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English for Academic

and Professional
Purposes
Quarter 2 – Module 11
Writing Position Papers
EAPP- Grade 11
Quarter 2 – Module 11- Module 9: Writing Position Papers
First Edition, 2020

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use these materials from their respective copyright owners. The publisher and
authors do not represent nor claim ownership over them.

Published by the Department of Education

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Herdin Gray I. Cutab
Editor: Jerik C. Mandin
Reviewers: Mary Ann L. Go, Belen D. Tado, Crispina S. Ebdao
Illustrator: Herdin Gray I. Cutab
Management Team:
Dr. Josephine L. Fadul - Schools Division Superintendent
Dr. Melanie P. Estacio - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
Dr. Christine C. Bagacay - Chief, Curriculum Implementation Division
Dr. Darwin F. Suyat - Education Program Supervisor- English
Lorna C. Ragos, Ed.D - Education Program Supervisor
Learning Resources Management

Printed in the Philippines

Department of Education – Region XI

Office Address Energy Park, Apokon, Tagum City, 8100

Telefax (084) 216-3504
E-mail Address tagum.city@deped.gov.ph
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English
Quarter 2 – Module 11:
Writing Position Papers
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the English for Academic and Professional Purposes Self-Engaging

Module (SEM) on Writing Position Papers.
This learning module incorporates the Most Essential Learning Competencies
(MELCs). It presents a systematic program of study that a learner has to learn in a
specific competency per learning area. It maintains a coherent link between
concepts and practice by providing various learning activities to illustrate and test
theoretical concepts.
With this ‗new normal,‘ the use of this module seeks to deliver the curriculum
content right at the learners‘ doorsteps. This learning material intends to guide
learners into accomplishing the different activities, in their own pace and time.
Further, this also aims to hone abilities required towards mastering 21st century
skills.
As a facilitator, you are expected to guide the learners on the use of this
module and its different parts (activities, assessments, discussions and task-based
activities) and be able to track their progress by letting them manage their own
learning. Please be reminded that in accomplishing the pre-tests, self- check
exercises, and post-tests, separate sheets are to be used.
For the learner:

Welcome to the English for Academic and Professional Purposes Self-Engaging

Module (SEM) on Writing Position Papers.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

In this portion, objective of the new

Let Us Learn!
lesson will be introduced.

This will give you an idea of the skills

or competencies you are expected to
Let Us Try!
learn in the module through pre-test
for the learners.

This is where new lesson is

Let Us Study
introduced.

This comprises activities for

independent practice to solidify your
understanding and skills of
Let Us Practice the topic. You may check the
answers to the exercises using the
 Answer Key at the end of the module.

This section provides an activity

which will help you transfer your new
Let Us Practice More
knowledge or skill into real life
situations or concerns.

This includes questions or blank

sentence/paragraph to be filled in to
Let Us Remember
process what you learned from the
lesson.

This is a task which aims to evaluate

your level of mastery in achieving the
Let Us Assess
learning competency.

In this portion, another activity will

be given to you to enrich your
Let Us Enhance
knowledge or skill of the lesson
learned.

Closing note of the relevance,

meaning and application of the
Let Us Reflect
concepts and skills developed in the
lesson to real life experiences.

At the end of this module you will also find:

References This is a list of all sources used in

developing this module.

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of
the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don‘t forget to answer Let Us Try before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your
answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are
not alone.
We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning
and gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!
 Lesson
1
Writing Position Paper

Let Us Learn!

Objectives:
 Define position paper;
 Identify the parts of a position paper;
 Employ Hegelian Dialectics in presenting arguments; and
 Write position papers.
MELC
 Writes various kinds of position papers (CS_EN11/12A-EAPP-
IIa-d-5)

Let Us Try!
GUESSING GAME - Arrange the following scrambled letters that will
unravel a word that is significant and relevant in the Philippines
today.

