elements. I want to wrap them in some HTML elements, but can't seem to get at them! The one's in question are the <emp>, <person> and <position> elements within the parent <article>.

Well, to pick one of the problems:
  <xsl:template match="para">
    <p>
      <xsl:copy-of select="node()"/>
    </p>
  </xsl:template>
Just do an <xsl:apply-teplates/> instead of the <xsl:copy-of>
You should get used to prefer xsl:apply-templates over
xsl:value-of and xsl:copy-of, unless you
- need specifically the effects of either of the latter
- need the performance advantage of the latter (shouldn't
 happen very often.