Position Paper: 70 points

Instructions

In this paper, you will assert a position about one term associated with the topic of gender identities. You will select this term from a limited list that appears before the grading rubric. Your clearly stated position will be supported by examples from your personal observations and experiences in addition to material from relevant course lectures, textbook readings, and external scholarly sources.**

1.   State your position with respect to the term. Express your thesis clearly in a one concise sentence, and locate your position statement in the introduction of your essay. For example, you might choose “cisgender” as your term and then state the following position: Cisgendered identities are privileged in workplace contexts.

2.   Explain your understanding of the term. Define and explain the term, supporting your understanding of it with properly cited sources. This explanation provides the history, background, and use of the term, and it does not need to be connected to the position you are taking. For example, you could explain when and how cisgender became a term used to describe gender identities and how it is linked to the sex-gender binary.

3.   Develop your position. Include three supporting statements for your position and develop these arguments with examples and evidence. For example, your position on gender identities could be supported by a statement about leave policies in organizations that are exclusively granted to “mothers and fathers.” You would then provide an explanation of how you connect this policy to cisgender privilege. Again, all sources (course related or otherwise) must be cited properly. Your discussion will be more persuasive if supported by authoritative evidence rather than opinion.

4.   Address any obvious or subtle criticisms of your position. Think about why someone would disagree with your position. Academic publishing thrives on debate and disagreements among scholars on almost any given topic. If you can find research that critiques your position, cite it. Again, this will make your discussion more substantive and persuasive. Present at least two counterarguments, and explain how your position can refute these. For example, someone may argue that laws protect workers who face discrimination based on gender. How can your position on cisgender explain that privilege for this group still exists despite laws and policies regarding gender? You may not write that there are “no criticisms” of your position. This will result in a 0 for this section of the paper.

**You must cite a minimum of two peer-reviewed academic journal articles (not in the textbook) in addition to a minimum of two references to articles in the textbook. These sources offer more in-depth information about your topic and support for your arguments. The ASU library is the best place to begin your research for sources. Although you may also use books, non-academic articles, popular press magazines, websites and blogs, none of these will count toward the above required sources. Please watch the short video tutorials on our Canvas site for an overview of how to search for peer-reviewed articles and avoid plagiarism.

Format

•  Develop your topic in 1500–2000 words.

•  Give your paper a meaningful title: “Position Paper” is a generic assignment name, not an appropriate title.

•  Follow the General Paper Guidelines posted on Canvas, including APA citation style and format.

•  Do not use the particular cisgender example provided here as your position.

Suggestions

•  Think carefully before stating your position. You want to take a position that can be clearly supported by compelling evidence.

•  Make sure your argument primarily and predominantly asserts your position

rather than attacking another’s position.

•  Choose persuasive and credible academic sources to support your ideas.

The topics below—from which you will select  one term—are taken from Module 1 lectures and readings.

Topics

Grading Rubric