position paper acknowledges the validity of the counter-arguments and then puts forth reasons why the author’s position is still the correct one. In our example paper, the author can address the counter-arguments in the next section like so:

Counter-argument 1: It is true that a sugary drink tax would not impact all sources of added sugar in the average American diet. However, it would still have a significant impact on a major source of added sugar to achieve its goal of reducing overall sugar consumption.

Counter-argument 2: All consumption taxes are regressive. A sugary drink tax would be most effective accompanied by subsidies for healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables.

Finally, summarize your main points and re-state your position in your conclusion. All arguments in the paper should be backed up by facts, data, and evidence , with proper citation attributed to your sources. In this way, a position paper is no different from an ordinary research paper . If you wish, you can include a brief literature review in your discussion of the background of the issue. While such a literature review is not essential, it can make your paper stronger.

Ten Tips for Writing a Strong Position Paper

Now that we know what a position paper is, let us review some tips to write a great position paper.

Select a timely, relevant topic with two clear opposing sides.
Conduct thorough preliminary research, collecting evidence supporting arguments for and against your position.
Identify your intended audience. You should tailor your tone depending on who the paper is written for (the public, other scientists, policymakers, etc.).
Clearly state your position on the topic.
List and refute the counter-arguments to your position.
Include supporting data and evidence to back up your argument.
Properly attribute your sources using correct citation .
Keep it simple! Position papers don’t need to go into excessive detail . Present your points clearly and briefly.
Each paragraph in the paper should discuss a single idea.
Have someone proofread your paper to ensure it reads well and looks professional.

A position paper can be a great way to expand your horizons and write a new type of research paper. Use these ten tips to write an effective position paper!

Are you seeking advice on writing a position paper? Seek professional assistance to craft a compelling argument in your position paper that effectively communicates your perspective to the scientific community.

Frequently Asked Questions

The length of a position paper can vary depending on the requirements set by the institution or conference. However, typically, position papers are concise and focused documents, usually ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 words.

The purpose of a position paper is to articulate an author's stance on a particular issue or topic, backed by factual evidence and logical reasoning.

Characteristics of a position paper include: 1.Focus on a controversial issue or topic. 2.Clear statement of author's stance or position. 3.Incorporation of factual evidence, statistics, and data. 4.Acknowledgment of counterarguments and addressing them effectively. 5.Concise and well-structured presentation of arguments.

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200 Best Position Paper Topics and Ideas to Consider

Table of Contents

What are the best Position Paper Topics? Do you want to write a persuasive position paper? No worries! We are here to help you. In this blog post, we have shared a list of the top position paper topics from different fields of study. Continue reading this blog post and get interesting ideas that will help you fetch an A+ grade. Also, learn how to write a position paper effectively.

What is a Position Paper?

A position paper is a kind of essay that clearly focuses on one side of an arguable point about an issue. It is similar to a debate and can also be identified as an argumentative paper. The main aim of the position paper is to persuade the audience that your argument or opinion is valid. Convincing the audience is not a piece of cake. For writing a position paper, you must have a strong topic.

Position Paper Topic Selection Tips

One of the simplest ways to select good position paper topics is to consider popular subjects that excite you. Mainly, in order to create a compelling argument, you can choose subjects that are against common values, contrasting mass opinions, or any social taboos.

In specific, ask yourself the following question during the topic selection.

Is your topic a real issue with uncertainty and controversy?
Can you find out at least two distinctive positions?
Are you interested in supporting one of the identified distinctive positions?
Is the scope of the issue narrow enough to be feasible?

Finalize the topic only if you can present a strong argument. Remember, the topic you select should be original and interesting. It should match your area of interest. Most importantly, your selected topic should have enough evidence or proof to support your opinion. Additionally, the topic should help you to prepare a position paper as per your instructor’s specifications.

Know How to Write a Position Paper

After you have selected a topic, analyze the issue and come up with a valid argument. When determining your viewpoint, make sure to consider your audience. Also, prepare a list of the pros and cons of your topic. The pros and cons will assist you to evaluate your potential to support your counterclaims, with the necessary pieces of evidence.

If you are clear with your viewpoint, prepare a well-structured outline that includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. In the introductory paragraph, introduce the topic, provide brief background information on the topic, and specify a strong thesis statement. Next, generate counterarguments in the body paragraphs. For each argument, submit relevant proof from a credible source. Finally, conclude the paper by restating your arguments and giving a call to action.

The position paper you have prepared should be understandable to your readers. After you have completed preparing the argumentative paper, do a complete revision. Proofreading the paper will help you spot and rectify the errors in your content.

List of Position Paper Topics and Ideas

In general, there are numerous position paper topics available in various fields of study. But searching them all and finding one good topic is a time-consuming process. So, to help you, here, we have categorized and listed a few best argumentative paper help in some interesting areas such as health, sports, criminal justice, etc.

Right now, are you searching for the top position paper topics for your assignment? If yes, then refer to the list of ideas suggested below and identify a topic of your choice.

Position Paper Topics on Health

Is drug addiction a disease?
Is it necessary to permit euthanasia?
Should doctors be allowed to advertise certain medications?
Pros and cons of the electronic health record system.
Is it necessary to give stringent punishment for medical malpractice?
Should the government support independent medical research?
The pros and cons of cosmetic surgery.
Should HIV testing before marriage be made mandatory?
Do race and ethnicity have an impact on the health of individuals?
Is online medical consultation a good idea?
Should healthcare insurance be mandatory?
Write a position paper on the legalization of abortion.
How can you best help a family member or friend who is depressed?
Do laws that make abortions harder to obtain decrease the abortion rate?
Is a nursing home the best choice for elderly people?

Additional Position Paper Ideas on Health

How does depression affect the workplace?
Write a position paper on alleviating global hunger.
Is a medical experiment on animals ethical? Justify your position.
What causes postpartum depression?
Should healthcare services be free for anyone?
Is a medical experiment on animals ethical?
Is it a good idea to use the medical knowledge that was gained by experiments in Nazi camps in modern medicine?
Should forcible quarantining of individuals with STDs like HIV aids be imposed?
How can you beat a teenage girl who is suffering from depression, anxiety, and stress?
Why do you believe that every country needs to allow healthcare professionals to help patients suffering from life-threatening diseases with assisted suicide?
What causes self-treatment without professional supervision risky?
Withholding health-related information from patients and their family create an ethical dilemma for healthcare professionals
People should take the required measures to prevent diseases because prevention is better than cure

Position Paper Topics on Psychology

Geniuses are always eccentric.
Mental health education in school is mandatory.
How can schools equip students better to deal with mental health issues?
Counseling in schools should be mandatory.
The government should invest in providing better mental health facilities.
Personality and psychology are related to each other.
People who are addicted to substances have an inherent addictive personality.
Trauma or poor upbringing is responsible for the sexual orientation of an individual.
Cyberbullying should be a punishable offense.
Mental health issues should not be grounds for termination of employment.
People with mental health issues should be provided with employment opportunities too.
Behavioral psychology should be understood and studied by HR personnel.
Do mental health issues affect a relationship?
Mental health disorders can be treated at home by making small changes in routines and habits.
Impulsive decisions should not be viewed as negative.
Mental health issues are responsible for substance abuse.
There should be more stringent tests to evaluate the qualification of mental health professionals.
Teachers should be taught the basics of child development and psychology.
Is food addiction a cause for concern?
Freudian principles and their relevance in modern society.
Should complications arising from self-treatment be covered under insurance?
Should the punishment for medical malpractice be more stringent?
Should vaccination be obligatory?

Position Paper Topics on Criminal Justice

Freedom of speech represents a double standard by law.
Improving juvenile prison systems benefits society.
White-collar criminals should face the same prosecution as other criminals.
Building more prisons can curb the increase in crime rates.
Media coverage can influence the outcome of criminal justice.
Holistic practices like yoga and meditation can improve the mindset of prison inmates.
Banning illegal drugs will reduce dependency.
Police officers must have stricter ethical codes.
Domestic violence must not be limited to women.
Women misuse sexual violence laws.
Consuming drugs should remain a criminal offense.
Providing vocational training to inmates can reduce the rate of crime when they are released.
Minors committing heinous crimes should be tried as adults instead of juveniles.
Capital punishment should be abolished.
Is there a relationship between socioeconomic status and crime?
Should healthcare be a public sector or a private sector?
Student-centered education or teacher-centered education, which one is better?
Every nation should abolish the death penalty and strengthen its criminal law to create fear among people to restrict them from committing a crime
A sick person should not be punished if he/she violates the law due to a poor mental condition
Moral policing is ineffective in terms of reducing the rate of crime among the young generation

Outstanding Claim of Facts Topics

Liberty is freedom.
Medical research can be threatening to society.
The plea bargaining system is flawed.
The rights of artists are protected on the internet
Diversity in the workplace improves productivity
Online technologies are changing the way we live.
Unemployment leads to a surge in crime rates.
Religious persecution exists even in the modern world.
Media can influence election results.
Computers are changing the way people think.
Women are safer when they dress more conservatively.
The progress of a country can be determined by the status of women in society.
The loyalty of employees is determined by HR policies.
Pursuing arts can improve the longevity of an individual
Freedom of the press is necessary for the development of our civilization
Should children be given more time for free play or should they have scheduled activities?
Is equal gender representation in political office important?
Should you pay for music or should it be free?
Marijuana is less harmful compared to tobacco smoking
Changes in land use patterns in southern California over the past five decades have rendered the Salton Sea the single most important gateway in the West for migrating waterfowl
Public school performance in the USA has plummeted over the past 10 years
Public funded art and craft offer the most expensive piece of art and craft in the world

Amazing Claim of Value Topics

Video games versus traditional games.
Should concepts of nutrition be taught at home or at school?
Classical education versus modern education
Have cell phones changed the way we relate to each other?
Are virtual classes better than in-person classes?
Write about conducting experiments on human embryos.
Are liberal arts in education important?
Is it necessary to conduct beauty contests for young girls?
Is it important to give enormous incomes to elite athletes?
Nuclear families versus traditional joint families. Which is better for children?
Is the use of biological mutation in warfare morally acceptable?
Is private tuition worth the high costs?
Does the racial background of police officers determine how well they do their jobs?
Discuss the concept of “designer babies”
Texts and emails versus talking face-to-face.
Should parents use an authoritative approach to parenting or a liberal one?
Is it important to ban Barbie dolls?
“The Wizard of Oz is the greatest movie of all time”: Why or why not
Should Snowboarding be considered one of the greatest ways to spend a vacation?
Write about companies hiring human workers over the usage of autonomous machines.
“In one study, 37% of eighth-grade females who drank heavily reported attempting suicide, compared with 11% who did not drink” (NIH)
The death penalty is an inequitable, unjust capital punishment and does not deter crime

Position Paper Topics on Sports

College coaches have unreasonably high fees. Justify your opinion.
Write about the involvement of children in competitive sports.
Are overbearing sports parents helpful or harmful?
Is it important to grant compensation to college athletes in case of injury?
Write about the participation of female students in sports at schools and colleges.

