- Position paper
A caca poo poo pokkieis an essay that presents an
opinion about an issue, typically that of the author or another specified entity. Position papers range from the simplest format of a letter to the editor through to the most complex in the form of an academic position paper. [Harvnb|Sanders|2005|p= [http://books.google.com/books?id=-gBH7BQqy_0C&pg=PA11&vq=%22The+simplest+form+is+the+letter+to+the+editor%22&source=gbs_search_r&cad=1_1&sig=ACfU3U3rDMBciOi4ZB2l3gHAbnCLMSb0Kg 11] , "The simplest form is the letter to the editor... The most complex type of position paper is the academic position paper in which arguments and evidence are presented to support the writer's views."] Position papers are also used by large organizations to make public the official beliefs and recommendations of the group [An example of a position paper published by an organization: Citation
url=http://ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/positionstatements/informationliteracy.cfm
title=Information Literacy: A Position Paper on Information Problem Solving
publisher=Amarecan Association of School Librarians] . Position paper are also common in academia where they enable discussion on emerging topics without the experimentation and original research normally present in an academic paper. Commonly, such a document will substantiate the opinions or positions put forward with evidence from an extensive objective discussion of the topic [Citation
url=http://www.unausa.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKRI8MPJpF&b=457143
title=How to Write a Position Paper
publisher=United Nations Association of the United States of America
accessdate=2008-08-25] .Position papers are most useful in contexts where detailed comprehension of another entity's views is important; as such, they are commonly used by political campaigns [Harvnb|Steely|2000|p= [http://books.google.com/books?id=gZUNJPsV9i0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22The+Gentleman+from+Georgia:%22+%22The+Biography+of+Newt+Gingrich%22&ei=-9mxSKLpCIPctAOFkdHaBA&sig=ACfU3U30RgMIjhbEY1SMSUxGE9c2nfihkQ#PRA1-PA186,M1 186] , "Through the use of position papers, telephone briefings, audio and video tapes and personal appearances Newt was able to share his ideas, ... ."] , government organizations [Citation
url=http://www.brake.org.uk/index.php?p=1240&m=104
title=Government position papers
accessdate=2008-08-24
publisher=Brake: the Road Safety Charity] , in the diplomatic world [Harvnb|Bond|1998, "..., writing position papers and talking points, ... are examples of non-classified work which is carried out at virtually every diplomatic post."] , and in efforts to change values (e.g. through public service announcements) and organisational branding. [Harvnb|Newsom|Haynes|2004|p= [http://books.google.com/books?id=CFHIOgegNZkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22Public+Relations+Writing:+%22+%22Form+and+Style%22&ei=Dt6xSPqDF4_-sQOB1omcBQ&sig=ACfU3U3W2l6pX6zaold44U8fclitMfQLGg#PPA164,M1 163] , "Another special area is the use of position papers as the locus for image ads and public service announcements (PSAs) for an organization."] They are also an important part of theModel United Nations process [Citation
url=http://www.unausa.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKRI8MPJpF&b=457141
title=Position Papers
publisher=United Nations Association of the United States of America
accessdate=2008-08-25] .In international law, the term for a position paper is Aide Mémoire. An Aide Mémoire is memorandum setting forth the major points of a proposed discussion or agreement, used especially in diplomatic communications.
In government, a position paper lies somewhere between a
white paper and agreen paper in that they affirm definite opinions and propose solutions but may not go so far as detailing specific plans for implementation.Fact|date=April 2008Notes
References
*Citation
last=Bond
first=Michele T.
title=Public Diplomacy
publisher=Defense Technical Information Center
date=September 14 ,1998
year=1998
*Citation
last=Newsom
first=Doug
last2=Haynes
first2=Jim
title=Public Relations Writing: Form and Style |author=Doug Newsom |authorlink= |year=2004 |publisher=Thomson Wadsworth
isbn=0534612962
url=http://books.google.com/books?id=CFHIOgegNZkC
*Citation
last=Sanders
first=Marianne
coauthors=Andrée Tingloo and Hans Verhulst
title=Advanced Writing in English: A Guide for Dutch Authors
year=2005
url=http://books.google.com/books?id=-gBH7BQqy_0C
publisher=Coronet Books Inc
isbn=9053507612
*Citation
title=The Gentleman from Georgia:The Biography of Newt Gingrich
last=Steely
first=Mel
year=2000
publisher=Mercer University Press
isbn=0865546711
url=http://books.google.com/books?id=gZUNJPsV9i0CExternal links
*Citation
url=http://homepages.uhwo.hawaii.edu/~writing/position.htm
title=Writing a Position Paper
publisher=University of Hawai‘i - West O‘ahu
accessdate=2008-08-25
*Citation
url=http://www.unausa.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKRI8MPJpF&b=457147
title=Sample Position Paper
publisher=United Nations Association of the United States of America
accessdate=2008-08-25
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