A position essay is a broader type of argument than the evaluation essay, but it may incorporate parts of an evaluation.  The defining trait of a position essay is that it takes a stance on a topic about which there are various opinions.  These are probably the kinds of argumentative essays that you wrote in high school that ask you to take a position for or against a topic: abortion, gay marriage, gun control, or the death penalty.  Most position essays that you will write in and after college will not be as clear cut or as worn out as these topics. An ethical argument is a type of position argument that is based on some sort of moral/ethical principle (most generally whether a stance is "right" or "wrong").  For example, I might argue that the death penalty is right because it ultimately saves lives; on the other hand I might argue that the death penalty is wrong because all life is inherently good. 

For this essay you will all write 3-4-page ethical argument about whether or not you believe concealed guns should be allowed on college campuses.  You will use two essays from Practical Argument to assist you in formulating your essay, Villahermosa's "Guns Don't Belong in the Hands of Administrators, Professors or Students" (505-07) and Wheeler's "There's a Reason they Choose Schools" (508-10).

For this essay, focus on: 

• Offering a focused presentation of the issue

• creating a thesis statement that takes a clear stance

• clarifying the ethical principle on which your argument is based

• developing your position and supporting it with reasons and evidence tied to your principle

• anticipating and refuting any opposing views or objections

• using signal phrases to introduce quotations and providing necessary parenthetical citations

Documentation/Works Cited: Pay special attention to the MLA guidelines for documentation as outlined in sections 52 & 53 of Bedford.

DO NOT USE OR CONSULT OUTSIDE SOURCES BEYOND THE ASSIGNED SAMPLE ESSAYS.  DOING SO CONSTITUTES ACADEMIC DISHONESTY.

Click here for formatting information.

Visit the Final Tips page for reminders.