Position Paper Topics on Economics

Banks are necessary. Share your views
Should we care more about global poverty?
Do you agree that “market force” leads to good outcomes?
Is it essential to limit the ownership of private property?
How do economic strategies like a “trade war” affect global stability?

Read more: Top 100 Excellent Economics Research Topic

Position Paper Topics on Technology and Social Media

Are the effects of living in a technological world positive or negative?
What role should technology play in education?
Is it necessary to replace Textbooks with i-Pads and online resources?
What are the applications of nanotechnology and its possible uses in the future?
What privacy policies should social media companies uphold?
Are social media memes ethical?
Should parents limit teenagers’ use of social media?
How is social media changing family relationships?
Depression and anxiety are the results of enhanced social media engagement.
What people should and should not post on social media?

Environmental Topic Ideas for Position Paper

What is the relationship between pollution and health ?
How can citizens be responsible for their local environment?
How does the current trend of species extinction compare to the past?
What can manufacturers do to help clean up the earth?
How can we encourage people to recycle more?
Is global warming a problem and if so, what can we do about it?
How can we be sure to provide clean water for everyone?
Should hunting be allowed?
How can we resolve the economy versus environment debate?
Explain how to stop the poaching of species that are about to extinct.

Position Paper Topics on Identity, Race, and Culture

Should churches work harder to be multi-racial?
What is the value of knowing your racial and cultural heritage?
How can parents help raise their children to be appreciative of other cultures?
Should schools teach multiculturalism?
Is it a good idea for people to adopt children from another ethnic group?
How does immigration from Latin America affect the culture of America?
To what extent does individual identity depend on ethnic affiliation?
What is the role of culture in the shaping of an identity?
Do you believe that reverse discrimination is a problem in the American community?

Position Paper Topics on Military

Is drone warfare ethical?
Should military spending in the U.S. increase or decrease?
How is cyber warfare becoming more important?
How do people justify war?
Is war inevitable?
How should the United States defend itself against terrorism?
Is the U.S. engaging in cyber-attacks on other countries?
Should the U.S. continue to act as a policeman for other countries?
How did 9/11 change the way Americans feel about themselves as a world power?
What might help establish peace?

Ideas Based on Immigration for Position Paper

What causes people to immigrate illegally?
How should we respond to the global problem of illegal immigration?
Should the U.S. have a visitor work program?
How to streamline legal immigration.
Who should and should not be allowed to immigrate?
Would a border fence solve the immigration problem in the U.S.A?
Should all states have laws giving policemen the right to require people to prove their legal status?
How has immigration affected the history of the U.S.A?
Should there be a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants currently in the U.S.A?
What is the relationship between immigration and nationality?
How to treat people with mental health problems.
Medical help is preferable to medical insurance for societies with limited resources.
Does it make more sense to teach nutrition lessons in the classroom or at home?
Which position is preferable, support for the unborn or support for life?
traditional games versus video games.
Should parents adopt a liberal or an authoritative style of parenting?
Should the healthcare industry be in the public or private sector?
Which is better: education focused on the student or education focused on the teacher?
Is it essential to ban Fast food commercials on TV to help people make better dietary decisions?
The tests used to determine whether mental health professionals are qualified need to be more demanding.

Position Paper Topics to Ace an A+ Grade

Progressive tax or proportional tax: what is better?
Does class size matter for the achievement of students?
How can pro-life and pro-choice organizations work together?
Is Barbie to blame for setting high beauty standards?
Why are organizations investing in corporate well-being programs in their workplace?
Discuss the psychology of xenophobic attitudes.
Is it possible to reduce abortions without passing laws?
Should schools start giving cash credits to students with high test scores?
Explain the impact of demonetization on the Indian economy
Do GMOs harm human health?

For writing a brilliant position paper, make use of the list of the best position paper topics suggested above. If you find the position paper topic selection and writing process tougher, feel free to call us.

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Writing a Paper: Thesis Statements

Basics of thesis statements.

The thesis statement is the brief articulation of your paper's central argument and purpose. You might hear it referred to as simply a "thesis." Every scholarly paper should have a thesis statement, and strong thesis statements are concise, specific, and arguable. Concise means the thesis is short: perhaps one or two sentences for a shorter paper. Specific means the thesis deals with a narrow and focused topic, appropriate to the paper's length. Arguable means that a scholar in your field could disagree (or perhaps already has!).

Strong thesis statements address specific intellectual questions, have clear positions, and use a structure that reflects the overall structure of the paper. Read on to learn more about constructing a strong thesis statement.

Being Specific

This thesis statement has no specific argument:

Needs Improvement: In this essay, I will examine two scholarly articles to find similarities and differences.

This statement is concise, but it is neither specific nor arguable—a reader might wonder, "Which scholarly articles? What is the topic of this paper? What field is the author writing in?" Additionally, the purpose of the paper—to "examine…to find similarities and differences" is not of a scholarly level. Identifying similarities and differences is a good first step, but strong academic argument goes further, analyzing what those similarities and differences might mean or imply.

Better: In this essay, I will argue that Bowler's (2003) autocratic management style, when coupled with Smith's (2007) theory of social cognition, can reduce the expenses associated with employee turnover.

The new revision here is still concise, as well as specific and arguable. We can see that it is specific because the writer is mentioning (a) concrete ideas and (b) exact authors. We can also gather the field (business) and the topic (management and employee turnover). The statement is arguable because the student goes beyond merely comparing; he or she draws conclusions from that comparison ("can reduce the expenses associated with employee turnover").

Making a Unique Argument

This thesis draft repeats the language of the writing prompt without making a unique argument:

Needs Improvement: The purpose of this essay is to monitor, assess, and evaluate an educational program for its strengths and weaknesses. Then, I will provide suggestions for improvement.

You can see here that the student has simply stated the paper's assignment, without articulating specifically how he or she will address it. The student can correct this error simply by phrasing the thesis statement as a specific answer to the assignment prompt.

Better: Through a series of student interviews, I found that Kennedy High School's antibullying program was ineffective. In order to address issues of conflict between students, I argue that Kennedy High School should embrace policies outlined by the California Department of Education (2010).

Words like "ineffective" and "argue" show here that the student has clearly thought through the assignment and analyzed the material; he or she is putting forth a specific and debatable position. The concrete information ("student interviews," "antibullying") further prepares the reader for the body of the paper and demonstrates how the student has addressed the assignment prompt without just restating that language.

Creating a Debate

This thesis statement includes only obvious fact or plot summary instead of argument:

Needs Improvement: Leadership is an important quality in nurse educators.

A good strategy to determine if your thesis statement is too broad (and therefore, not arguable) is to ask yourself, "Would a scholar in my field disagree with this point?" Here, we can see easily that no scholar is likely to argue that leadership is an unimportant quality in nurse educators. The student needs to come up with a more arguable claim, and probably a narrower one; remember that a short paper needs a more focused topic than a dissertation.

Better: Roderick's (2009) theory of participatory leadership is particularly appropriate to nurse educators working within the emergency medicine field, where students benefit most from collegial and kinesthetic learning.

Here, the student has identified a particular type of leadership ("participatory leadership"), narrowing the topic, and has made an arguable claim (this type of leadership is "appropriate" to a specific type of nurse educator). Conceivably, a scholar in the nursing field might disagree with this approach. The student's paper can now proceed, providing specific pieces of evidence to support the arguable central claim.

Choosing the Right Words

This thesis statement uses large or scholarly-sounding words that have no real substance:

Needs Improvement: Scholars should work to seize metacognitive outcomes by harnessing discipline-based networks to empower collaborative infrastructures.

There are many words in this sentence that may be buzzwords in the student's field or key terms taken from other texts, but together they do not communicate a clear, specific meaning. Sometimes students think scholarly writing means constructing complex sentences using special language, but actually it's usually a stronger choice to write clear, simple sentences. When in doubt, remember that your ideas should be complex, not your sentence structure.

Better: Ecologists should work to educate the U.S. public on conservation methods by making use of local and national green organizations to create a widespread communication plan.

Notice in the revision that the field is now clear (ecology), and the language has been made much more field-specific ("conservation methods," "green organizations"), so the reader is able to see concretely the ideas the student is communicating.

Leaving Room for Discussion

This thesis statement is not capable of development or advancement in the paper:

Needs Improvement: There are always alternatives to illegal drug use.

This sample thesis statement makes a claim, but it is not a claim that will sustain extended discussion. This claim is the type of claim that might be appropriate for the conclusion of a paper, but in the beginning of the paper, the student is left with nowhere to go. What further points can be made? If there are "always alternatives" to the problem the student is identifying, then why bother developing a paper around that claim? Ideally, a thesis statement should be complex enough to explore over the length of the entire paper.

Better: The most effective treatment plan for methamphetamine addiction may be a combination of pharmacological and cognitive therapy, as argued by Baker (2008), Smith (2009), and Xavier (2011).

In the revised thesis, you can see the student make a specific, debatable claim that has the potential to generate several pages' worth of discussion. When drafting a thesis statement, think about the questions your thesis statement will generate: What follow-up inquiries might a reader have? In the first example, there are almost no additional questions implied, but the revised example allows for a good deal more exploration.

