Papers and reports
How to write a position paper.
By the EssayMate team · Updated November 9, 2026
A position paper takes a clear stand on a debatable issue and defends it with evidence. Schools assign it in senior high school English for Academic and Professional Purposes (EAPP) and in college; organisations use it to state their view on a policy; and Model United Nations delegates write one to present their country's position.
It works like an argumentative essay: a thesis, evidence and an answer to the other side. What sets it apart is its focus on a real, current issue and on what should be done about it.
1. Choose an arguable issue
A good position paper issue has at least two reasonable sides, matters to real people now, and has evidence you can find. "Climate change is real" is not arguable; "Schools should shift to a four-day week during extreme heat" is.
Should mandatory ROTC be restored for college students?
Should senior high schools ban phones during class hours?
Should the school year calendar return to June–March?
Should single-use plastics be banned in school canteens?
Should online classes remain an option after typhoons and floods?
Should students be graded on group work individually?
2. The position paper format
| Part | What it contains |
|---|---|
| Introduction | The issue and why it matters now, brief background, and your position statement (thesis). |
| Counterarguments | The strongest points of the opposing side, stated fairly, each followed by your refutation. |
| Your arguments | Two to four reasons for your position, each with evidence: data, expert views, laws, examples. |
| Conclusion | Your position restated, a summary of the strongest reasons, and a recommendation or call to action. |
Some teachers want the counterarguments after your own arguments. Both orders work; follow your rubric.
3. Write a clear position statement
Your position statement is one or two sentences at the end of the introduction. It names the issue, your stand, and ideally the main reasons.
Senior high schools should ban phones during class hours, because classroom phone use lowers learning, distracts classmates, and can be replaced by school devices when a lesson needs them.
Avoid "I think" or "in my opinion" in the position statement; state the position directly. The whole paper is your opinion, supported by evidence.
4. Support it with evidence
Each argument needs evidence the reader can check. For the phone example, there is real research: students who used phones during a lecture took fewer notes and scored lower on a test afterwards (Kuznekoff & Titsworth, 2013), and after schools in England banned phones, test scores rose, most of all among low-achieving students (Beland & Murphy, 2016).
- Statistics from official sources (the Philippine Statistics Authority, DepEd, international bodies).
- Research from journals and reports.
- Laws and policies: the actual text, not someone's summary of it.
- Expert opinion, with the expert's credentials.
- Examples from other schools, cities or countries that tried the policy.
Cite every source in the text and in a reference list. The citation generator formats references in APA, MLA and other styles.
Position paper outline
I. Introduction
A hook · the issue and background · your position statement.
II. Counterargument 1 and refutation
The opposing point, stated fairly · why it is weaker than it looks, with evidence.
III. Counterargument 2 and refutation
IV. Argument 1
A topic sentence · evidence · explanation.
V. Argument 2
VI. Argument 3
VII. Conclusion
Position restated · strongest reasons · recommendation or call to action.
Model UN position papers
A Model United Nations position paper represents your assigned country, not your own view. Conferences set their own format, but most ask for three parts for each committee topic: background of the topic, your country's policy and past actions on it, and your country's proposed solutions. They are usually short (one to two pages per topic) and need cited sources.
Checklist
- The issue is current and genuinely debatable.
- The position statement is clear and specific.
- The strongest opposing points are answered, not ignored.
- Every argument has checkable evidence, cited.
- The tone is formal and fair to the other side.
- The conclusion recommends an action (see how to write a conclusion).
Example papers
Sample papers written with EssayMate, to read for structure and citations, not to copy.
Frequently asked questions
What is a position paper?
A position paper presents a clear stand on a debatable issue and supports it with evidence, answering the main counterarguments and usually recommending an action.
What is the format of a position paper?
An introduction with background and a position statement, the counterarguments with refutations, your supporting arguments with evidence, and a conclusion with a recommendation.
How long is a position paper?
School position papers are often 500 to 1,500 words, or two to five pages. Model UN position papers are usually one to two pages per topic.
What is the difference between a position paper and an argumentative essay?
They use the same skills. A position paper focuses on a current issue or policy and usually ends with a recommendation; an argumentative essay can argue any debatable claim.
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