How To Take a Position in an Essay

What’s your favorite dinner? Got it. You’ve just taken a position. Sure it’s not much of one, but at least you’ve made a decision, and that’s where taking a position starts. In terms of writing an essay or position paper, a good position is one that gives you ample material to argue it. Your strong position is found in your thesis statement, which you will develop as you think about and choose your position.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

Example of a position

A position is an arguable idea. It is your stance on an open question or prompt.

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.

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:

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.

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.