Thesis Mad Libs

If you are having trouble getting started, try using the models below to generate a rough model of a thesis statement! These models are intended for drafting purposes only and should not appear in your final work.

In this essay, I argue ____, using ______ to assert _____.
While scholars have often argued ______, I argue______, because_______.
Through an analysis of ______, I argue ______, which is important because_______.

Words to Avoid and to Embrace

When drafting your thesis statement, avoid words like explore, investigate, learn, compile, summarize , and explain to describe the main purpose of your paper. These words imply a paper that summarizes or "reports," rather than synthesizing and analyzing.

Instead of the terms above, try words like argue, critique, question , and interrogate . These more analytical words may help you begin strongly, by articulating a specific, critical, scholarly position.

Read Kayla's blog post for tips on taking a stand in a well-crafted thesis statement.

Related Resources

Didn't find what you need? Email us at [email protected] .

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Thesis Helpers

Find the best tips and advice to improve your writing. Or, have a top expert write your paper.

141 Best Position Paper Topics: Use Them Today!

Position paper topics present you with controversial subjects that can be evaluated in detail for their pros and cons. These papers, often known as argumentative papers require students to choose a position or a stand on the topic and provide arguments that can support their stance effectively.

The simplest way to choose good position paper topics is to use popular subjects that interest you. Choosing subjects that go against common values, discuss social taboos or have contrasting mass opinions can help you make a compelling argument. Here is a list of position paper ideas from different fields of study to help you choose the best.

Best Position Paper Topics on Health

Position paper research topics on health have a very broad scope. They can discuss current medical practices, common health issues and the various modern influences on good healthcare.

Should free healthcare for all become mandatory?
Is a medical experiment on animals ethical?
Is it a good idea to use the medical knowledge that was gained by experiments in Nazi camps in modern medicine?
Should forcible quarantining of individuals with STDs like HIV aids be imposed?
Should abortion be legalized?
Is drug addiction a disease?
Should military service personnel be allowed to sue military doctors for any medical malpractice?
Is providing financial subsidies to senior citizens necessary?
Should healthcare insurance be mandatory?
Are social conditions in the 21 st century impacting healthcare?
Is online medical consultation a good idea?
Has modern technology and its impact on mortality rate influenced society negatively?
Should equal access to COVID 19 Vaccine be provided?
Do race and ethnicity have an impact on the health of individuals?
Should HIV testing before marriage be made mandatory?
Should the government provide healthcare aid to economically backward sectors?
Should the government support independent medical research?
Should the government invest in improved healthcare services in a country?
Is it the responsibility of the private sector to improve healthcare facilities
Should healthcare be provided in prisons?
Pros and cons of the electronic health record system.
Should euthanasia be permitted?
The pros and cons of the cosmetic surgery industry.
Should working shifts for medical staff be more defined?
The advantages and disadvantages of healthcare insurance?
Should complications arising from self-treatment be covered under insurance?
Should the punishment for medical malpractice be more stringent?
Should vaccination be obligatory?
Should doctors be allowed to advertise certain medication??
Should translators be employed in hospitals that treat minorities?

Interesting Claim of Fact Topics

These topics for position paper discuss certain claims and their relevance in the current world. They are also aimed at checking if these claimed facts are true.

Media can influence election results.
Elected female officers are significantly different from elected male officers.
Religious persecution exists even in the modern world.
Liberty is freedom.
Adding days to the average school year improves learning
Teenagers who engage in promiscuous sex are more likely to develop STDs.
Computers are changing the way people think.
Unemployment leads to a surge in crime rates.
Women are safer when they dress more conservatively.
It is a good idea to replace textbooks with online resources.
Online technologies are changing the way we live.
The use of social media by teens must be limited by parents.
Social media companies must uphold privacy policies.
There is strength in numbers
The progress of a country can be determined by the status of women in society.
Spare the rod and spoil the child.
Diversity in the workplace improves productivity
Diversity in the workplace is important to retain employees
The loyalty of employees is determined by HR policies.
China is the next superpower.
Media is responsible for growing secular tensions
Freedom of the press is necessary for the development of our civilization
The rights of artists are protected on the internet
Pursuing arts can improve the longevity of an individual
Honesty is the best policy
The plea bargaining system is flawed.
Banning TV advertisements for fast food can improve food choices made by individuals
Banning alcohol advertising can help reduce dependence.
Medical research can be threatening to society.
Sex education in school reduces the occurrence of STDs.

Position Paper Topics on Psychology

Psychology encompasses several taboo subjects that can be discussed elaborately in position papers. Here is a list of the best topics for position papers related to psychology:

Mental health education in school is mandatory.
People must seek professional intervention for mental health issues.
Depression and anxiety are the result of enhanced social media engagement.
Bullying in schools should have more stringent rules and repercussions.
Cyberbullying should be a punishable offence.
The government should invest in providing better mental health facilities.
Mental health should be covered by insurance.
People who are addicted to substances have an inherent addictive personality.
Sexual orientation is a mental health issue.
Trauma or poor upbringing is responsible for the sexual orientation of an individual.
Counselling in schools should be mandatory.
There should be more stringent tests to evaluate the qualification of mental health professionals.
The increase in individual mental health experts and professionals is doing more bad than good.
People with mental health issues should be provided with employment opportunities too.
Mental health issues should not be grounds for termination of employment.
Mental health is as important as physical health.
Mental health issues are responsible for substance abuse.
Behavioural psychology should be understood and studied by HR personnel.
Teachers should be taught the basics of child development and psychology.
Studying child psychology helps improve parenting practices.
Freudian principles and their relevance in modern society.
Impulsive decisions should not be viewed as negative.
Military personnel should be provided with better mental health care.
Do mental health issues affect a relationship?
How can schools equip students better to deal with mental health issues?
The older generation is more stable when it comes to mental health.
Is food addiction a cause for concern?
Mental health disorders can be treated at home by making small changes in routine and habits.
Geniuses are always eccentric.
Personality and psychology are related to each other.

Criminal Justice Position Paper Topics

These position argument topics are among the most controversial subjects, making for a great research paper:

White-collar criminals should face the same prosecution as other criminals.
Media coverage can influence the outcome of criminal justice.
Should media be allowed to cover criminal cases related to celebrities and prominent individuals?
Prisons the treat inmates ethically are better than those with harsh living conditions.
It is necessary for the government to invest in better living conditions for inmates.
Building more prisons can curb the increase in crime rates.
Minors committing heinous crimes should be tried as adults instead of juveniles.
Improving juvenile prison systems benefits society.
Drugs are the major cause of violence in many countries. The laws applicable must be more stringent.
Banning illegal drugs will reduce dependency.
Women misuse sexual violence laws.
Domestic violence must not be limited to women.
Police officers are usually given a more lenient trial and treatment in the justice system.
Police officers must have stricter ethical codes.
Consuming drugs should remain a criminal offence.
Freedom of speech represents a double standard by law. Explain.
The term of inmates should be reduced if their behaviour improves significantly in prison.
Providing vocational training to inmates can reduce the rate of crime when they are released.
Inmates should be allowed to earn a living in prison.
Better mental health assistance should be provided to inmates in prison.
Holistic practices like yoga and meditation can improve the mindset of prison inmates.

If you have a tight deadline or need a high-quality position paper, there are experts for hire who can help you. You can be assured that your information will be confidential and that you will be able to submit a paper that guarantees great grades.

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How to write a thesis statement + examples

What is a thesis statement?

Is a thesis statement a question, how do you write a good thesis statement, how do i know if my thesis statement is good, examples of thesis statements, helpful resources on how to write a thesis statement, frequently asked questions about writing a thesis statement, related articles.

A thesis statement is the main argument of your paper or thesis.

The thesis statement is one of the most important elements of any piece of academic writing . It is a brief statement of your paper’s main argument. Essentially, you are stating what you will be writing about.

You can see your thesis statement as an answer to a question. While it also contains the question, it should really give an answer to the question with new information and not just restate or reiterate it.

Your thesis statement is part of your introduction. Learn more about how to write a good thesis introduction in our introduction guide .

A thesis statement is not a question. A statement must be arguable and provable through evidence and analysis. While your thesis might stem from a research question, it should be in the form of a statement.

Tip: A thesis statement is typically 1-2 sentences. For a longer project like a thesis, the statement may be several sentences or a paragraph.

A good thesis statement needs to do the following:

Condense the main idea of your thesis into one or two sentences.
Answer your project’s main research question.
Clearly state your position in relation to the topic .
Make an argument that requires support or evidence.

Once you have written down a thesis statement, check if it fulfills the following criteria:

Your statement needs to be provable by evidence. As an argument, a thesis statement needs to be debatable.
Your statement needs to be precise. Do not give away too much information in the thesis statement and do not load it with unnecessary information.
Your statement cannot say that one solution is simply right or simply wrong as a matter of fact. You should draw upon verified facts to persuade the reader of your solution, but you cannot just declare something as right or wrong.

As previously mentioned, your thesis statement should answer a question.

If the question is:

What do you think the City of New York should do to reduce traffic congestion?

A good thesis statement restates the question and answers it:

In this paper, I will argue that the City of New York should focus on providing exclusive lanes for public transport and adaptive traffic signals to reduce traffic congestion by the year 2035.

Here is another example. If the question is:

How can we end poverty?

A good thesis statement should give more than one solution to the problem in question:

In this paper, I will argue that introducing universal basic income can help reduce poverty and positively impact the way we work.

The Writing Center of the University of North Carolina has a list of questions to ask to see if your thesis is strong .

A thesis statement is part of the introduction of your paper. It is usually found in the first or second paragraph to let the reader know your research purpose from the beginning.

In general, a thesis statement should have one or two sentences. But the length really depends on the overall length of your project. Take a look at our guide about the length of thesis statements for more insight on this topic.

Here is a list of Thesis Statement Examples that will help you understand better how to write them.

Every good essay should include a thesis statement as part of its introduction, no matter the academic level. Of course, if you are a high school student you are not expected to have the same type of thesis as a PhD student.

Here is a great YouTube tutorial showing How To Write An Essay: Thesis Statements .

