POSITION PAPERS – Guidelines and Examples

POSITION PAPERS, VISION SCIENCE 

1) College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) 

https://www.covd.org/?page=Position_Papers 

Includes position papers by the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) and joint policy statements. 

2) World Council of Optometry (WCO) 

https://worldcouncilofoptometry.info/position-papers/ 

Position papers by WCO and WCO endorsed policy statements by International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). 

3) American Academy of Optometry (AAO) 

https://www.aaopt.org/home/about/what-is-the-academy/about-annualreports 

Section on position papers under “Publications” page of website.  Referenced section includes links to several AAO position papers as well as AAO’s “Position Paper policy (PDF)”, https://www.aaopt.org/docs/section-documents/position-papers/position-paper- policy.pdf?sfvrsn=21fb4629_2     (see internal PDF link to “Writing Position Papers” web page by Study Guides and Strategies website, http://www.studygs.net/wrtstr9.htm ). 

4) American Optometric Association (AOA) 

https://www.aoa.org/optometrists/education-and-training/clinical-care/clinical-care-publications 

See position papers interspersed with other publication types (including factsheets, policy statements, etc.) under “Clinical Care Publications” web page of AOA website. 

5) International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) 

http://www.icoph.org/resources/318/ICO-Position-Paper-in-CPD.html 

Includes information regarding ICO stance on position papers and links to position paper by ICO. 

6) Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 

https://www.arvo.org/advocacy/public-policy-statements/ 

Includes links to ARVO public policy statements, letters and testimony to Congress. 

7) European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO) 

http://www.ecoo.info/category/position-paper/ 

Includes links to ECOO position papers, individual or joint with other organizations. 

8) American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) 

https://aapos.org/resources/policy_statements/ 

Includes position statements, policy statements and technical reports by AAPOS and/or joint statements with other organizations. 

9) International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) 

https://www.iapb.org/resource_category/briefing-papers/#iapb-papers90ef-6e63 

Includes IAPB position paper/statements, guidelines and briefing papers. https://www.iapb.org/resources/iapb-advocacy-guide/ 

See sections relating to policy positions and position papers within linked IAPB PDF’s, “Advocacy for Eye  Health: A Practical Guide”, https://www.iapb.org/wp-content/uploads/Advocacy_Guide_6-2_0.pdf and “How to Develop a National Advocacy Strategy on Human Resources for Eye Health”, https://www.iapb.org/wp-content/uploads/IAPB-How-to-Guide.pdf .  The “Advocacy” document discusses position statements within the broader context of advocacy and includes commentary on the purpose and development of a position paper.  The “How To” document includes guidance on how to frame the content of a position paper, especially as related to IAPB objectives. 

10) American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 

https://www.aao.org/about/policies 

Includes AAO individual and joint policy statements (such as with the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) etc.) 

POSITION PAPERS, GENERAL 

1)Xavier University Library 

https://www.xavier.edu/library/students/documents/position_paper.pdf 

How to write a position paper.   Not specific to discipline. General recommendations for drafting position papers.  Note bibliographic references for additional resources. 

2)Owl – Purdue Online Writing Lab; Introductions, Body Paragraphs, and Conclusions for an Argument Paper 

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/724/01/ 

General information regarding composition and framing of argument papers.   Some information may not be applicable specifically to position papers. 

3)Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA); a division of the American Library Association 

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/aboutyalsa/yalsahandbook/whitepapers 

General guidelines for what to include in a position paper or issue brief.  Note bibliographic references for additional resources. 

4)University of Hawaii 

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/6133075/writing-a-position-paper-university-of- hawaii-west-oahu 

General guidelines and organization recommendations for drafting a position paper. 

整理者：Heather Symon Bassett, Optometry and Life Sciences Librarian at Ferris State University - 12/18/17