Reaction on a Position Paper

The position paper is basically aimed at stopping the mining activities in the island of Rapu-Rapu, near Sorsogon. It is objective in its point of view, where the statements used to defend the position are objective, impersonal, serious and formal.

It used both the Rational and Non-Rational Mode of Persuasion. In the first half of the paper the writer effectively used Rational mode through "causal inference" using scientific facts, evidences and data statistics to persuade the readers of the truthfulness of his claim. While in the other half, the writer used scientific facts and evidences and brilliantly presented it through non-rational mode of persuasion by "pathos" or the arousal of compassion.

In the first paragraph it already presented scientific data and statistics with a high degree of probability to present a logical argument to the readers. The second paragraph described the conditions that makes the mining more hazardous to its inhabitants while the third and fourth paragraph further validates its position on the issue by using scientific facts to illustrate how things occur.

The fourth paragraph brilliantly used facts in order to arouse the compassion of the readers. It enumerated the probable gruesome harmful effects brought about by the mining in the area and furthered the arousal of compassion by presenting the fact that the harmful effects are not only confined in the Island of Sorsogon but to its neighbors as well. And then lastly it presented that the mining has consequential effects to those who are not directly affected by the mining, but will be affected by the economic regression that the mining will bring about.

In totality, the writer was able to clearly present its argument through skillful use of logical and flawless argument in the first part and in the second part the effective and skillful use of facts and evidences to arouse compassion in its readers.

(http://www.adnu.edu.ph/institutes/inecar/article0801006.asp)