Introduction

Course Overview and Policy Statements

CO301 as a Core Course

Core Detail: Instructional Modes

Core Detail: Course Objectives

Core Detail: Weekly Schedule

Core Detail: Methods of Evaluation

Sample Weekly Outline

Portfolios?

Portfolio Overview - Thomas

Portfolio Process Requirements - Thomas

Portfolio Grading (Holtcamp)

Portfolios: Promises, Problems, Practices (Kiefer)

Traditional And/Or Portfolio Grading? (Gogela)

Defining the Humanities

Collaborative Activity - Myers

Humanities Defined - Myers

Text Analysis

Text Analysis Assignments

Individual Topics

Individual Topic Assignments

Individual Topic Activities

Reflective Writing

Position Paper - Myers

25 Thesis Statement Examples

thesis statement examples and definition, explained below

A thesis statement is needed in an essay or dissertation . There are multiple types of thesis statements – but generally we can divide them into expository and argumentative. An expository statement is a statement of fact (common in expository essays and process essays) while an argumentative statement is a statement of opinion (common in argumentative essays and dissertations). Below are examples of each.

Strong Thesis Statement Examples

school uniforms and dress codes, explained below

1. School Uniforms

“Mandatory school uniforms should be implemented in educational institutions as they promote a sense of equality, reduce distractions, and foster a focused and professional learning environment.”

Best For: Argumentative Essay or Debate

Read More: School Uniforms Pros and Cons

nature vs nurture examples and definition

2. Nature vs Nurture

“This essay will explore how both genetic inheritance and environmental factors equally contribute to shaping human behavior and personality.”

Best For: Compare and Contrast Essay

3. American Dream

“The American Dream, a symbol of opportunity and success, is increasingly elusive in today’s socio-economic landscape, revealing deeper inequalities in society.”

Best For: Persuasive Essay

4. Social Media

“Social media has revolutionized communication and societal interactions, but it also presents significant challenges related to privacy, mental health, and misinformation.”

Best For: Expository Essay

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Social Media

5. Globalization

“Globalization has created a world more interconnected than ever before, yet it also amplifies economic disparities and cultural homogenization.”

6. Urbanization

“Urbanization drives economic growth and social development, but it also poses unique challenges in sustainability and quality of life.”

7. Immigration

“Immigration enriches receiving countries culturally and economically, outweighing any perceived social or economic burdens.”

8. Cultural Identity

“In a globalized world, maintaining distinct cultural identities is crucial for preserving cultural diversity and fostering global understanding, despite the challenges of assimilation and homogenization.”

Best For: Argumentative Essay

Read More: Learn about Cultural Identity

technology examples and definition explained below

9. Technology

“Medical technologies in care institutions in Toronto has increased subjcetive outcomes for patients with chronic pain.”

Best For: Research Paper

10. Capitalism vs Socialism

“The debate between capitalism and socialism centers on balancing economic freedom and inequality, each presenting distinct approaches to resource distribution and social welfare.”

cultural heritage examples and definition

11. Cultural Heritage

“The preservation of cultural heritage is essential, not only for cultural identity but also for educating future generations, outweighing the arguments for modernization and commercialization.”

pseudoscience examples and definition, explained below

12. Pseudoscience

“Pseudoscience, characterized by a lack of empirical support, continues to influence public perception and decision-making, often at the expense of scientific credibility.”

13. Free Will

“The concept of free will is largely an illusion, with human behavior and decisions predominantly determined by biological and environmental factors.”

14. Gender Roles

“Traditional gender roles are outdated and harmful, restricting individual freedoms and perpetuating gender inequalities in modern society.”

Read More: What are Traditional Gender Roles?

work-life balance examples and definition, explained below

15. Work-Life Ballance

“The trend to online and distance work in the 2020s led to improved subjective feelings of work-life balance but simultaneously increased self-reported loneliness.”

16. Universal Healthcare

“Universal healthcare is a fundamental human right and the most effective system for ensuring health equity and societal well-being, outweighing concerns about government involvement and costs.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Universal Healthcare

17. Minimum Wage

“The implementation of a fair minimum wage is vital for reducing economic inequality, yet it is often contentious due to its potential impact on businesses and employment rates.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Raising the Minimum Wage

18. Homework

“The homework provided throughout this semester has enabled me to achieve greater self-reflection, identify gaps in my knowledge, and reinforce those gaps through spaced repetition.”

Best For: Reflective Essay

Read More: Reasons Homework Should be Banned

charter schools vs public schools, explained below

19. Charter Schools

“Charter schools offer alternatives to traditional public education, promising innovation and choice but also raising questions about accountability and educational equity.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Charter Schools

20. Effects of the Internet

“The Internet has drastically reshaped human communication, access to information, and societal dynamics, generally with a net positive effect on society.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of the Internet

affirmative action example and definition, explained below

21. Affirmative Action

“Affirmative action is essential for rectifying historical injustices and achieving true meritocracy in education and employment, contrary to claims of reverse discrimination.”

Best For: Essay

Read More: Affirmative Action Pros and Cons

soft skills examples and definition, explained below

22. Soft Skills

“Soft skills, such as communication and empathy, are increasingly recognized as essential for success in the modern workforce, and therefore should be a strong focus at school and university level.”

23. Moral Panic

“Moral panic, often fueled by media and cultural anxieties, can lead to exaggerated societal responses that sometimes overlook rational analysis and evidence.”

24. Freedom of the Press

“Freedom of the press is critical for democracy and informed citizenship, yet it faces challenges from censorship, media bias, and the proliferation of misinformation.”

Read More: Freedom of the Press Examples

25. Mass Media

“Mass media shapes public opinion and cultural norms, but its concentration of ownership and commercial interests raise concerns about bias and the quality of information.”

Best For: Critical Analysis

Checklist: How to use your Thesis Statement

✅ Position: If your statement is for an argumentative or persuasive essay, or a dissertation, ensure it takes a clear stance on the topic. ✅ Specificity: It addresses a specific aspect of the topic, providing focus for the essay. ✅ Conciseness: Typically, a thesis statement is one to two sentences long. It should be concise, clear, and easily identifiable. ✅ Direction: The thesis statement guides the direction of the essay, providing a roadmap for the argument, narrative, or explanation. ✅ Evidence-based: While the thesis statement itself doesn’t include evidence, it sets up an argument that can be supported with evidence in the body of the essay. ✅ Placement: Generally, the thesis statement is placed at the end of the introduction of an essay.

Try These AI Prompts – Thesis Statement Generator!

One way to brainstorm thesis statements is to get AI to brainstorm some for you! Try this AI prompt:

💡 AI PROMPT FOR EXPOSITORY THESIS STATEMENT I am writing an essay on [TOPIC] and these are the instructions my teacher gave me: [INSTUCTIONS]. I want you to create an expository thesis statement that doesn’t argue a position, but demonstrates depth of knowledge about the topic.

💡 AI PROMPT FOR ARGUMENTATIVE THESIS STATEMENT I am writing an essay on [TOPIC] and these are the instructions my teacher gave me: [INSTRUCTIONS]. I want you to create an argumentative thesis statement that clearly takes a position on this issue.

💡 AI PROMPT FOR COMPARE AND CONTRAST THESIS STATEMENT I am writing a compare and contrast essay that compares [Concept 1] and [Concept2]. Give me 5 potential single-sentence thesis statements that remain objective.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 15 Animism Examples
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 10 Magical Thinking Examples
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Social-Emotional Learning (Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons)
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ What is Educational Psychology?

Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements

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Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement

1. Determine what kind of paper you are writing:

An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.
An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.
An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.

If you are writing a text that does not fall under these three categories (e.g., a narrative), a thesis statement somewhere in the first paragraph could still be helpful to your reader.

2. Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence.

3. The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper.

4. Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what you have discussed in the paper.

Thesis Statement Examples

Example of an analytical thesis statement:

The paper that follows should:

Explain the analysis of the college admission process
Explain the challenge facing admissions counselors

Example of an expository (explanatory) thesis statement:

Explain how students spend their time studying, attending class, and socializing with peers

Example of an argumentative thesis statement:

Present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that students should pursue community projects before entering college

10.5 Writing Process: Creating a Position Argument

Learning outcomes.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Demonstrate brainstorming processes and tools as means to discover topics, ideas, positions, and details.
Apply recursive strategies for organizing drafting, collaborating, peer reviewing, revising, rewriting, and editing.
Compose a position argument that integrates the writer’s ideas with those from appropriate sources.
Give and act on productive feedback to works in progress.
Apply or challenge common conventions of language or grammar in composing and revising.

Now is the time to try your hand at writing a position argument. Your instructor may provide some possible topics or a singular topic. If your instructor allows you to choose your own topic, consider a general subject you feel strongly about and whether you can provide enough support to develop that subject into an essay. For instance, suppose you think about a general subject such as “adulting.” In looking back at what you have learned while becoming an adult, you think of what you wish you had known during your early teenage years. These thoughts might lead you to brainstorm about details of the effects of money in your life or your friends’ lives. In reviewing your brainstorming, you might zero in on one topic you feel strongly about and think it provides enough depth to develop into a position argument. Suppose your brainstorming leads you to think about negative financial concerns you or some of your friends have encountered. Thinking about what could have helped address those concerns, you decide that a mandated high school course in financial literacy would have been useful. This idea might lead you to formulate your working thesis statement —first draft of your thesis statement—like this: To help students learn how to make sensible financial decisions, a mandatory class in financial literacy should be offered in high schools throughout the country.

Once you decide on a topic and begin moving through the writing process, you may need to fine-tune or even change the topic and rework your initial idea. This fine-tuning may come as you brainstorm, later when you begin drafting, or after you have completed a draft and submitted it to your peers for constructive criticism. These possibilities occur because the writing process is recursive —that is, it moves back and forth almost simultaneously and maybe even haphazardly at times, from planning to revising to editing to drafting, back to planning, and so on.

