Business Research Paper

Project 2:  Position Paper (25%)

Purpose:  You will research and exam a real-world ethical issue.  Once thoroughly researched, you will write a position argument regarding the ethical issue.  In writing the position paper, the choice of words is important because it is necessary to persuade the audience that the position you take is the best position.

Step 1:  Getting Started

A position paper provides a point of view and can be viewed as taking a side in a debate.  What you want to keep in mind as you research and write the paper is that the viewpoint is yours but it is necessary to support your ideas, reasoning and conclusions.

Before starting, read the topic in Step 4 and lay out a plan for researching the topic.  You will note that you have been given a few articles to get you started but the research you will do goes beyond these articles and must focus on identifying the ethical issue and taking a stance based on the ethical nature of the statement.

To present a fair and convincing argument, you will research and present the counterclaims to the position you take and refute the other positions.

Step 2:  Research

Read the article below to gain a sense of the issue at stake.  Thoroughly research the issue further so that you are able to take a position.

Do Multinational Corporations Have an Ethical Obligation to Assist Those in Need?

http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/do-multinational-corporations-have-an-ethical-obligation-to-assist-those-in-need/

Step 3:  Introduction

Create the introductory paragraph.  Within this paragraph, provide a brief overview of the scenario.  Then, provide a thesis statement and tell the reader the main topics covered in the paper.  The introduction comes at the beginning of the paper and tells a reader the main topics covered in the paper.  View this website to learn how to write an introductory paragraph:

http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/intro.html

Step 4:  Write the Position Paper

You will write a position paper in response to the quote below:

Quote:

“Multinational companies have an obligation to assist the citizens in poverty-stricken countries in which they do business.”

To write a position paper, you will first organize and outline the counterclaims and your viewpoints on the issue.  Be sure to frame the discussion to define the key points covered in the paper.  Establish credibility by supporting the reasoning and conclusions using the course readings and your research.

Step 5:  Writing Steps

• Use the topic provided in Step 4
• Gather sources using the library, the classroom and the Internet (scholarly articles).  Make sure that you have information that supports more than one viewpoint. 
• Read the source documents and decide on a claim statement.  The claim statement is the thesis of your paper. 
• Use the gathered sources to prepare the thesis.
• Consider preparing an outline based on the steps provided in Step 2.
• Identifying the ethical issue.
• Present the counterclaims, and your position on the counterclaims including evidence to refute the counterarguments.
• Then, write your paper by presenting your position.  Argue your position by making three appropriate reasons with at least two supporting details for each reason;
• Lastly, conclude the paper by restating/summarizing the argument.  Refer to the opening statements and main points made throughout the paper.  Reflect on the importance of the arguments and conclude their development.

Step 6: Review the Paper 

Read the paper to ensure all required elements are present.  Use the grading rubric to ensure that you gain the most points possible for this assignment. 

Proofread the paper for spelling and grammatical issues, and third person writing. 

• Read the paper aloud as a first measure;
• Use the spell and grammar check in Word as a second measure;
• Have someone who has excellent English skills proofread the paper;
• Consider submitting the paper to the Effective Writing Center (EWC).  The EWC will provide 4-6 areas that may need improvement.

Step 7:  Submit the Paper in the Assignment Folder (The assignment submitted to the Assignment Folder will be considered a student’s final product and therefore ready for grading by the instructor.  It is incumbent upon the student to verify the assignment is the correct submission.  No exceptions will be considered by the instructor).

Completing the Paper 

• Read the grading rubric for the project.  Use the grading rubric while completing the project to ensure all requirements are met that will lead to the highest possible grade.  

• Third person writing is required.  Third person means that there are no words such as “I, me, my, we, or us” (first person writing), nor is there use of “you or your” (second person writing).  If uncertain how to write in the third person, view this link:  http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third-person.  

• Contractions are not used in business writing, so do not use them.  

• Paraphrase and do not use direct quotation marks.  Paraphrase means you do not use more than four consecutive words from a source document, but put a passage from a source document into your own words and attribute the passage to the source document.  Not using direct quotation marks means that there should be no passages with quotation marks and instead the source material is paraphrased as stated above.  Provide the page or paragraph number when using in-text citations.  Note that a reference within a reference list cannot exist without an associated in-text citation and vice versa.  

• You may not use books as source material. 

How to Set Up the Paper

Create a Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document that is double-spaced, 12-point font.  The final product will be between 4-6 pages in length excluding the title page and reference page.  It is important to write clearly and concisely.

• Create a title page with the title, your name, the course, the instructor’s name and date
• Introduction

• Introduce the topic
• Provide background on the topic to explain why it is important
• Assert the thesis (your view of the issue).  The thesis indicates the topic and your approach as well as to pique the interest of the reader.
• Counter Argument

• Summarize the counterclaims
• Provide support for counterclaims
• Refute the counterclaims
• Give evidence for the argument
• Argument

• Assert point #1 of your claims

• Provide your thoughts and ideas supported using a minimum of two sources
• Assert point #2 of your claims

• Provide your thoughts and ideas supported using a minimum of two sources
• Assert point #3 of your claims

• Provide your thoughts and ideas supported using a minimum of two sources

• Conclusion

• Restate/Summarize argument
• Bring paper full circle reflecting on the importance of the arguments and conclude their development.

Source: Writing a Position Paper (n.d.).  Retrieved from https://www.sfu.ca/cmns/130d1/WritingaPositionPaper.htm