Example: GUDR SUAEB DRUG ABUSE

NILISGLK

ETENAGE PCRNNGYEA

DIOVC IADNPCEM

DLRMUAO RCTNTUIOINS

ETVYPRO

EUNRHG

MLINAA YAB OMEOIDTL

OLNNIE SCASL

RPUNOTTIISTO

1. What do the following words represent?

2. How do these words affect you as a student?

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 Let Us Study
How was the activity? Did you like it? The words presented above
are associated with the problems we have in our country. It is good
that you now know these problems because you can use them to finish this
module.
In this section, you learn how to write an effective position paper.
Please remember what you have learned in the previous module.

What is a Position Paper?

A position paper presents a writer‘s stand or viewpoint on an issue.
Writing a position paper entails outlining arguments and proposing a course
of action. Furthermore, through your arguments, one would also be able to
shape the opinions of others. Thus, writing a position paper would be very
instrumental in bringing about societal change.

Parts of a Position Paper

The following are the parts of the position paper. Please note that the
details of each part are just a guide and the format given is just one of the
formats to follow when writing position paper. Different writers have
different ways of writing their arguments.

1. Introduction
 can be structured in 1 paragraph with 3 sentences
 Sentence 1: peg or present the issue
 Sentence 2: provide supporting details and/or background of
the issue
 Sentence 3: Present your viewpoint (thesis) about the issue
(affirmative or negative)

2. Body
 can be presented in 2 to 3 paragraphs
 each paragraph contains 3 to 4 sentences
Supporting Paragraph 2
 Sentence 1: present a supporting fact about your viewpoint
 Sentence 2: provide supporting details or facts for your
Sentence 1.
 Sentence 3: present synthesis of the fact presented.

Opposing Paragraph 3
 Sentence 1: present an opposing fact about your viewpoint
 Sentence 2: provide supporting details or facts for your
Sentence 1.

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  Sentence 3: present synthesis of the fact presented.

Opposing Paragraph 4
 Sentence 1: present another supporting fact about your
viewpoint
 Sentence 2: provide supporting details or facts for your
Sentence 1.
 Sentence 3: present synthesis of the fact presented.

3. Conclusion
 Restate your viewpoint and arguments
 Suggest a course of action
 End with a powerful statement evoking emotion

Note: Therefore, when you write position papers, equip yourself with a
battery of negative and positive claims about your topic. Aside from the
positive and negative claims, you also have to provide evidence or support
in order to make your paper convincing. This will help you formulate your
paragraph following the format given.

Guidelines in Writing a Position Paper

1. Choose a debatable issue. This issue should be current and relevant.

2. Research about the issue. Prepare about your arguments and
counter-arguments. Familiarize yourself with terminologies and
jargons related to your topic.
3. Reflect on your position and identify its weaknesses.
4. Cite valid and reliable sources to establish credibility
5. Analyze the other side‘s counterarguments and use various evidences
to refute them.
6. Use an active voice as much as possible.
7. Arrange evidence logically using an inductive or deductive approach.
8. Check for any argument fallacies or error in reasoning.
9. Use ethical and logical appeal. Ethical appeal relates to your
credibility and competence as a writer while logical appeal relates to
the rational approach in developing an argument.

Example: Position Paper about Divorce

It was an undying issue whether divorce should be legalized or not

(issue). Divorce is a process of legally separating two individuals who were

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bound by marriage (description). For me, it is completely sound
(stand/thesis).
Around 17 Million children were reported homeless by World Health
Organization (Opposing fact). It was mentioned that 78% of this is caused by
lack of family (support). Hence, approval of this bill is tantamount to
subjecting children to an unnecessary suffering (what it means).
However, around 50 million women were being abused everyday due
to failing marriage (supporting fact). Hunger, fractures and moral damages
were an understatement to their hellish experience with their husband
(support). This means that divorce could be a gateway for a better life for a
wrong decision that was (what it means).
Divorce, though many are against, still remains as one of the volatile
options for curing a failing marriage (restate). It is therefore the
responsibility of our country‘s law-making bodies to fast track the approval
of this bill into law (call to action). There may never be a perfect marriage,
but a peaceful life is achievable when all of us are proactive to the evolving
need of the society (powerful statement).