Summary of Assignment

Write a position argument on a controversial issue that you choose or that your instructor assigns to you. If you are free to choose your own topic, consider one of the following:

The legal system would be strengthened if ______________________.
The growing use of technology in college classrooms is weakening _____________.
For safety reasons, public signage should be _________________.
For entrance into college, standardized testing _________________________.
In relation to the cost of living, the current minimum wage _______________________.
During a pandemic, America __________________________.
As a requirement to graduate, college students __________________________.
To guarantee truthfulness of their content, social media platforms have the right to _________________.
To ensure inclusive and diverse representation of people of all races, learning via virtual classrooms _________________.
Segments of American cultures have differing rules of acceptable grammar, so in a college classroom ___________________.

In addition, if you have the opportunity to choose your own topic and wish to search further, take the lead from trailblazer Charles Blow and look to media for newsworthy “trends.” Find a controversial issue that affects you or people you know, and take a position on it. As you craft your argument, identify a position opposing yours, and then refute it with reasoning and evidence. Be sure to gather information on the issue so that you can support your position sensibly with well-developed ideas and evidence.

Another Lens. To gain a different perspective on your issue, consider again the people affected by it. Your position probably affects different people in different ways. For example, if you are writing that the minimum wage should be raised, then you might easily view the issue through the lens of minimum-wage workers, especially those who struggle to make ends meet. However, if you look at the issue through the lens of those who employ minimum-wage workers, your viewpoint might change. Depending on your topic and thesis, you may need to use print or online sources to gain insight into different perspectives.

For additional information about minimum-wage workers, you could consult

printed material available in your college library;
databases in your college library; and
pros and cons of raising the minimum wage;
what happens after the minimum wage is raised;
how to live on a minimum-wage salary;
how a raise in minimum wage is funded; and
minimum wage in various U.S. states.

To gain more insight about your topic, adopt a stance that opposes your original position and brainstorm ideas from that viewpoint. Begin by gathering evidence that would help you refute your previous stance and appeal to your audience.

Quick Launch: Working Thesis Frames and Organization of Ideas

After you have decided on your topic, the next step is to arrive at your working thesis. You probably have a good idea of the direction your working thesis will take. That is, you know where you stand on the issue or problem, but you are not quite sure of how to word your stance to share it with readers. At this point, then, use brainstorming to think critically about your position and to discover the best way to phrase your statement.

For example, after reading an article discussing different state-funded community college programs, one student thought that a similar program was needed in Alabama, her state. However, she was not sure how the program worked. To begin, she composed and answered “ reporters’ questions ” such as these:

What does a state-funded community college program do? pays for part or all of the tuition of a two-year college student
Who qualifies for the program? high school graduates and GED holders
Who benefits from this? students needing financial assistance, employers, and Alabama residents
Why is this needed? some can’t afford to go to college; tuition goes up every year; colleges would be more diverse if everyone who wanted to go could afford to go
Where would the program be available? at all public community colleges
When could someone apply for the program? any time
How can the state fund this ? use lottery income, like other states

The student then reviewed her responses, altered her original idea to include funding through a lottery, and composed this working thesis:

student sample text To provide equal educational opportunities for all residents, the state of Alabama should create a lottery to completely fund tuition at community colleges. end student sample text

Remember that a strong thesis for a position should

state your stance on a debatable issue;
reflect your purpose of persuasion; and
be based on your opinion or observation.

When you first consider your topic for an argumentative work, think about the reasoning for your position and the evidence you will need—that is, think about the “because” part of your argument. For instance, if you want to argue that your college should provide free Wi-Fi for every student, extend your stance to include “because” and then develop your reasoning and evidence. In that case, your argument might read like this: Ervin Community College should provide free Wi-Fi for all students because students may not have Internet access at home.

Note that the “because” part of your argument may come at the beginning or the end and may be implied in your wording.

As you develop your thesis, you may need help funneling all of your ideas. Return to the possibilities you have in mind, and select the ideas that you think are strongest, that recur most often, or that you have the most to say about. Then use those ideas to fill in one of the following sentence frames to develop your working thesis. Feel free to alter the frame as necessary to fit your position. While there is no limit to the frames that are possible, these may help get you started.

________________ is caused/is not caused by ________________, and _____________ should be done.

Example: A declining enrollment rate in college is caused by high tuition rates, and an immediate freeze on the cost of tuition should be applied.

______________ should/should not be allowed (to) ________________ for a number of reasons.

Example: People who do not wear masks during a pandemic should not be allowed to enter public buildings for a number of reasons.

Because (of) ________________, ___________________ will happen/continue to happen.

Example: Because of a lack of emphasis on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) education in public schools, America will continue to lag behind many other countries.

_____________ is similar to/nothing like ________________ because ______________.

Example: College classes are nothing like high school classes because in college, more responsibility is on the student, the classes are less frequent but more intense, and the work outside class takes more time to complete.

______________ can be/cannot be thought of as __________________ because ______________.

Example: The Black Lives Matter movement can be thought of as an extension of the Civil Rights movement from the 1950s and 1960s because it shares the same mission of fighting racism and ending violence against Black people.

Next, consider the details you will need to support your thesis. The Aristotelian argument structure, named for the Greek philosopher Aristotle , is one that may help you frame the draft of your position argument. For this method, use something like the following chart. In Writing Process: Creating a Position Argument, you will find a similar organizer that you can copy and use for your assignment.

Drafting: Rhetorical Appeals and Types of Supporting Evidence

To persuade your audience to support your position or argument, consider various rhetorical appeals— ethos, logos, pathos, and kairos—and the types of evidence to support your sound reasoning. See Reasoning Strategies: Improving Critical Thinking for more information on reasoning strategies and types of evidence.

Rhetorical Appeals

To establish your credibility, to show readers you are trustworthy, to win over their hearts, and to set your issue in an appropriate time frame to influence readers, consider how you present and discuss your evidence throughout the paper.

Appeal to ethos . To establish credibility in her paper arguing for expanded mental health services, a student writer used these reliable sources: a student survey on mental health issues, data from the International Association of Counseling Services (a professional organization), and information from an interview with a campus mental health counselor.
Appeal to logos . To support her sound reasoning, the student writer approached the issue rationally, using data and credible evidence to explain the current situation and its effects.
Appeal to pathos . To show compassion and arouse audience empathy, the student writer shared the experience of a student on her campus who struggled with anxiety and depression.
Appeal to kairos . To appeal to kairos, the student emphasized the immediate need for these services, as more students are now aware of their particular mental health issues and trying to deal with them.

The way in which you present and discuss your evidence will reflect the appeals you use. Consider using sentence frames to reflect specific appeals. Remember, too, that sentence frames can be composed in countless ways. Here are a few frames to get you thinking critically about how to phrase your ideas while considering different types of appeals.

Appeal to ethos: According to __________________, an expert in ______________, __________________ should/should not happen because ________________________.

Appeal to ethos: Although ___________________is not an ideal situation for _________________, it does have its benefits.

Appeal to logos: If ____________________ is/is not done, then understandably, _________________ will happen.

Appeal to logos: This information suggests that ____________________ needs to be investigated further because ____________________________.

Appeal to pathos: The story of _____________________ is uplifting/heartbreaking/hopeful/tragic and illustrates the need for ____________________.

Appeal to pathos: ___________________ is/are suffering from ________________, and that is something no one wants.

Appeal to kairos: _________________ must be addressed now because ________________ .

Appeal to kairos: These are times when ______________ ; therefore, _____________ is appropriate/necessary.

Types of Supporting Evidence

Depending on the point you are making to support your position or argument, certain types of evidence may be more effective than others. Also, your instructor may require you to include a certain type of evidence. Choose the evidence that will be most effective to support the reasoning behind each point you make to support your thesis statement. Common types of evidence are these:

Renada G., a junior at Powell College South, worked as a waitress for 15 hours a week during her first three semesters of college. But in her sophomore year, when her parents were laid off during the pandemic, Renada had to increase her hours to 35 per week and sell her car to stay in school. Her grades started slipping, and she began experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. When she called the campus health center to make an appointment for counseling, Renada was told she would have to wait two weeks before she could be seen.

Here is part of how Lyndon B. Johnson defined the Great Society: “But most of all, the Great Society is not a safe harbor, a resting place, a final objective, a finished work. It is a challenge constantly renewed, beckoning us toward a destiny where the meaning of our lives matches the marvelous products of our labor.”

Bowen Lake is nestled in verdant foothills, lush with tall grasses speckled with wildflowers. Around the lake, the sweet scent of the purple and yellow flowers fills the air, and the fragrance of the hearty pines sweeps down the hillsides in a westerly breeze. Wood frogs’ and crickets’ songs suddenly stop, as the blowing of moose calling their calves echoes across the lake’s soundless surface. Or this was the scene before the deadly destruction of fires caused by climate change.

When elaborating on America’s beauty being in danger, Johnson says, “The water we drink, the food we eat, the very air that we breathe, are threatened with pollution. Our parks are overcrowded, our seashores overburdened. Green fields and dense forests are disappearing.”

Speaking about President Lyndon B. Johnson and the Vietnam War, noted historian and Johnson biographer Doris Kearns Goodwin said, “It seemed the hole in his heart from the loss of work was too big to fill.”

Charles Blow has worked at the Shreveport Times , The Detroit News , National Geographic , and The New York Times .

When interviewed by George Rorick and asked about the identities of his readers, Charles Blow said that readers’ emails do not elaborate on descriptions of who the people are. However, “the kinds of comments that they offer are very much on the thesis of the essay.”

In his speech, Lyndon B. Johnson says, “The Great Society is a place where every child can find knowledge to enrich his mind and to enlarge his talents.”

To support the need for change in classrooms, Johnson uses these statistics: “Each year more than 100,000 high school graduates, with proved ability, do not enter college because they cannot afford it. And if we cannot educate today’s youth, what will we do in 1970 when elementary school enrollment will be five million greater than 1960?”

Visuals : graphs, photographs, charts, or maps used in addition to written or spoken information.

Brainstorm for Supporting Points

Use one or more brainstorming techniques, such as a web diagram as shown in Figure 10.8 or the details generated from “because” statements, to develop ideas or particular points in support of your thesis. Your goal is to get as many ideas as possible. At this time, do not be concerned about how ideas flow, whether you will ultimately use an idea (you want more ideas than will end up in your finished paper), spelling, or punctuation.

