How to Write a Position Paper An Example Paper on Heroes
You must first establish a "theme statement" that describes what you believe.
The theme statement will be your opinion. To support your opinion, you must gather and present facts. Remember, a fact is something that can be proved, often by some reputable source like a dictionary or encyclopedia. An opinion is something that can be argued without definite avenues of proof.
Often, word choice is the difference between facts and opinions. Which is
fact and which is opinion?
You need to establish three points to support your theme statement. These three points can be opinions.
For each of the points, you need three facts.
You must have an introductory paragraph, which introduces your theme, and a closing paragraph, which ties your paper together into a conclusion.
Remember, a paragraph consists of at least three sentences.
This is a formal style of writing. You cannot use first ( me, my, I) or second (you, your) person!
The literature of almost every age has included the treatment of heroes. In ancient times, heroes were usually strong and courageous, like Beowulf and Hercules. Mythical or magical powers were often attributed to heroes and to the beasts they fought. Common folk idolized heroes and told of their exploits around the fire at night. Heroes were the uncommon men, the superior men. Long, detailed accounts of heroes were memorized and passed down through generations. But, history has gradually replaced the traditional hero with a new breed, very different than the hero of long ago.
Heroes can now be made overnight. When the Twin Towers were destroyed on September 11, firefighters who might risk their lives every day on the job were called in. Those who died trying to help others were recognized as heroes instantly. Even though the possibility of death was part of their jobs, they were made national heroes because of one incident. Other firefighters who die in the line of duty are not usually nationally recognized. Many people who had never done anything exceptional were made heroes that day. Instead of being a hero for a lifetime of deeds, it can only take one incident to create a hero today.
There is no longer a code of ethics to which a hero is held. When a hero in ancient times showed his flaws, he was usually disgraced and lost his status. When Sir Lancelot betrayed King Arthur by acting on his love for Queen Guenevere, he was banned from the kingdom and his knighthood tarnished. When Cassiopeia grew vain about beauty, she was turned into a constellation of a throne placed upside down to punish her eternally. But today, people can be heroes even though they do not live ethical lives. Babe Ruth was one of many sports stars who are considered heroes despite breaking the law and living in socially unacceptable ways. Today, some people are convicted of crimes and go to jail and are still considered heroes.
A hero today can have only one talent and still become famous. In old literature, a hero usually performed a number of deeds to become famous, proving his character. Famous knights fought many dragons and served in many wars. Kings justly ruled for many years and in many situations. Heroes in mythology had to prove themselves brave, kind, and worthy in many trials. Today, heroes can be recognized for one attribute. A baseball player may only become famous for pitching. A football player becomes revered because of one team position. An actor may win an award for one performance. The investment of considerable time and effort is not always a condition for becoming a modern hero.
The heroes of yesteryear are different than those of today. They have changed with the culture and the society around them. No longer do they represent a superior human package of ethics, proven behavior, and many talents. Heroes now can be made quickly, by one act, with disregard for a lifetime's acts. They can be made on the basis of one talent or one event. Would King Arthur respect Bill Clinton? Would Beowulf understand the monsters that flew airplanes into buildings and became their country's heroes? Would Hercules expect a fair fight from Mike Tyson? Unfortunately, the heroes of yesterday are replaced by those created today by a very different world.
