Position Paper Position Paper Syllabus Requirements: 1200 words At least three credible sources A Works Cited page Paper Outline: Introductory paragraph – contains background information, an explanation or definition of the problem, and a thesis statement. Refutation paragraph – acknowledges the opposing view, and summarizes their main points. Body Paragraphs (at least 3) – Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that states one supporting issue of the argument; explain in detail the supporting issue for the argument; include two (or more) quotations, summaries, or paraphrases from a credible source. Concluding paragraph- summarizes the main topics; writer may include opinions and suggestions for change; Works Cited page – an alphabetical listing of the sources you quote, paraphrase or summarize in the essay. The Process of Creating an Argument Plan Decide upon a topic and state the central premise or thesis. Relate the thesis to prior knowledge. Identify key words and names. Integrate concepts and state the main topics of the essay in your own words. Develop questions to organize your search. Re-explore general resources, if needed. Search to locate sources of information and search for relevant information. Select and evaluate information to support the main ideas. Read, interpret, infer, analyze and paraphrase the source information. Create the essay. Organize information; discard non-pertinent information. Write an essay using the source information to support main topics. Evaluate your work. Read your paper. Share your essay with others What is an argument? An argument is the logical presentation of a topic supported by reasons. Like a debate, where opposing sides of an issue are presented, the argumentative essay presents one side of an issue using evidence to convince the reader to draw the same conclusions as the writer. An argumentative thesis is created from opinions and insight. The thesis must be proven with reason, evidence, and factual information. The process of creating a supported argument leads to better understanding and clarification of ideas. Through engaging in argumentation with others and with one′s self, we refine our opinions and strengthen our decision-making process. This circular process is argumentation. Why do we argue? We want to know why so that we can form our own judgments and opinions. We learn and grow through expanding and modifying our own opinions. Thus, one goal of effective argumentation is greater understanding. Another goal can be the clarification of our opinions. Just as we form our opinions through interactions with others, dialogue is important in clarifying our opinions. We clarify our own thinking by explaining exactly why we hold certain opinions and arguing in support of them. As argumentation is a circular process leading to greater understanding and clarification, we don′t need to change our minds in order to benefit from a dialogue. Generally, we cannot resist attempting to persuade others to our point of view. Effective argumentation, however, does not attempt to declare a ″winner″ but presents a valid and responsible point of view. The public make up their own minds, form their own opinions, after hearing effectively argued views. So here′s what you do: Choose a side. No wishy-washiness here. Choose a side. And then support that side with both your own ideas and the ideas of others. Make sure you have three outside sources in your paper as support. I have already chosen the position for the paper which is that a ban on guns or further gun restriction will not decrease the amount of deaths caused by guns and is only stripping us of our constitutional rights. Please use real credible sources. If you google ′cdc guns save lives″ you can find a study they conducted that president obama ordered during his term that shows how many lives are saved by law abiding citizens with guns, please mention this study. The cdc has many good statistics to look at if you are having trouble finding information. Also please include the purpose of the second amendment ″A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.″ and that once they begin stripping us of our constitutional rights then it opens the doorway for more rights to be taken away.