When you have finished, look over your brainstorming. Then circle three to five points to incorporate into your draft. Also, plan to answer “ reporters’ questions ” to provide readers with any needed background information. For example, the student writing about the need for more mental health counselors on her campus created and answered these questions:

What is needed? More mental health counseling is needed for Powell College South.

Who would benefit from this? The students and faculty would benefit.

Why is this needed? The college does not have enough counselors to meet all students’ needs.
Where are more counselors needed? More counselors are needed at the south campus.
When are the counselors needed? Counselors need to be hired now and be available both day and night to accommodate students’ schedules.
How can the college afford this ? Instead of hiring daycare workers, the college could use students and faculty from the Early Childhood Education program to run the program and use the extra money to pay the counselors.

Using Logic

In a position argument, the appropriate use of logic is especially important for readers to trust what you write. It is also important to look for logic in material you read and possibly cite in your paper so that you can determine whether writers’ claims are reasonable. Two main categories of logical thought are inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning .

Inductive reasoning moves from specific to broad ideas. You begin by collecting details, observations, incidents, or facts; examining them; and drawing a conclusion from them. Suppose, for example, you are writing about attendance in college classes. For three weeks, you note the attendance numbers in all your Monday, Wednesday, and Friday classes (specific details), and you note that attendance is lower on Friday than on the other days (a specific detail). From these observations, you determine that many students prefer not to attend classes on Fridays (your conclusion).
Deductive reasoning moves from general to specific ideas. You begin with a hypothesis or premise , a general concept, and then examine possibilities that would lead to a specific and logical conclusion. For instance, suppose you think that opportunities for foreign students at your college are inadequate (general concept). You examine the specific parts of that concept (e.g., whether your college provides multicultural clubs, help with language skills, or work-study opportunities) and determine that those opportunities are not available. You then determine that opportunities for foreign students are lacking at your college.

Logical Fallacies and Propaganda

Fallacies are mistakes in logic. Readers and writers should be aware of these when they creep into writing, indicating that the points the writers make may not be valid. Two common fallacies are hasty generalizations and circular arguments. See Glance at Genre: Rhetorical Strategies for more on logical fallacies.

A hasty generalization is a conclusion based on either inadequate or biased evidence. Consider this statement: “Two students in Math 103 were nervous before their recent test; therefore, all students in that class must have text anxiety.” This is a hasty generalization because the second part of the statement (the generalization about all students in the class) is inadequate to support what the writer noted about only two students.
A circular argument is one that merely restates what has already been said. Consider this statement: “ The Hate U Give is a well-written book because Angie Thomas, its author, is a good novelist.” The statement that Thomas is a good novelist does not explain why her book is well written.

In addition to checking work for fallacies, consider propaganda , information worded so that it endorses a particular viewpoint, often of a political nature. Two common types of propaganda are bandwagon and fear .

In getting on the bandwagon , the writer encourages readers to conform to a popular trend and endorse an opinion, a movement, or a person because everyone else is doing so. Consider this statement: “Everyone is behind the idea that 7 a.m. classes are too early and should be changed to at least 8 a.m. Shouldn’t you endorse this sensible idea, too?”
In using fear, the writer presents a dire situation, usually followed by what could be done to prevent it. Consider this statement: “Our country is at a turning point. Enemies threaten us with their power, and our democracy is at risk of being crushed. The government needs a change, and Paul Windhaus is just the man to see we get that change.” This quotation appeals to fear about the future of the country and implies that electing a certain individual will solve the predicted problems.

Organize the Paper

To begin, write your thesis at the top of a blank page. Then select points from your brainstorming and reporters’ questions to organize and develop support for your thesis. Keep in mind that you can revise your thesis whenever needed.

To begin organizing her paper on increased mental health services on her college campus, the student wrote this thesis at the top of a page:

student sample text Because mental health is a major concern at Powell College South, students could benefit from expanding the services offered . end student sample text

Next she decided the sequence in which to present the points. In a position or an argument essay, she could choose one of two methods: thesis-first organization or delayed-thesis organization.

Thesis-First Organization

Leading with a thesis tells readers from the beginning where you stand on the issue. In this organization, the thesis occupies both the first and last position in the essay, making it easy for readers to remember.

Introduce the issue and assert your thesis. Make sure the issue has at least two debatable sides. Your thesis establishes the position from which you will argue. Writers often state their thesis as the last sentence in the first paragraph, as the student writer has done:

student sample text The problem of mental health has become front-page news in the last two months. Hill’s Herald , Powell College South’s newspaper, reported 14 separate incidents of students who sought counseling but could not get appointments with college staff. Since mental health problems are widespread among the student population, the college should hire more health care workers to address this problem. end student sample text

Summarize the counterclaims . Before elaborating on your claims, explain the opposition’s claims. Including this information at the beginning gives your argument something to focus on—and refute—throughout the paper. If you ignore counterclaims, your argument may appear incomplete, and readers may think you have not researched your topic sufficiently. When addressing a counterclaim, state it clearly, show empathy for those who have that view, and then immediately refute it with support developed through reasoning and evidence. Squeezing the counterclaims between the thesis and the evidence reserves the strongest places—the opening and closing—for your position.

student sample text Counterclaim 1 : Powell College South already employs two counselors, and that number is sufficient to meet the needs of the student population. end student sample text

student sample text Counterclaim 2 : Students at Powell College South live in a metropolitan area large enough to handle their mental health needs. end student sample text

Refute the counterclaims. Look for weak spots in the opposition’s argument, and point them out. Use your opponent’s language to show you have read closely but still find problems with the claim. This is the way the writer refuted the first counterclaim:

student sample text While Powell College South does employ two counselors, those counselors are overworked and often have no time slots available for students who wish to make appointments. end student sample text

State and explain your points, and then support them with evidence. Present your points clearly and precisely, using Reasoning Strategies: Improving Critical Thinking to explain and cite your evidence. The writer plans to use a problem-solution reasoning strategy to elaborate on these three points using these pieces of evidence:

student sample text Point 1: Wait times are too long. end student sample text

student sample text Kay Payne, one of the campus counselors, states that the wait time for an appointment with her is approximately 10 days. end student sample text

student sample text Point 2: Mental health issues are widespread within the student community. end student sample text

student sample text In a recent on-campus student survey, 75 percent of 250 students say they have had some kind of mental health issues at some point in their life. end student sample text

student sample text Point 3: The staff-to-student ratio is too high. end student sample text

student sample text The International Accreditation of Counseling Services states that the recommended ratio is one full-time equivalent staff member for every 1,000 to 1,500 students. end student sample text

Restate your position as a conclusion. Near the end of your paper, synthesize your accumulated evidence into a broad general position, and restate your thesis in slightly different language.

student sample text The number of students who need mental health counseling is alarming. The recent news articles that attest to their not being able to schedule appointments add to the alarm. While Powell College South offers some mental health counseling, the current number of counselors and others who provide health care is insufficient to handle the well-being of all its students. Action must be taken to address this problem. end student sample text

Delayed-Thesis Organization

In this organizational pattern, introduce the issue and discuss the arguments for and against it, but wait to take a side until late in the essay. By delaying the stance, you show readers you are weighing the evidence, and you arouse their curiosity about your position. Near the end of the paper, you explain that after carefully considering both pros and cons, you have arrived at the most reasonable position.

Introduce the issue. Here, the writer begins with action that sets the scene of the problem.

student sample text Tapping her foot nervously, Serena looked at her watch again. She had been waiting three hours to see a mental health counselor at Powell College South, and she did not think she could wait much longer. She had to get to work. end student sample text

Summarize the claims for one position. Before stating which side you support, explain how the opposition views the issue. This body paragraph presents evidence about the topic of more counselors:

student sample text Powell College South has two mental health counselors on staff. If the college hires more counselors, more office space will have to be created. Currently Pennington Hall could accommodate those counselors. Additional counselors would allow more students to receive counseling. end student sample text

Refute the claims you just stated. Still not stating your position, point out the other side of the issue.

student sample text While office space is available in Pennington Hall, that location is far from ideal. It is in a wooded area of campus, six blocks from the nearest dorm. Students who would go there might be afraid to walk through the woods or might be afraid to walk that distance. The location might deter them from making appointments. end student sample text

Now give the best reasoning and evidence to support your position. Because this is a delayed-thesis organization, readers are still unsure of your stance. This section should be the longest and most carefully documented part of the paper. After summarizing and refuting claims, the writer then elaborates on these three points using problem-solution reasoning supported by this evidence as discussed in Reasoning Strategies: Improving Critical Thinking, implying her position before moving to the conclusion, where she states her thesis.

student sample text The International Association of Counseling Services states that one full-time equivalent staff member for every 1,000 to 1,500 students is the recommended ratio. end student sample text

State your thesis in your conclusion. Your rhetorical strategy is this: after giving each side a fair hearing, you have arrived at the most reasonable conclusion.

student sample text According to the American Psychological Association, more than 40 percent of all college students suffer from some form of anxiety. Powell College South students are no different from college students elsewhere: they deserve to have adequate mental health counseling. end student sample text

Drafting begins when you organize your evidence or research notes and then put them into some kind of written form. As you write, focus on building body paragraphs through the techniques presented in Reasoning Strategies: Improving Critical Thinking that show you how to support your position and then add evidence. Using a variety of evidence types builds credibility with readers. Remember that the recursiveness of the writing process allows you to move from composing to gathering evidence and back to brainstorming ideas or to organizing your draft at any time. Move around the writing process as needed.

Keep in mind that a first draft is just a beginning—you will revise it into a better work in later drafts. Your first draft is sometimes called a discovery draft because you are discovering how to shape your paper: which ideas to include and how to support those ideas. These suggestions and graphic organizer may be helpful for your first draft:

Write your thesis at the top of the paper.
Compose your body paragraphs: those that support your argument through reasoning strategies and those that address counterclaims.
Leave your introduction, conclusion, and title for later drafts.

Use a graphic organizer like Table 10.1 to focus points, reasoning, and evidence for body paragraphs. You are free to reword your thesis, reasoning, counterclaim(s), refutation of counterclaim(s), concrete evidence, and explanation/elaboration/clarification at any time. You are also free to adjust the order in which you present your reasoning, counterclaim(s), and refuting of counterclaim(s).

