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Position Paper Guide To Writing

Help With Writing Position Papers

 

Hi, this guide on writing position papers for MUN will help you if this is your first time writing a position paper or you want to increase your position paper writing skills. Please note that there is no one set way to write a position paper. You can adapt your position paper to allow for some creativity depending on your topic and/or conference. Let's get started:

 

First, let's talk about formatting and headings.

​Formatting

 

Whether you use Word or Google Docs, you need to make sure that your position paper is easy to read and necessary information is can be easily found. To do this make sure you:

  • Use a readable font (preferably Times New Roman)

  • Limit your font size to 12pt throughout your paper (even in headings) because any bigger is distracting and any smaller is hard to read

  • Keep your spacing 1.0. This is to make your position paper look uniform, professional, and easy to read.

  • Leave your margins at the default 1 in. spacing 

                           Do not:

  • Use a fancy font or different fonts throughout your position paper

  • Bold or italicize words in your position paper for emphasis unless used for a heading

 

Good example of formatting:

 

Formatting

Awful example of formatting:

 

 

That last example may seem a bit extreme, but only because shows the worst possible case of a position paper bogged down with formatting issues. Just something as simple and innocent as changing the font sizes is extremely distracting to a chair(the person who moderates a Model United Nation's committee) who is usuallly reading a couple dozen different position papers. Although you want your position paper to stand out, you want it to stand out for good reasons. Just one more thing to look at before we move on to headings.

 

Here's a checklist to look over to make sure your formatting is correct:

  1. Is my entire position paper written in the same font?

  2. Is my font easy to read and not distracting?

  3. Is my font size 12pt?

  4. Was my spacing left at 1.0?

  5. Were my margins left at 1 in.? 

  6. Do I have any uneccessary bolding or italicizing of words for emphasis?

 

Headings and Titles

 

Headings and titles are pretty simple aspects of position paper writing to master but the will vary from conference to another. So, be vigilant as to how a certain conference wants their position paper headed and formatted. These are the general guidlines: A position paper heading has 4 main aspects: your name, your committee, your country/member state, your school. An example of good heading looks like this:

Headings and Titles

Please be sure to follow the same formatting rules as you would for the rest of the position paper. There are some special cases for headings. Some conferences will request that you exclude your name and school from the heading. It depends on the conference, so make sure to ask someone if you don't know or look through our Position Paper Archive for position papers from previous conferences. If you are in a special committee (such as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), you will need to put your character's name instead of a country like this:

 

Although country and committee are interchangeable, committee is usually preferred before country. Let's look one more time at how our heading should be ordered:

 

 

Now that you know how to head your position paper let's look at how you should head each of your topics. Before your begin to write your position paper, you will receive a document called a backgrounder. It contains all the basic info you need to know before you write your position paper. PLEASE NOTE: This does not replace research. You will not have a very good chance of winning an award as a delegate or for your position paper if you don't do any research.

 

All your titles will consist of is the name of your topic, which is provided in the backgrounder. So, if you have two topics, one called Cyber Terrorism and the other Espionage, then your headings should simply say "Cyber Terrorism" and "Espionage". No more no less. The titles should be placed directly above the section describing your contry's position. Note: Make sure to separate your topics. Don't write one long essay that includes all your topics. Instead, separate them into to different, smaller essays.   

 

Writing the Content of a Position Paper

 

Before you even begin to write the content of your position paper, RESEARCH RESEACRH RESEACRH! Lots of GOOD research is neccessary to write a winning position paper. To learn what good research is and how to do it, head over to the Research section of the Training Materials page.

 

Before writing the position paper, it is a good idea to organize your thoughts into an outline. This will help your ideas flow smoothly while writing your position paper.

 

While writing your outline it is important to note that your position paper should include: 

  • Statistical and factual information. 

  • How this issue relates to your country

  • Actions already taken by your country and the UN

  • The problem from your country's perspective and your country's solution

  • Actions your country needs to take to solve the problem(s)

  • A background of your country's policies and actions towards this issue

 

The very first paragraph or two in a position paper should be a historical summary of your country's policies and actions towards this issue. So, if I am representing the Islamic Republic of Kashmir on the topic of Conflict in Kashmir, my first paragraph might look something like this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing the Content of Position Papers

Please note that the first time you mention your country you should use its formal name. Remember, your position paper should be written in a formal and professional tone.

 

The rest of your position paper should talk about how your country plans to take on this issue and actions(involving your country) already taken towards this issue. Here are some other things you need to consider when writing a position paper:

  • You need to write from your country's perspective. Avoid adding personal bias by injecting your own opinions on the issue.

  • Portray your arguments formally. Avoid using emotional expressions. Instead, use powerful arguments to convey your message

  • Be sure to present clear, logical solutions to each problem you present

  • Thoroughly describe and explain any uncertain or unfamliar terms or expressions, especially when writing a position paper on vague topics like cyber terrorism. Usually, you can include those in your first or second parargraph

  • Reference any documents or data you found in your research

  • Don't stray from your topic. Remain focused on the goal of stating the issue and solving the problem

  • Keep the tone of your paper authoritative and formal

  • Be sure to mention any countries that argree with your country's position and would be willing to back up that position

  • Anticipate any arguments aimed toward your country's position. It's a good idea to know how to all your other fellow delegates stand on each issue.  

 

Citing Your Sources

 

There are two wasy to cite your sources in a position paper. The first, most traditional method of citing sources is known as a works cited page. That looks something like this:

 

 

Citing Your Sources

 

The second way is to use footnotes. That looks something like this:

 

 

 

Additional Resources

 

To read exactly how to use both these methods go to:https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/

 

To view more tips on writing position papers visit both of these websites: 

​

http://www.unausa.org/global-classrooms-model-un/how-to-participate/model-un-preparation/position-papers

http://www.studygs.net/wrtstr9.htm

 

To view great examples of position papers head over to the Position Paper Archive

 

Additional Resources
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