MetroWest MUN encourages every delegate to submit a position paper which is an essay that each delegate use to showcases the country’s perspectives on a certain issue. Writing a position paper is extremely helpful when it comes to understanding the problem at hand and also brainstorming your solutions. A good position paper that entails careful thinking and constructive research is easier to write than you think! Here is a guide on how to do so! Please note that writing position papers are required to be eligible to win awards. Interested delegates should email their position paper to their chair's email (which can be found in the background guide) by 1/26/2020 at 11:59pm!
Style:
Introduction
A position paper has a few parts. Just like any other essays, a position paper also starts with introduction. For introduction, outline your understanding of the topic. Identify the main problem and provide insight about the conflict. This section is a summary of the topic’s background. This should cover a brief summary of how the issue came to be, who is involved, and why it must be addressed. The delegate should show a thorough understanding of this topic.
How is your country affected?
Next, mention about how your country is related to the issue. Remember to include any statistics or information about how your country is impacted by the issue. If it is about a widespread disease, include any details about research on how many people are impacted in your country?
What has your country done?
Does your country collaborate with the UN? Is your country abiding by the guidelines set by the UN? It is important to have a wide range of research sources on this as it helps you to decide your final stance on the issue. If the issue is very relevant to your country, elaborate more about it in the position paper. In this section, the delegate should list past actions and proposed solutions put forth by the body it is part of. This can be expanded to include actions taken by other members of the international community, such as the United Nations, or actions taken by independent and non-profit groups. In summary: what is currently being done about this topic?
Detailed solutions
This is the part where actual problem solving skills come into play. This should be the longest paragraph in your position paper as you need to showcase your interpretation of the obstacles and how solutions can be drafted to improve the current situation. Avoid vague and unclear solutions, instead give lots of details and think about every aspect of them. Ask yourself how you can go about having a solution that does not have loopholes that others can pick or attack on. This section should discuss what current country policy is on this issue. How has the country been dealing with these problems? Is this country directly involved or on the sidelines? The delegate should list any proposed solutions or ways of approaching these topics. This doesn’t have to be a lot of detail—give the general idea now, and introduce the specifics during committee.
Conclusion
Last, but not least, conclusion is used to tie loose ends and reemphasize the most important ideologies in your position paper. Include the bigger picture of the issue and help others to understand how your solutions will be able to lead to a positive change while keeping in mind that you are still representing your country’s stance. Be mindful about this as you are not representing yourself. You are representing a country so keep any personal opinions out and always put benefits of country in front of personal interest.
Wang, Thomas. “Position Papers.” PEAMUN, Phillips Exeter Academy , 10 Oct. 2018, www.peamun.org/position-papers.
Style:
- 12 pt, Times New Roman Font
- No more than 3 pages double spaced
- 1” margins
- Please cite sources in Chicago or MLA format using footnotes or endnotes–sources can be placed on an additional page
- Heading of paper should be country, committee name, and topic on upper left hand side
Introduction
A position paper has a few parts. Just like any other essays, a position paper also starts with introduction. For introduction, outline your understanding of the topic. Identify the main problem and provide insight about the conflict. This section is a summary of the topic’s background. This should cover a brief summary of how the issue came to be, who is involved, and why it must be addressed. The delegate should show a thorough understanding of this topic.
How is your country affected?
Next, mention about how your country is related to the issue. Remember to include any statistics or information about how your country is impacted by the issue. If it is about a widespread disease, include any details about research on how many people are impacted in your country?
What has your country done?
Does your country collaborate with the UN? Is your country abiding by the guidelines set by the UN? It is important to have a wide range of research sources on this as it helps you to decide your final stance on the issue. If the issue is very relevant to your country, elaborate more about it in the position paper. In this section, the delegate should list past actions and proposed solutions put forth by the body it is part of. This can be expanded to include actions taken by other members of the international community, such as the United Nations, or actions taken by independent and non-profit groups. In summary: what is currently being done about this topic?
Detailed solutions
This is the part where actual problem solving skills come into play. This should be the longest paragraph in your position paper as you need to showcase your interpretation of the obstacles and how solutions can be drafted to improve the current situation. Avoid vague and unclear solutions, instead give lots of details and think about every aspect of them. Ask yourself how you can go about having a solution that does not have loopholes that others can pick or attack on. This section should discuss what current country policy is on this issue. How has the country been dealing with these problems? Is this country directly involved or on the sidelines? The delegate should list any proposed solutions or ways of approaching these topics. This doesn’t have to be a lot of detail—give the general idea now, and introduce the specifics during committee.
Conclusion
Last, but not least, conclusion is used to tie loose ends and reemphasize the most important ideologies in your position paper. Include the bigger picture of the issue and help others to understand how your solutions will be able to lead to a positive change while keeping in mind that you are still representing your country’s stance. Be mindful about this as you are not representing yourself. You are representing a country so keep any personal opinions out and always put benefits of country in front of personal interest.
Wang, Thomas. “Position Papers.” PEAMUN, Phillips Exeter Academy , 10 Oct. 2018, www.peamun.org/position-papers.