Develop a Writing Project through Multiple Drafts

Your first draft is a kind of experiment in which you are concerned with ideas and with getting the direction and concept of the paper clear. Do not think that your first draft must be perfect; remind yourself that you are just honing your work. In most serious writing, every phase of the process can be considered recursive, helping you shape the best paper possible.

Peer Review: Critical Thinking and Counterclaims

After you have completed the first draft, begin peer review. Peer reviewers can use these sentence starters when thinking critically about overall strengths and developmental needs.

One point about your position that I think is strong is ______ because ________.
One point about your position that I think needs more development is _____ because _______.
One area that I find confusing is _____________; I was confused about _______.
One major point that I think needs more explanation or detail is _______.
In my opinion, the purpose of your paper is to persuade readers _______.
In my opinion, the audience for your paper is _______.
One area of supporting evidence that I think could use more development is _______.
One counterclaim you include is ________________.
Your development of the counterclaim is __________________ because ________________.

Refuting Counterclaims

Peer reviewers are especially helpful with position and argument writing when it comes to refuting counterclaims. Have your peer reviewer read your paper again and look for supporting points and ideas to argue against , trying to break down your argument. Then ask your reviewer to discuss the counterclaims and corresponding points or ideas in your paper. This review will give you the opportunity to think critically about ways to refute the counterclaims your peer reviewer suggests.

As preparation for peer review, match each of the following arguments with their counterarguments.

Revising: Reviewing a Draft and Responding to Counterclaims

Revising means reseeing, rereading, and rethinking your thoughts on paper until they fully match your intention. Mentally, it is conceptual work focused on units of meaning larger than the sentence. Physically, it is cutting, pasting, deleting, and rewriting until the ideas are satisfying. Be ready to spend a great deal of time revising your drafts, adding new information and incorporating sources smoothly into your prose.

The Revising Process

To begin revising, return to the basic questions of topic ( What am I writing about? ), purpose ( Why am I writing about this topic? ), audience ( For whom am I writing? ), and culture ( What is the background of the people for whom I am writing? ).

What is the general scope of my topic? __________________________________
What is my thesis? __________________________________________________
Does my thesis focus on my topic? ______________________________________
Does my thesis clearly state my position? ______________________
What do I hope to accomplish in writing about this topic? ____________________
Do all parts of the paper advance this purpose? ____________________________
Does my paper focus on my argument or position? _________________________
What does my audience know about this subject? _______________________
What does my audience need to know to understand the point of my paper? _______________________________________________________________

What questions or objections do I anticipate from my audience? ___________

________________________________________________________________

What is the culture of the people for whom I am writing? Do all readers share the same culture? ________________________________________________________

How do my beliefs, values, and customs differ from those of my audience?

____________________________________________________________________

How do the cultures of the authors of sources I cite differ from my culture or the culture(s) of my audience? ______________________________________________

Because of the recursivity of the writing process, returning to these questions will help you fine-tune the language and structure of your writing and target the support you develop for your audience.

Responding to Counterclaims

The more complex the issue, the more opposing sides it may have. For example, a writer whose position is that Powell College South Campus should offer daycare to its students with children might find opposition for different reasons. Someone may oppose the idea out of concern for cost; someone else may support the idea if the daycare is run on a volunteer basis; someone else may support the idea if the services are offered off campus.

As you revise, continue studying your peer reviewer’s comments about counterclaims. If you agree with any counterclaim, then say so in the paragraph in which you address counterclaims. This agreement will further establish your credibility by showing your fairness and concern for the issue. Look over your paper and peer review comments, and then consider these questions:

In what ways do you address realistic counterclaims? What other counterclaims should you address? Should you add to or replace current counterclaims?
In what ways do you successfully refute counterclaims? What other refutations might you include?
Are there any counterclaims with which you agree? If so, how do you concede to them in your paper? In what ways does your discussion show fairness?

After completing your peer review and personal assessment, make necessary revisions based on these notes. See Annotated Student Sample an example of a student’s argumentative research essay. Note how the student

presents the argument;
supports the viewpoint with reasoning and evidence;
includes support in the form of facts, opinions, paraphrases, and summaries;
provides citations (correctly formatted) about material from other sources in the paper;
uses ethos, pathos, and logos throughout the paper; and
addresses counterclaims (dissenting opinions).

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Developing a Thesis Statement: The Heart of Successful Paper Writing

Introduction.

A thesis declaration is the cornerstone of any scholastic paper, succinctly summing up the bottom line or claim of the essay in a clear, concise manner. It is not merely a statement of truth, but a claim that needs evidence and elaboration as part of the paper. This foundational aspect not just informs the reader of what to anticipate but also guides the author's own research and writing process. Comprehending how to craft a compelling thesis statement is important for any student aiming to write clear, convincing scholastic documents, desiring to become the very best of the best paper writer in their scholastic field.

Understanding the Purpose of a Thesis Statement

The primary function of a thesis statement is to offer a clear, specific assertion that demonstrates your position concerning the topic at hand. It functions as the assisting force of your paper, directing logical reasoning and argumentation. A well-formulated thesis statement sets the tone and instructions of an essay, allowing you to build a coherent and organized argument. It acts as the roadmap for your essay, assisting to guarantee that each section contributes toward the argument or claim being made.

Elements of a Reliable Thesis Declaration

Clearness is vital in a thesis statement. It ought to be devoid of unclear terms like "excellent," "successful," "interesting," etc. Instead, it needs to be precise and articulate the specific focus of your essay. This clarity helps prevent the reader from becoming confused about your position.

Conciseness

While a thesis declaration needs to be broad enough to cover the whole argument of your paper, it ought to be concise sufficient to be understood in a single, clear sentence. Balancing information and brevity makes sure that your thesis statement is both helpful and manageable.

A thesis statement should reflect a clear position on the subject. Instead of merely specifying a basic truth, it ought to argue a point that demands proof and defense. This assertive nature welcomes analysis and argument, which is main to scholastic writing.

Crafting Your Thesis Statement

Brainstorming key concepts.

Begin by conceptualizing to create a list of ideas or questions associated with your topic. This preliminary stage is important for determining the instructions of your research study and the angle of your argument.

Refining Ideas

Filter through the ideas produced throughout brainstorming to separate those that are most considerable and pertinent to your research study objectives. This refined focus will help in preparing a more directed and potent thesis declaration.

Preparing the Thesis

Start drafting your thesis by stating your primary argument in a simple sentence. Then refine this declaration by including uniqueness and complexity to mirror the depth of your analysis.

Examples of Strong Thesis Statements

Examining examples from different fields can offer a blueprint for what makes a reliable thesis statement:

" Environment change develops unpredictable weather patterns that significantly impact the natural and human-made environments."
" Technological developments in the 21st century have more separating than connecting effects on society."

These examples demonstrate clearness and take a conclusive position on a topic, providing a clear direction for supporting arguments.

Common Mistakes to Prevent in Thesis Declaration Development

Avoid uncertainty, overly broad statements, or extremely simplistic assertions that do not challenge the status quo. A thesis statement need to not be a summary of an obvious point but rather an assertion that supplies the reader with insights into your analysis and analysis.

Revising Your Thesis Statement

As your composing advances, revisit your thesis statement. Research may lead you to tweak it to better show the instructions and nuances of your argument. This iterative process ensures that your thesis remains relevant and robust throughout your writing.

Establishing a strong thesis statement is vital for successful paper writing. It not only shapes your research study and writing direction but likewise plays an important function in engaging your reader. By investing time in crafting a detailed and assertive thesis declaration, you set the stage for a clear, well-argued paper that demonstrates your understanding of the subject matter.

Note: This article is for information purposes only and does not contain any recommendation.

This article may contain affiliate links that Microsoft and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links.

Position Paper Generator: Free AI-Powered Tool

Looking for ways to improve the quality of your position essays? Want to avoid mistakes and make a flawless position paper on the first try? You’ve come to the right place!

Meet our brand new position paper generator . It’s a groundbreaking free tool that will help you to complete your academic assignment quickly and effectively. It’s an absolute must-have app for students.

✨ How to Use
🔥 Benefits of Our Tool
🛠️ How Does Our Generator's AI Work?
️✍️ How to Write a Position Paper

🔗 References

✨ how to use our free position paper generator.

Type in your topic.
Set the desired size of the essay.
Click the “Generate” button to get a position paper sample.

🔥 Benefits of Our Position Paper Generator

Among numerous tools you can find online, our generator is a standout. Here are its most prominent advantages:

In a position paper, you use evidence to support your stance on an issue.

🛠️ How Does Our Position Paper Generator's AI Work?

Our position paper generator is based on a generative AI . Such technology analyzes enormous volumes of textual data using Large Language Models (LLMs) that can create sentences by predicting which words might come after one another.

LLMs can create human-like texts of any type, including position papers. Our tool will automatically create a perfect prompt for this cutting-edge AI and help you get the best possible answer. Try it out and see for yourself!

📑 What Is a Position Paper?

A position paper is a type of academic writing in which you use facts, figures, and other relevant data to support your stance on a certain subject. Position papers are often written on government, law, science, and medicine topics.

Unlike other essay types that express an opinion, this genre of academic writing focuses on positions held by individuals, organizations, and groups. Such papers also aim to persuade the audience to agree with the described position.

Main Features of a Position Paper

Position papers have unique features that distinguish them from other essay types. A position paper must include the following:

A well-defined issue at its core. The topic you choose must be debatable as well as controversial . Even if the issue is complicated, it needs to be presented clearly. This way, the readers will know exactly why the problem matters.
A clear position on the matter. Introduce your viewpoint in your position paper’s thesis statement. You can reiterate it throughout your essay – for example, in the conclusion.
Convincing arguments. A position paper must offer a justification to support the validity of the opinion it expresses. Your argument should convince readers to agree with you and adopt your viewpoint.
Reasonable tone. The goal of a position paper is to create connections between your ideas and those of others. That's why such essays are usually written in a tone that is viewed as trustworthy and reasonable.