Let Us Practice
DIRECTIONS: From the article above, find the positive and negative
claims about your topic to see how these details are used in
developing a position paper. Write them in bullet form.

TOPIC POSITIVE CLAIMS NEGATIVE CLAIMS

Divorce

Let Us Practice More

Direction: Please read and comprehend the following article.

DOH Should Review Order Requiring Wearing of

Both Face Mask and Face Shield in the Workplace

It is a good sight to see the Department of Health (DOH) being more

proactive in the drafting and imposing of regulations governing the national
policy in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. It is preferable to see health
professionals issue the commands during a health emergency than to see
soldiers, policemen and bureaucrats ordering us around during the
pandemic. What will be even better and more persuasive is a situation

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where the DOH takes care to present its policy and regulatory preferences in
coherent, authoritative and understandable language.
We refer here to the announcement last Saturday by Health
Undersecretary, Maria Rosario Vergeire, that the Department of Health will
insist on the wearing of face masks and face shields in the workplace — its
response to the petition of various organizations for the exemption of
workers inside offices and factories from the shield rule.
The new assertiveness of the DOH on a pandemic matter is
noteworthy. The department is the nation‘s primary public health agency,
which has charge and supervision over the entire public health system and
its many facilities and institutions.
Throughout the last seven months, the DOH has not been
forthcoming in leading the fight against Covid-19. Health Secretary
Francisco Duque III has been diffident in assuming his role of chairman of
the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious
Diseases (IATF-EID) to which he has been explicitly designated by executive
order. The secretary has not been the leading voice in the making and
articulation of policy on the health emergency. Instead, it is the military men
such as the twice-infected Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Peace Process
Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who
have been doing most of the talking and issuing the orders.
Regarding the regulation on face masks and face shields inside the
workplace, the decision would be comprehensible if the health department is
fully convinced that the mandatory wearing of face masks and face shields
can reduce the risk of contracting Covid-19. However, it should cite the
scientific and research studies that validate the policy.
We noticed also that in announcing the policy, Undersecretary
Vergeire chose to communicate verbally in Filipino — which is not easy to
understand unless fully translated — instead of issuing a full statement on
the policy. Resorting frequently to the use of the polite terms ―Po‖ and ―Ho‖
does not make Filipino easier to comprehend, not to mention inappropriate
and unnecessary.
After researching the subject of face shields or visors online, we were
surprised to discover there is a wide divergence of opinion regarding the
efficacy of face shields in combating the virus. And there is considerable
opposition and resistance to the idea of the government mandating the
wearing of both a face mask and a face shield in offices and factories.
There is a point when coercion becomes counterproductive and
ineffective in trying to subdue a viral outbreak.
Consequently, we believe the DOH was trifle hasty in turning down
outright the petition of the business organizations. It should study the
substance of the proposal of the business sector. It will be far better if our

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health officials spend more time and care in formulating this new health
protocol- to command is easy; to achieve meaningful results is harder.
If health officials were to test these contraptions themselves, they will
discover that wearing a face mask and a face shield together is more
punitive than protective. The Manila Times (September 28, 2020)

Let Us Remember
Direction: Based on the article read, answer the following
questions. Write your answers on a separate sheet.

1. In your own words, what was the writer‘s opinion (thesis) about
wearing of face masks and shields?

2. Do you agree with the writer`s idea? Why or why not?

3. Using your own words, cite one anti-thesis (opposing idea about the
writer‘s opinion) found in the article.

4. Give your own synthesis. It could be a conclusion of the article or a

solution to the problem cited, whichever is applicable.

