Position Paper—Monstrous IdentitiesENG 1013: Composition II, Arkansas State University A Position Paper is a common type of academic argument that is written after reading about and discussing a particular issue in which you should state and defend your position on the issue as well as to illustrate how your opinion relates to similar or opposing opinions about the same issue. When writing your essay, remember that your thesis still needs to be both arguable and supported with details and evidence. Also continue to use transitions, which provide cues for the reader and improve coherence. We will also continue to use the following skills: · collecting information from readings on a particular issue · positioning one's claim in relation to other positions on the issue · documenting sources using MLA in-text citations and works cited · choosing an effective organizational strategy · researching the library and Internet for sources Purpose of the paper: To argue your position on how monsters reflect upon and create identity in at least two of the articles we have read in the Monsters textbook AND the YouTube documentary, showing how your position relates to those of the authors/narrator. Audience: An academic audience that includes the authors of the readings and others interested in the issue upon which you are focusing. Strategies: · Focus on identities found in at least two of the readings. Use a specific, clearly stated thesis to introduce the focus. Introduce the issue early in the discussion. · Develop your argument by defending your claim and showing how it relates to the positions of your sources. Show the positions of two or more authors/narrators, at least two of which must be from the textbook. Use clearly stated reasons and relevant, effective evidence. Reasons should represent sound logic. Evidence may be drawn from the readings and outside sources such as interviews, surveys, or written sources. · Organize your paper in a way that effectively conveys information to your readers, is easy to follow, and presents your position in relation to those of the authors. · Document all outside sources (both written and field sources) using MLA in-text citations and works cited. · Write in a style that is clear, readable, appropriate to audience, and free from distracting errors in spelling, grammar, and usage. · For extra information, consult “Major Assignment #2” in Monsters on pgs. 233-234. Content and Audience To focus your position paper, you should consider how your own insights add something new to a conversation on monstrosity in your hometown, in our nation, or in the larger world. Then, reflect on this issue, taking notes on perspectives that you feel are missing or on viewpoints that you feel are incompletely or inaccurately expressed. Even if you are writing about an issue with which you are already familiar you will want to read several sources pertaining to the issue before you begin writing. Some questions for you.

1. Position Paper—Monstrous IdentitiesENG 1013: Composition
II, Arkansas State University
A Position Paper is a common type of academic argument that is
written after reading about and discussing a particular issue in
which you should state and defend your position on the issue as
well as to illustrate how your opinion relates to similar or
opposing opinions about the same issue. When writing your
essay, remember that your thesis still needs to be both arguable
and supported with details and evidence. Also continue to use
transitions, which provide cues for the reader and improve
coherence. We will also continue to use the following skills:
· collecting information from readings on a particular issue
· positioning one's claim in relation to other positions on the
issue
· documenting sources using MLA in-text citations and works
cited
· choosing an effective organizational strategy
· researching the library and Internet for sources
Purpose of the paper: To argue your position on how monsters
reflect upon and create identity in at least two of the articles we
have read in the Monsters textbook AND the YouTube
documentary, showing how your position relates to those of the
authors/narrator.
Audience: An academic audience that includes the authors of
the readings and others interested in the issue upon which you
are focusing.
Strategies:
· Focus on identities found in at least two of the readings. Use a
specific, clearly stated thesis to introduce the focus. Introduce
the issue early in the discussion.
· Develop your argument by defending your claim and showing
how it relates to the positions of your sources. Show the
positions of two or more authors/narrators, at least two of which
must be from the textbook. Use clearly stated reasons and

2. relevant, effective evidence. Reasons should represent sound
logic. Evidence may be drawn from the readings and outside
sources such as interviews, surveys, or written sources.
· Organize your paper in a way that effectively conveys
information to your readers, is easy to follow, and presents your
position in relation to those of the authors.
· Document all outside sources (both written and field sources)
using MLA in-text citations and works cited.
· Write in a style that is clear, readable, appropriate to
audience, and free from distracting errors in spelling, grammar,
and usage.
· For extra information, consult “Major Assignment #2” in
Monsters on pgs. 233-234.
Content and Audience
To focus your position paper, you should consider how your
own insights add something new to a conversation on
monstrosity in your hometown, in our nation, or in the larger
world. Then, reflect on this issue, taking notes on perspectives
that you feel are missing or on viewpoints that you feel are
incompletely or inaccurately expressed. Even if you are writing
about an issue with which you are already familiar you will
want to read several sources pertaining to the issue before you
begin writing. Some questions for you to consider as you read
your sources are as follows:
· Who is the monster and who is the man (human person)?
· Where does one identity end and the other begin?
· How do your own experiences influence your perspective on
identity?
· What voices are missing within the larger rhetorical
conversation about this monster and its identity/identities?
· Do the writers currently covering this monster (and its
identity) and/or the public, in general, seem to be
misinterpreting or unfairly representing certain points of view?
· Do the writers currently covering this monster (and its
identity) and/or the public seem to be “getting it right,” but still