✍️ How to Write a Position Paper Step by Step

Now that you know what makes an excellent position paper, let’s see how to write one. The handy guide below will help you with it. And if you need inspiration or a model paper, feel free to use our generator.

Your topic and stance on it need to stand up to criticism. That's why we recommend you do some research and choose something you can defend convincingly.

Your success depends on your ability to present a compelling and logical argument , regardless of how basic or complex your topic is.

To determine whether you can make a compelling case on your chosen topic, answer the following questions:

Is this a real problem that is genuinely controversial and topical?
Can you distinguish between the different positions on the issue?
Do you personally want to support any of these positions?
Is the problem specific enough to be handled?

If your answer to all questions is "yes," congratulations – your topic is perfect! You can now move on to the next step.

Even if you already have a strong opinion about the subject and know which side of the dispute you want to take, you still need to ensure that your stance is well-supported. That's why we recommend you learn as much as possible about the issue you're discussing. To locate expert studies and data, visit your college library or look through reliable websites , such as those associated with education and government.

Once you’ve collected enough information, you can make an informed opinion on your topic. To assess all possible positions, outline the pros and cons of the subject and put together a list of evidence for each side. If your preferred position is inconsistent with the facts, don’t hesitate to rethink it or choose a different side.

A position paper's thesis statement (AKA statement of position) is its main framework. Make it powerful, and your essay will be a success.

To write a good statement of position, do the following:

Address the issue you're discussing.
Clearly assert your stance.
Give a brief overview of the reasons you will give to support your position.
Mention the counterarguments you’re going to refute.

Try to make the statement as concise and unambiguous as possible.

Creating a sample paper on your topic with the help of our tool will provide you with a well-formulated thesis statement you can use as inspiration.

Now, you can start writing your paper. Here’s how to do it:

Start with the introduction . In the opening paragraph, you provide some background information and state your position.
Write the main body. This is where you defend your stance and disprove other viewpoints. Make sure to support your arguments with substantial evidence.
Restate your position in the conclusion . Briefly summarize how all of your arguments support your opinion. To cap it all off, write a solid call to action.

And that’s it! You’re all set to write an A+ essay. Our free position paper generator will help you streamline the process: try it and have fun!

Need to write an article review quickly and efficiently? Use our free article critique generator to ace this task.

Position Paper: Colorado State University
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5 Steps to Writing a Position Paper: ThoughtCo
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Top 120 Position Paper Topics for Compelling Arguments
Here are ideas to use on your position paper topics in the Philippines. The importance of anatomy in medical education. What are the structure and functions of the brain. A look at the anatomy of the heart. Is there racism in US criminal justice. A look at how diversity in the workplace helps to retain employees.
100+ Argument or Position Paper Topics With Sample Essays
Position Paper Topics. The argument or position essay is a standard type of writing exercise that almost everyone encounters at the high school or college level. This essay has two primary defining components: It has to be about an issue that people don't agree on. It focuses on disagreements about facts, definitions, causes, values, or solutions.
How to Write a Position Paper: Guide & Examples
4. Create an Outline. Once you have decided about the direction you're taking with your essay, proceed with the position essay outline. This step is often overlooked, but it will be much easier to find and correct mistakes and gaps at this early stage. So, writing a position paper outline actually saves you time.
How To Write a Position Paper in 7 Steps (With a Template)
A position paper requires three basic parts: an introduction, a body and a conclusion. Follow these seven steps to help write a position paper on any topic: 1. Choose a topic. In some classes or jobs, you can choose the topic of a position paper. If you're choosing your topic, consider ones relevant to your industry or academic interests.
How to Write a Thesis Statement
Step 2: Write your initial answer. After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process. The internet has had more of a positive than a negative effect on education.
Position Paper
Position Paper. Definition: Position paper is a written document that presents an argument or stance on a particular issue or topic. It outlines the author's position on the issue and provides support for that position with evidence and reasoning. Position papers are commonly used in academic settings, such as in Model United Nations conferences or debates, but they can also be used in ...
Thesis Statements
A thesis statement: tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself.
How To Write the Perfect Position Paper
If you do this part correctly, the rest should simply be a process of filling in the blanks. Below is a basic framework for how you might structure a position paper: Introduction. Setting up the subject. Thesis Statement. Basic Argument. Identification of Supporting Evidence. Supporting Evidence 1.
How to Write a Position Paper
Express your position idea. Focus on one specific aspect of the topic in order to express it in a one-sentence opinion. Make sure you have found a really arguable idea. If the topic cannot be debated, then it can hardly be used for writing a good position paper. Be precise in your statement.
25 Thesis Statement Examples That Will Make Writing a Breeze
What that means is that you can't just put any statement of fact and have it be your thesis. For example, everyone knows that puppies are cute. An ineffective thesis statement would be, "Puppies are adorable and everyone knows it." This isn't really something that's a debatable topic. Something that would be more debatable would be, "A puppy's ...
PDF Writing a Position Paper
Writing a Position Paper. A position paper presents an arguable opinion about an issue. The goal of a position paper is to convince the audience that your opinion is valid and worth listening to. Ideas that you are considering need to be carefully examined in choosing a topic, developing your argument, and organizing your paper.
Top 10 Tips for Writing a Strong Position Paper
2. Conducting a Preliminary Research. Conducting preliminary research is crucial before delving into any topic. Evaluate evidence quality from reputable sources institutional websites, white papers, policies, scholarly articles, research reports, etc. Stay objective, dedicating some time for research.
200 Best Position Paper Topics and Ideas to Consider
Position Paper Topics on Psychology. Position Paper Topics on Criminal Justice. Outstanding Claim of Facts Topics. Amazing Claim of Value Topics. Position Paper Topics on Sports. Position Paper Topics on Economics. Position Paper Topics on Technology and Social Media. Environmental Topic Ideas for Position Paper.
Academic Guides: Writing a Paper: Thesis Statements
The thesis statement is the brief articulation of your paper's central argument and purpose. You might hear it referred to as simply a "thesis." Every scholarly paper should have a thesis statement, and strong thesis statements are concise, specific, and arguable. Concise means the thesis is short: perhaps one or two sentences for a shorter paper.
141 Position Paper Topics And Writing Ideas
141 Best Position Paper Topics: Use Them Today! Position paper topics present you with controversial subjects that can be evaluated in detail for their pros and cons. These papers, often known as argumentative papers require students to choose a position or a stand on the topic and provide arguments that can support their stance effectively.
How to write a thesis statement + Examples
It is a brief statement of your paper's main argument. Essentially, you are stating what you will be writing about. Organize your papers in one place. Try Paperpile. No credit card needed. Get 30 days free. You can see your thesis statement as an answer to a question. While it also contains the question, it should really give an answer to the ...
Position Paper
As we write the Position Paper, we will continue to practice skills such as articulating a thesis statement that contains an overall claim, developing an argument with reasons and evidence, and using transitions and reader cues for coherence. ... Make a list of at least 5 themes or topics that are covered in at least two of the readings. Thurs ...
25 Thesis Statement Examples (2024)
Strong Thesis Statement Examples. 1. School Uniforms. "Mandatory school uniforms should be implemented in educational institutions as they promote a sense of equality, reduce distractions, and foster a focused and professional learning environment.". Best For: Argumentative Essay or Debate. Read More: School Uniforms Pros and Cons.
Creating a Thesis Statement, Thesis Statement Tips
Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement. 1. Determine what kind of paper you are writing: An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.; An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.; An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies ...
10.5 Writing Process: Creating a Position Argument
Remember that a strong thesis for a position should. state your stance on a debatable issue; reflect your purpose of persuasion; and; be based on your opinion or observation. ... Then ask your reviewer to discuss the counterclaims and corresponding points or ideas in your paper. This review will give you the opportunity to think critically ...
Thesis Generator
Include an opposing viewpoint to your main idea, if applicable. A good thesis statement acknowledges that there is always another side to the argument. So, include an opposing viewpoint (a counterargument) to your opinion. Basically, write down what a person who disagrees with your position might say about your topic.
Developing a Thesis Statement: The Heart of Successful Paper Writing
A thesis declaration is the cornerstone of any scholastic paper, succinctly summing up the bottom line or claim of the essay in a clear, concise manner. It is not merely a statement of truth, but ...
Position Paper Generator: Free AI-Powered Tool
A position paper's thesis statement (AKA statement of position) is its main framework. Make it powerful, and your essay will be a success. To write a good statement of position, do the following: ... To refer to the paper as a source of ideas and reasoning, given that appropriate references are provided; ...

Best 120 Position Paper Topics for Compelling Arguments

Examples of a Good Topic for a Position Paper

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How to Write a Position Paper: Definition, Outline & Examples

What Is a Position Paper: Definition

Purpose of a Position Paper

Position Paper Outline

Position Paper Structure

Introduction

How to Write a Position Paper in 9 Steps

1. Choose a Topic

2. Do Research Before Writing a Position Paper

3. Draft a Position Paper Thesis

4. Create an Outline

5. Begin Writing Your Position Paper

Position Paper Introduction Example

6. Include Evidence in Your Position Paper

7. Provide Counterarguments and Refute Them

8. Summarize Your Position

Example of a Position Paper Conclusion

9. Proofread Your Position Paper

Position Paper Format

Position Paper Examples

Tips for Writing a Position Paper

Final Thoughts on How to Write a Position Paper

FAQ About a Position Paper

2. What are the kinds of support in a position paper?

3. What is forbidden in a position paper?

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Position Paper

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Introduction

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How do I create a thesis?

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How To Write the Perfect Position Paper

How To Write a Position Paper

2. Develop a Thesis Statement

3. Identify Credible Sources

4. Build Your Reference List

5. Do Your Research

6. Outline Your Position Paper

7. Build Your Argument

8. Address the Counterpoint

9. Tie It All Together

10. Proof, Edit, Revise, Repeat

A Brief Guide to Writing a Position Paper

What Is Position Paper?

What Are The 3 Parts of a Position Paper?

Introduction

How to Write a Position Paper?

Select a Position Paper Topic

Preliminary Research

Challenge Your Topic and Collect Supporting Evidence

Position Paper Outline

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Thesis statement examples

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