Position Papers
What Is A Position Paper
Many conferences require that each delegation submit a position paper—an essay detailing your country’s policies on the topics being discussed in your committee. In
an effort to achieve higher level of thinking and good quality of debate all
delegates are required to submit position papers prior to the conference. Writing a position paper helps delegates organize their
ideas so that they can share their country’s stand on a particular agenda with
the rest of the committee.
It also provides a basic draft to the delegates with regard
to formulation of speeches.
Rules To Be Kept In Mind
- A position paper should not exceed one A4 size page for each agenda topic within the committee.
- The bibliography and sources should and must be given on the end of the Position Paper.
- It should be typed in font Arial and font size 10, with default margins.
- There will be no extensions. Late submissions will not be considered for the Best Position Paper Award or any other award, you will not be given a participation certificate.
Tips For Writing A Good Position Paper:
- Keep it simple: To communicate strongly and effectively, avoid flowery wording and stick to uncomplicated language and sentence structure.
- Get organized: Give each separate idea or proposal its own paragraph. Make sure each paragraph starts with a topic sentence.
- Cite your sources: Use footnotes or endnotes to show where you found your facts and statistics. It is always important to state your sources. End your Position Paper with a Bibliography.
- Read and reread: Leave time to edit your position paper. Ask yourself if the organization of the paper makes sense and double-check your spelling and grammar.
- Speech! Speech!: Do you plan to make an opening statement at your conference? A good position paper makes a great introductory speech. During debate, a good position paper will also help you to stick to your country's policies. However your speech must be different and separate from your Position Paper. You may take points from your Position Paper, but do not make your speech the Position Paper, as the Executive Board will strongly notice this.
- Let the bullets fly: Try not to let your proposals become lost in a sea of information. Create a bulleted list of your proposals along with your most important facts and statistics so that you will not lose time looking for them during debate and so that the reader of your Position Paper can make them out easily.
- Begin with Important Points: Begin your points with the most impotant information. Do not beat around the bush. Just by reading the first line the reader should be able to understand the point. Elaborate later on in your paragraph or sentence about the point.
- Highlight: Highlight the beginning of your paragraphs and begin your paragraph with the most important points.
- Remember Each Director has 100’s of Position Papers to read and judge.
A good position paper will include:
- A brief introduction to your country and its history concerning the topic and committee;
- How the issue affects your country;
- Your country's policies with respect to the issue and your country's justification for these policies;
- Quotes from your country's leaders about the issue;
- Statistics to back up your country's position on the issue;
- Actions taken by your government with regard to the issue;
- Conventions and resolutions that your country has signed or ratified;
- UN actions that your country supported or opposed;
- What your country believes should be done to address the issue;
- What your country would like to accomplish in the committee's resolution; and
- How the positions of other countries affect your country's position.
Sample Position Papers
Sample Position Paper 1 - Devanshu Sood.pdf |
Sample Position Paper 2 - Aakanxit Khullar.pdf |
Sample Position Paper 3 - Mehar Sawhney |
positionpaperls.pdf |