3. leaving important perspectives out of the conversation?
As you write and revise your position paper, you will integrate
relevant research that will allow you to both support your views
and distinguish them from the views of others who have written
on the issue. Be aware that typically, strong and powerful
position papers say something new rather than rehashing the
same tired arguments. Finally, remember that your position
paper should develop a strong, well-supported argument, and
that it should address the Arkansas State University first-year
community—that is, fellow students and faculty, who are bright,
but may have little knowledge of the particular conversation
you are entering.
Organization and Format
There are many ways to organize your position paper and, as a
class, we will analyze sample position papers in order to
articulate a general understanding of the conventions of the
genre. Considering these conventions, you will have to decide
the best way to arrange your essay to make your argument clear
and persuasive.
Further, to practice the skills necessary for success in
Composition II and beyond, you are expected to engage with
outside sources in your piece, using summary, paraphrase, and
direct quotation as effective and appropriate. You are also
required to incorporate in-text parenthetical citations and
develop an end-of-text Works Cited and/or, if applicable, a
Works Referenced page for all sources cited within your paper
or consulted in developing your position. You should read and
cite (Works Cited or Works Referenced) no fewer than three
recent sources. As with other essays written in this class, please
follow MLA guidelines for citation and format. Your position
paper must be no fewer than three full pages, but no more than
four.
Albadawi 2

4. Albadawi
Sarah
11/13/16
How monsters create upon and reflect identity
Identity is what makes every being to be a being. People have
names. At times there are arguments about names influencing
the way people act and behave. Identity goes beyond name. It is
more about what a thing is. It could be a person, animal, or just
something that is not living being. An inanimate. Monstrous
being however have had a legacy built upon three identities;
people, animals and spirits. With spirits, it includes even gods.
A combination of all these not only serves to add the monstrous
feeling and to scare. It also serves to give an edge to the
monster that it could not have as a single form.
Monsters have many different identities. The identities can keep
on changing or they can be companioned at times. Beowulf, for
instance, has several traits as a human monster. In Beowulf,
there are three other important monsters. The dragon. Grendel
and Grendel’s mother. Grendel is evil. Grendel stalks mores. At
night, he attacks the hall and devours Hrothgar’s men. In this
case, the monster is portrayed as an evil thing. One which is an
enemy to the people. It is heartless and powerful. None of the
men can stop him. This display of power is important at making
a monster a monster; at creating the monster identity. Then
weapons are not even effective upon Grendel’s hide! This still
adds to the nature of a real monster. One that is too strong for
humans to tackle. Monsters, however, are most times put against
people. While they are very powerful, they lack in mind and
brains. At teams they are defeated very simply.
The monsters were finally defeated by Beowulf, the legend,
with his bare hands. This brings about several questions as to
why a person’s courage is raised to meet a monster who even
weapons had not managed to scathe. This understanding of
monsters, however, doesn’t bring about the reality of present
day monsters. It is a representation of what mo0nseters have

5. been considered to be in the past. Presently, there is more to a
monster than the evil and satanic and supernatural thing which
is too formidable to approach.
A look at David in the Twilight series brings a scathing scare
and at times even a calming effect. It is confusing to imagine a
character that shares human and beast traits. This is what David
was. He would fall in love despite being a monster. He would
still kill despite being a monster. These are very conflating
situations. An older generation understanding of a monster
doesn’t expect this to be the case, monsters are totally different
things. At least, if he remained with the identity of a wolf, it
could have been understandable. The symbolic interpretation of
this kind of a scenario however calls for more than the scare
and thrill of a monster. It helps to create an understanding of
the functions of monsters in art and literature. Circumstances
can lead to changes in nature and personalities of people and
monsters. David became a monster as a result of a curse. This
changed his personality. The circumstance involved in this was
that himself and his friend did not heed to a warning. This
brings about another element of monstrosity; that there is a
constructive purpose side to it. In this case, for instance, it is
easy to learn that monsters are often used to warn.
Monsters exist through a socio-cultural interpretation. This
helps to create the link between monsters and legends.
Traditionally, monsters existed in legends until films and most
importantly, horror films, started changing the rhetoric. People
understand monsters through their cultural experience, mostly.
What most people never connect is the rationality and reality of
monsters. They are irrational beings to say the least. Rather, the
very thought about an existence of monsters is irrational. After
all, no one has ever come face to face with the monsters. There
is need to analyze reality and connect it with the monster view.
For example, there are bad people in the society. They can be
represented by the use of monsters. Monstrous traits can be
simple. Serial killers are not real monsters. However,
convincing the victim’s family that such people are not

6. monsters would be difficult. Within them they, know that the
people are not monsters. But their actions prove otherwise. The
thought of monsters is irrational. Most actions of monsters are
irrational too. If serial killer’s kill, then such a decision is an
irrational land thus monstrous.
The writer’s view is that monsters are not always necessarily
evil. There are several ways in which they help the society. To
begin with, they get the strong and brave people within the
society to stand and defends their communities. Besides, they
also offer or lead to community unity. This is because they
occur as a common enemy to the whole community.
There are differences though in monsters of yesteryears and
these of the present and years to come. Present day monsters,
for instance, are inspired heavily by pop culture. Those of years
to come will draw from their time. Notably, monsters are used
to represent evil in the society, and are used to warn people of
wrong doing. They as well indicate the consequences of
associating with evil or with wrong doing.
In conclusion, monsters and monstrosity should be aiming at
scaring. There are situations where monsters are cuddling rather
than blood cuddling. That implies that they are used, have a
positive said, and thus should not always be portrayed
negatively.
Works Cited
Pizzato, Mark. Theatres of Human Sacrifice: From Ancient
Ritual to Screen Violence. Albany: State U of New York, 2005.
Print.