Student Handout

Writing a
Persuasive Position Paper
Try using a graphic organizer to begin your paper. It is a visual
way to lay out your ideas on paper. It includes three main parts:
the focus, main points, and supporting details.
The focus is the topic of your persuasive position paper. In
this case, the focus is your selected solution. An example of
a focus is In order to reduce the problem of teenage alcohol,
tobacco, and other drug use, teens should take a public stand
against alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.
The main points are phrased as statements supporting your
focus, and they complete a because statement. Examples
of main points are silence is interpreted as acceptance, or
teens can influence one another to get involved in activities
without alcohol.
The supporting details are placed below each main point,
and they provide the information that supports the main point.
Examples of supporting details are during the past 30 days,
over X percent of youth in the US did NOT drive a car or
other vehicle after drinking alcoholthese teens need to speak
up and peer pressure has been used in positive ways, such
as pressure to try out for a team.

In order to reduce teenage alcohol,

tobacco, and other drug use, teens
should take a public stand against
alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.
(focus)

becau
se
is inte silence
rp
as acc reted
eptan
ce
(m
ain po

int)

during the past 30 days, over

X percent of youth in the US
did NOT drive a car or other
vehicle after drinking alcohol
these teens need to speak up
(supporting detail)

Copyright 2013

Writing Tips
Collect facts to support your
focus statement.
Review the information presented
by the research teams. If you
think it is necessary, research
additional information to support
your focus statement. Become
familiar with opposing views so
that your persuasive position
paper can refute the opposing
views with facts and ideas that
support your view.

Write the paper.

Once you have gathered
enough facts to support your
focus statement, organize the
information in a logical sequence.
Begin by writing a sentence stating
your purpose for the paper and
your opinion or position. It should
be clear from your introductory
sentence what you will be trying
to prove in your paper. Then,
record your main points and their
supporting details in a logical
and convincing way. Complete
your paper with a brief summary
statement.

Proof the paper.

nce
n influe d
a
c
s
n
e
lve
e te
becaus her to get invo ol
t
oh
o
n
lc
a
a
ut
one
s witho
ie
it
iv
t
c
in a
point)
(main

s been
peer pressure ha
ways,
e
tiv
si
used in po
to try
re
su
such as pres
am
te
a
out for
il)

(supporting deta

Read your paper and clarify

unclear sentences, strengthen
arguments, and delete
unnecessary words. Proof it for
grammar and punctuation.
Ask yourself:
Is the focus statement clearly
stated?
Do the facts support my
opinion?
Are my arguments strong
enough to convince the reader
or will they at least cause the
reader to respect my opinion?

Unit 5Alcohol/Tobacco/Other Drugs

Lesson 7