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Taking a Position in an Essay
A position is your stance on an open question or prompt. To understand an open question, let's first take a look at a closed question, which has no room for discussion about a topic.
Why do things fall down, not up?
To answer this closed question, you would recite facts about gravity.
On the other hand, an open question does have room for discussion about a topic.
Should fast food chains be allowed to advertise to children?
To answer this open question, you would use facts in order to support your position.
Now take a position for yourself. Should fast food chains be allowed to advertise to children?
Take a position on whether fast food chains should advertise to children.
Some people might find this easy to answer. Others might find it hard to answer. So, what if you are in the latter group and don't have a hot take on fast food's business ethics? What if you don't have a strong opinion on whatever topic you are told to write about?
That’s fine—hey, it happens—but, taking a position begins with making a decision. When writing a position paper on a topic you are lukewarm toward, use these tips to help you:
Think about how the prompt relates to you. When you were a kid, did you like being advertised to? Did it annoy you, or do you feel nostalgic about it? Did it hurt you or disillusion you? Did it broaden your mind or prepare you for the real world? Did you ever notice how advertising affected your friends or siblings?
Think about how the prompt relates to others, and empathize. If you were a parent, would you care? Do you sympathize with this parent? If you were an advocate of free speech, would you care? Do you sympathize with this advocate?
If all else fails, take the position you feel strongest about. You might find your stance strengthened with time!
So, you've taken a position on the topic. Now the question is, can you make arguments to support your point? Are there counterarguments? It's time to turn your position into a thesis statement.
Make your Essay Position Stronger
It’s one thing to take a position. It’s another thing to take a position that makes for a great paper. A strong position statement is put in your thesis statement.
Thesis Statement: A sentence that states your position on a complex and arguable topic.
How are we supposed to know if we have a thesis statement, though, or something weaker? Let’s start with a non-position and grow it into a thesis statement.
Defining a non-position
A non-position is a brief personal decision regarding an inconsequential topic. This decision lasts mere moments.
I'm having pizza for dinner.
Defining a weak personal position
A weak personal position is a personal decision regarding an inconsequential topic. This decision could last days, months, or years. It remains weak because there is no argument to be had with someone else.
Pizza is my favorite dinner.
Defining a personal position
A personal position gets other people involved, but the argument you could have with someone else would be a battle of opinions, not facts. A strong position has a specific claim. This could still be an opinion, and would need to be supported with evidence, but it presents a particular claim.
Pizza is the best dinner.
Example of a weak position
A weak position is like a personal position, but it is limited. You are beginning to form an argument about a specific topic.
Papa Domino’s Pizza Shack has the tastiest pizza among pizza chains.
Here, the scope of the argument is limited to only pizza chains. You could also cite some “evidence” to support this argument, such as sales figures and polls. But would you be able to prove that these things cause an improvement in the quality of the pizza, or are they just correlated?
Causation vs. Correlation: When taking your position on a topic, always bear in mind how you are going to support that position. Helpful in this endeavor is knowing the difference between causation and correlation.
Causation proves cause and effect, while correlation suggests cause and effect. You want to prove causation because proving cause and effect supports a position. Suggesting a cause and effect relationship proves nothing. Take a position and prove causation with a lot of strong, non-circumstantial evidence!Here's a useful trick. Take a cause and effect relationship, then imagine that the cause stops. Can you prove with evidence that the effect would also stop? If you can't prove this, you might have a case of correlation on your hands.
Example of a position
A position is an arguable idea. It is your stance on an open question or prompt.
Papa Domino’s Pizza Shack has the healthiest pizza among pizza chains.
Unlike taste, there is a science to healthfulness. Calories, fat, ingredients, and more can be referenced to support this position. You can cite evidence. The position remains arguable because an opponent might place different emphases on the relevant pieces of evidence.
So have we arrived at a thesis statement yet? Can we start our position paper? Not quite yet, but we are almost there. The final step is making your position complex.
Position on the Issue Example
It's now time to turn our position into a thesis statement.
Papa Domino’s Pizza Shack, which has some of the healthiest pizza among pizza chains, is leading the fight against childhood obesity among its competitors, not only with its healthy pizza options but with successful ad campaigns and a truly modern company culture.