Let Us Assess
Direction: All over the Philippines, curfew time is being enforced by
the government. Give your ideas about this by filling in the matrix
below. Add two more issues aside from curfew and make your claims. Please
make sure that you provide evidence/support to each of your claims.

ISSUE CLAIMS EVIDENCE/ SUPPORT

1. Curfew Positive

Negative

2. Positive

Negative

3. Positive

Negative

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 Let Us Enhance
Direction: Following the format provided, use the details you
researched and provided in the previous activity and write three (3)
position papers based on those three (3) issues. Be guided by the rubrics
provided below.
Criterion Poor Fair Good Excellent

Content and No clear position taken; Position not clearly Clear position taken Takes a strong, well-
Development reasons undeveloped; taken; development is and defined; some defined position; uses
no supporting facts used brief; unrelated, reasons and some at least three
unsupported general details present, but appropriate reasons
statements, reasons, not fully developed. with at least two
50% and details; minimal Counter arguments supporting details for
0 10 20
facts used; addressed each reason. Counter
counterargument not arguments effectively
acknowledgment addressed without
40 45 cutting positions
25 30 35
48 50

Organization Organization and Structure of the paper Structure is mostly Structure of the paper
and structure detract from is not easy to follow. clear and easy to is clear and easy to
Structure message of the writer. Paragraph transitions follow. Paragraph follow. Paragraph
Paragraphs are need improvement. transitions are transitions are logical
disjointed and lack Conclusion is missing, present. Conclusion is and maintain the flow
transition of thoughts or if provided, does logical. of thought throughout
20% not flow from the body the paper. Conclusion
of the paper is logical and flows
0 12 15 from the body of the
5 10 paper.

20

Format Paper lacks many Paper follows most Paper follows Paper follows all
elements of correct guidelines. Paper is designated guidelines. designated guidelines.
formatting. Paper is over/ under word Paper is the Paper is the
inadequate/ excessive length. appropriate as appropriate length as
10% length. described for the described for the
assignment. Format assignment. Format
2 is good. enhances readability
0 of the paper.
5 7
10

Grammar, Paper contains Paper contains few Rules of grammar, Rules of grammar,
Punctuation grammatical, grammatical, usage, and usage and
and Spelling punctuation and spelling punctuation and punctuations are punctuation are
errors. Language uses spelling errors. followed with minor followed; spelling is
jargons or Language lacks clarity errors. Few or no correct. Language is
conversational tone. or includes the use of spelling errors. clear and precise;
20% some jargons or sentence display is
conversational tone. consistently strong,
0 12 15 varied structure.
5 10
20

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 Let Us Reflect

Position papers are useful when you are trying to prove or drive a
point. This can be used in debates, speeches, or even in journalism and
research. However, when writing one, you must remember your very aim in
order not to get lost with your arguments. You must drive your point and
convince your readers that your point is viable.

How about you? Did you learn something? Share your thoughts and
comments on a separate sheet of paper.

Answer key to Activity

PROSTITUTION RPUNOTTIISTO

ONLINE CLASS OLNNIE SCASL

MANILA BAY DOLOMITE MLINAA YAB OMEOIDTL

HUNGER EUNRHG

POVERTY ETVYPRO

MODULAR INSTRUCTION DLRMUAO RCTNTUIOINS

COVID PANDEMIC DIOVC IADNPCEM

TEENAGE PREGNANCY ETENAGE PCRNNGYEA

KILLINGS NILISGLK

DRUG ABUSE GUDR SUAEB

LET US TRY

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 References

Jessie S. Barrot, and Philippe John F. Sipacio. Communicate Today: English for Academic and
Professional Purposes for Senior High School. Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc., 2016.

The Manila Times. "DoH should review order requiring wearing of both face mask and face
shield in workplace." The Manila Times, September 28, 2020.

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For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Region XI

Office Address Energy Park, Apokon, Tagum City,

8100
Telefax (084) 216-3504
E-mail Address tagum.city@deped.gov.ph

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