Position PaperPosition Paper

Writing about Writing about

The Heart of DarknessThe Heart of Darkness

Your AssignmentYour Assignment

Answer the question “Is Answer the question “Is Heart of Darkness Heart of Darkness a a racist text?”racist text?”You must answer the question either “yes” or You must answer the question either “yes” or “no.”“no.”Then you must do the following:Then you must do the following:– Present the issuePresent the issue– Assert a positionAssert a position– Argue for the positionArgue for the position– Consider your readers’ potential responses and offer Consider your readers’ potential responses and offer

counterargumentscounterarguments– Establish your credibility.Establish your credibility.

Presenting the IssuePresenting the Issue

Identify and explain the issue to your Identify and explain the issue to your readers.readers.

To present the issue, you can use several To present the issue, you can use several kinds of information:kinds of information:– detail historical and cultural contextdetail historical and cultural context– cite specific examplescite specific examples– explain your personal interest in the debateexplain your personal interest in the debate– establish or redefine the terms of the debateestablish or redefine the terms of the debate

Assert a Clear PositionAssert a Clear Position

Take a side!!!!Take a side!!!!

Try to influence your readers!!!!Try to influence your readers!!!!

State your thesis simply and directly.State your thesis simply and directly.

Perhaps you want to use your thesis to Perhaps you want to use your thesis to forecast stages of your argument.forecast stages of your argument.

Restate your thesis throughout your essay Restate your thesis throughout your essay to keep your reader focused on your to keep your reader focused on your position.position.

Argue for the PositionArgue for the Position

Why is your position valid? Why should Why is your position valid? Why should readers be persuaded by you?readers be persuaded by you?OfferOffer– factsfacts– statisticsstatistics– examplesexamples– storiesstories– quotes from authoritiesquotes from authorities– analogiesanalogies

Counter Arguing Objections and Counter Arguing Objections and Opposing PositionsOpposing Positions

Consider your reader. Consider your reader.

To what in your position are they likely to To what in your position are they likely to object? Why? object? Why?

How can you answer their objections?How can you answer their objections?

Establish CredibilityEstablish Credibility

Advocate forcefully for your position.Advocate forcefully for your position.Do the following:Do the following:– support your argument responsiblysupport your argument responsibly– let your readers know that you share at least some of let your readers know that you share at least some of

their values and beliefs.their values and beliefs.– try to express understanding of your opponents’ try to express understanding of your opponents’

positionpositionDon’t do the following:Don’t do the following:– misrepresent the other point of viewmisrepresent the other point of view– attack your opponents personallyattack your opponents personally– manipulate readers’ emotionsmanipulate readers’ emotions– moralize, condescend or belittle your readermoralize, condescend or belittle your reader

What’s the grade based on?What’s the grade based on?

How clearly presented the issue?How clearly presented the issue?How clearly have you stated your How clearly have you stated your position?position?How valid is the evidence you’ve used to How valid is the evidence you’ve used to support your position?support your position?How seriously have you constructed a How seriously have you constructed a counter argument?counter argument?How successfully have you established How successfully have you established your credibility?your credibility?

An ExampleAn Example

Read EstradaRead Estrada

Where/how does he present the issue?Where/how does he present the issue?

What’s his thesis? Or, where does he take What’s his thesis? Or, where does he take his stand?his stand?

How does he support his position?How does he support his position?– Examples, analogies, stories, facts, etc.Examples, analogies, stories, facts, etc.

Where does he counter argue?Where does he counter argue?

Is he credible? Why or Why not?Is he credible? Why or Why not?

Sites for PracticeSites for Practice

ProPro

ConCon

Take a sideTake a side– Establish the IssueEstablish the Issue– Take a standTake a stand– Support your stand with evidenceSupport your stand with evidence– Counter argueCounter argue– Establish you credibilityEstablish you credibility