Essay 4: Position Paper

Essay #4: Position Paper

Essay #4: Position Paper

Assignment: Construct a 3+ pages (1000 words) essay in which you
argue for or against a campus or national issue related to privacy.

Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to help you develop your
 skill at writing in the argument genre. You will learn how to organize a well-supported 
argument on a single issue. You will practice using evidence to support claims.
 You will also learn to refute or accommodate opposing claims.

Details of the assignment:

__ 3+ pages (1000 words)
__ MLA Format
__ Double Spaced
__ 12 pt. Times New Roman Font
__ Sources Documented w/ Works Cited Page in MLA format. Website Statistics can simply be cited
in parenthesis for this essay.

1. You must include at least three claims to support your overall judgment.
2. You must include at least 1 counterargument of an opposing position.

3. You should include one concession and/or refutation within one of the main point paragraphs.
4. You need and introduction that includes a clear thesis statement and a conclusion that makes 

further recommendations for action or reasserts your claim.

Here are two sample outlines you can choose from to begin. Outlines often vary once you get into the particulars

of the topic, but the paper needs clearly divided paragraphs.


 Outline Model #1 for Argument Essay (Opposition First)

I.               Present the Issue

II.              Acknowledge the Opposition

III.             Thesis

IV.             First reason…

V.              Second reason…

VI.            Third reason…

VII.           Conclusion

Outline Model #2 for Argument Essay (List Model w/ Refutations)

I.                Present the issue

II.              Thesis

III+.             Most Plausible Reasons

IV.             First opposing argument with refutation

V.              Second opposing argument with refutation

VII.           Conclusion