YOUR TASK: Using Economy and Society material and additional readings, write a position paper (1500 words, +/-10%, references and appendices excluded) on one of the two topics below.
What is a position paper?
A position paper is a hybrid between an essay and a report.
A position paper presents one side of a reasonable opinion about an issue. The objective of a position paper is to convince the reader that your opinion is valid and defensible.
As the author of a position paper, while you need to cover all sides of the issue, you must take one side of a debate and persuade your reader that your position is grounded in solid knowledge of the topic. You therefore need to support your argument with reasoning and evidence, and use reasoning and evidence to refute the counter-arguments presented by the other side in the debate.
Recommended structure
The recommended structure allows you to ensure that the above objectives are met.
Given the word count limit (1500 words, +/- 10%, references and appendices excluded), the optimal structure has: an introduction, a development in two parts which first presents the counter-arguments and then your refutations and position, followed by a brief conclusion.
