position paper writting

Model United Nations

Position Paper Writing

By: Mohammad Ibn Hassan

Objectives

•Formally inform others of your nation’s position

•Present a unique, thought based solution to solving a problem

•Demonstrate full comprehension of the story

•Be consistent in maintaining your position in negotiation.

Guidelines

• Do not write in first person.

• Limit the length to a maximum of 2 pages minimum 1.5 (double spaced or 1.5)

• Include delegate name, delegation, flag (small), committee, and topic at the top of the position paper

Position Paper Style

•Remember to speak in the third-person. That is, “Russia wants a peaceful solution”, not “I want a peaceful solution.”

•However, if you're on the Russian Cabinet, you are representing a person, not a country, and thus it’s OK to use first person.

Position Paper Form

Often, it’s helpful to write position paper with the following form:

•Background of topic as it pertains to your country•Your country’s official position on the problem•Solutions to the problem that are amenable to your country

For example, if you're Russia and topic is the Syrian Civil war:

•Russia has had extensive involvement with Syria’s civil war; it has sent in military and financial aid to Bashar Al Asad•Russia believes that Bashar Al Asad is the legitimate ruler of Syria•Russia believes Bashar Al Asad’s government should allowed to distribute UN humanitarian aid

Position Paper Logistics

•Use a serif fonts! Serif fonts like Times New Roman look far more professional than sans serif fonts like Arial & Verandas.

•Make sure to put the following at the beginning of each paper:CommitteeTopicCountry

Research

• Develop supporting evidence for both sides

• Identify the issues and prejudices keeping your audience in mind

•Assume familiarity with basic concepts but define unfamiliar terms or concepts that define your position

• Refer to those who agree with your position to assist you in developing your argument

Hamburger Model

Top Bun-Introduction

Plan Section !

Plan Section 2

Plan Section 3

Conclusion

Top Bun-Introduction

• A brief introduction to the country and its history regarding the topic and/or UN body

Lettuce-Content Background

• The country’s actions on a national level, including political and/or foreign policy.

Tomato-Content Background

•The country’s actions on the international level, including resolutions, conventions and declarations that the country supports.

Burger-Content Background

•Quotes taken from speeches made by heads of the government and/or government representatives.

•Statistics regarding the issue.

Bottom Bun- Conclusion

•The country’s recommendation for a resolution for the topic. State some of your possible solutions.

Hints

•Your introduction sentence should be an attention grabber!!!

•You should use details to support your ideas including quotes, statistics and references to documents.

•Your conclusion should sum up and reflect the importance of your arguments.

Warning

•Absolutely no plagiarism will be accepted. That means no copy-pastes from the Internet.

•All research must be properly cited.

•Direct excerpts from a text must be in quotation marks.

Information

•To make it easier, you should answer the questions in the study guide first and then make your position paper. You need to have all your research first.

•Any questions about the topic ask your Executive Board Member.

Mohammad Ibn Hassan