This thesis statement is loaded, as there are many points in it that need to be supported. It needs so much support, in fact, that you could write a whole position paper about it!
A discussion about pizza chains can turn into an all-out battle if you take a position.
Not only does the claim "Papa Domino's Pizza Shack has some of the healthiest pizza" require support, but so does the claim that it is "leading the fight among its competitors," has "successful ad campaigns," and has a "truly modern company culture." What even is a "truly modern" company culture? Presumably, this paper will explain that and tie it into how Papa Domino’s Pizza Shack is leading the fight against childhood obesity.
We use the term "complex" to describe a great thesis statement because there are many ways attack it and defend it. A good position has a lot of room for discussion—so much room for it that you don't have time or space to possibly cover every argument. If you can cover every argument against your thesis statement in your paper, you might consider a different position that allows for more discussion.
Now that we have defined a good position (in a thesis statement), let's discuss the language of writing one for yourself.
Writing a Position in an Essay
Your position will be clearly stated in the introductory paragraph of your essay or position paper. When it comes to writing the position itself, here are some do’s and don’ts.
Do be clear when taking a position
This is no time to hide behind vague words and ideas. When taking a position in an essay, be sure you actually take a position. A vague position doesn't get your point across, such as this statement:
Non-organic fertilizer has interesting qualities when compared to organic fertilizer.
Even at the risk of hurting the feelings of non-organic fertilizer, you should say what you mean about the topic. The word "interesting" is vague. A clear position leaves no doubt in anyone's mind.
Organic fertilizer has superior qualities to non-organic fertilizer.
Do not exaggerate your position
It’s great to take a strong stance, but don’t go too far. You are writing an essay or position paper, not a clickbait article. “They won’t believe what I say next!” shouldn’t be something you think when turning in your paper. Keep all your arguments within the realm of reason. You are concerned with the facts.
Do think ahead about the rest of your paper
To study smarter, always think ahead. Consider how many body paragraphs you can crank out using your chosen position, and consider your introduction and conclusion. Your position might seem really juicy at the outset, but shrivel as you outline it.
Do not fear reassessing your position
If your position is doomed to failure, don’t fear letting go. The longer you hold onto a weak position, the more time you waste. While it’s good to get as much out of your position as possible, understand that it has limits. Don’t wait for your pen to run dry three paragraphs in. Write a new position.
Taking a position in a timed essay: Whether it is for a classroom or standardized test, you will need to take a position on a short, timed essay prompt. To set yourself up for success, take the position for which you have the most evidence memorized. In a timed essay, your goal is to create a well-supported argument that demonstrates your knowledge of the prompt.
So don’t worry as much about your passion for the topic, or about opening the floor to limitless debate. When taking a position in a timed essay, reading comprehension is the skill to utilize. You want to prove how much you remembered and understood.
How to take a position in an essay - Key takeaways
- A position is your stance on an open question or prompt. Avoid trying to take a position on a closed question.
- Choose a relatable position. If you feel strongly about your position, you will have more to write.
- The thesis statement is where you state your strong position.
- A thesis statement needs to be multi-faceted, meaning it has many faces to attack and defend.
- Outline your paper to be sure your position supplies enough material to write about
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Frequently Asked Questions about How To Take a Position in an Essay
What is a position in an essay?
A position is your stance on an open question or prompt. It is arguable from both sides.
How do you introduce a position in an essay?
You should introduce your position in your essay in your introductory paragraph; more specifically, in your thesis statement, which should be in your introductory paragraph.
How do you write a position statement for an essay?
A strong position statement is a thesis statement: a complex and arguable position on a topic. A thesis statement has many ways to attack it and defend it, and has a lot of room for discussion.
How do you take a position in an essay?
Take a position in an essay by thinking about how the prompt relates to you. Think about how the prompt relates to others, and empathize. Take a position that has arguments and counterarguments, and for which you have a lot of evidence.
How do you take a position in an argumentative essay?
Take a position that has arguments and counterarguments, and for which you have a lot of evidence.
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