Position+Paper

Section 1: Introduction-About the topic and your country´s position on it

 * It should be a brief statement that introduces the topic and your country´s position. You will have more space in the contents to //prove// your position.

Section 2: Contents-Where you prove your position by discussing all of the things that you have done regarding the topic

 * It should included your country´s national actions and/or policies in relation to the topic.
 * It should also include international actions and/or policies that your country has done. (Remember: the United Nations is an international organization!)
 * Throughout this section, you should include quotes and statistics from leaders and other credible sources. It helps you prove your position.

Section 3: Conclusion-Your country´s recommendations

 * As an expert on your country and on how this topic, you should know what actions and/or policies has been successful and which ones have not been successful. Therefore, you have an idea of what can make things better. You should use this section of your position paper to make recommendations to the United Nations based upon how your country wants this topic resolved in the future and the position your country already has.

A Good Position Paper Will...
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
 * statistics that 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.

Tips to Writing a Position Paper

 * Keep it simple**: To communicate strongly and effectively, avoid unnecessary wording and stick to uncomplicated language and sentence structure. Also, stick with the information that is relevant to the topic and your position.


 * Make it official**: Try to use the seal of your country or create an "official" letterhead for your position paper. The more realistic it looks, the more others will want to read it.


 * Get organized**: Give each separate idea or proposal its own paragraph. Make sure each paragraph starts with a topic sentence.


 * Cite your sources**: Tell the reader where your information is coming from. Use footnotes or endnotes to show where you found your facts and statistics. If you are unfamiliar with how to do this, look it up here.


 * Read and reread**: Leave time to edit and revise 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 on making 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 stick to your country´s policies.

More information on position papers

Information from [].

**__How to Write a Position Paper __**

Along with the information about position papers that is written above, you will need the following information to write your position paper.

First, it is important for you to understand to whom you are writing. You are writing to a group of people who are interested in this issue and in your position. They have some knowledge of the topic. Remember, they will be students just like you, so do not use big, technical words that not many people will understand. However, you should not use the same language you would use when you are talking to your friends. Also, make sure that you understand what you have written. If you don’t understand it, no one else will!

[|Look at sample position papers]. Notice that they are not too long. Most of them are one page long. This shows us that we don’t have a lot of space to talk about our topic and our position. When you put all your facts, statistics, and quotes together, you may have a lot more than one page. This means that you must be wise, and only use some of your research. Stick to the most relevant and appropriate research. See if it fits into a category under your hamburger organizer!

Also, notice that there are not facts in every sentence. Nor are there statistics in every sentence. Nor quotes. There is a mixture of different types of information throughout the whole paper. There is a balance. Make sure that your paper does not have too much of one thing.

And lastly, and one of the most important things to remember, there should be absolutely __**//NO COPYING AND PASTING!!!//**__ This paper **must** be in your own words. No exceptions.

__Helpful Position Paper Phrases and Vocabulary__
These are some suggestions and patterns that you may use in your Position Papers. You may use these patterns, but try to create your own sentences.

For introductions: The treaty states that (Topic) __has been crucial in the history of__ (your country´s name) __because__ ___.__

__For content:__ (Country´s name) __has made extensive national efforts to address this problem by____.__ (Country´s name) __has implemented__ __to solve__ ___.__ (Country´s name) __has addresses__ (topic) __on an international level by__ __.__ (Country´s name) __has supported__ (treaty or agreement) __that has helped solve__. __(Government Representative)__ has addressed this issue of __(topic)__ in a speech in which he/she said "." The issue of __(topic)__ was addressed in a speech give by __(Government Representaion)__ in which he¨/she said "."

For conclusions: The country of recommends to solve this problem with _. The country of recommends to solve this problem by_.

Helpful vocabulary words and phrases:
You should understand these phrases and vocabulary words and use them in your own position papers. Look at a sample position paper. Try to see if you see any of these words and phrases, and try to understand what they mean and how the writer is using them. What do they help the writer to say?

appreciation ||= keeing in mind ||= recalling ||= appreciates ||= declares ||= with approval ||= takes note of ||
 * = acknowledging ||= considering ||= fully aware ||= with concern ||= reiterating ||= commends ||= emphasizes ||= recognizes ||
 * = affirming ||= contemplating ||= grieved ||= with deep concern ||= seeking ||= concurs ||= encourages ||= recommends ||
 * = alarmed ||= convinced ||= guided by ||= with grave concern ||= stressing ||= condemns ||= endores ||= regrets ||
 * = anxious ||= declaring ||= having adopted ||= with regret ||= welcoming ||= confirms ||= expresses ||= reiterates ||
 * = approving ||= deeply disturbed ||= approved ||= with satisfaction ||= accepts ||= congratulates ||= instructs ||= repeats ||
 * = bearing in mind ||= determined ||= considered ||= observing ||= adopts ||= considers ||= invites ||= suggests ||
 * = being convinced ||= emphasizing ||= examined ||= reaffirming ||= affirms ||= decides ||= notes ||= strongly ||
 * = believing ||= endorsing ||= further received ||= realizing ||= appeals ||= accordingly ||= with appreciation ||= supports ||
 * = cognizant ||= expressing
 * = concerned ||= deep appreciation ||= mindful ||= recognizing ||= approves ||= deplores ||= with satisfaction ||= transmit ||
 * = confident ||= expecting ||= noting ||= referring ||= authorizes ||= designates ||= reaffirms ||= urges ||
 * = conscious ||= fulfilling ||= with approval ||= regretting ||= calls upon ||= directs ||= its belief ||= welcomes ||

"Using Quotations Effectively" by Robert Harris
(This is an article I found that might help you all use quotes in your papers. The original link is [])


 * 1. Introduce your quotations.** A quotation should never suddenly appear out of nowhere. Some kind of information about the quotation is needed. Name the author, give his or her credentials, name the source, give a summary. You won't do all of these each time, but you should usually name the author. For example:

It is often useful to apply some interpretive phrasing after a quotation, to show the reader that the you are explaining the quotation and that it supports your argument:
 * 2. Discuss your quotations.** Do not quote someone and then leave the words hanging as if they were self explanatory. What does the quotation mean and how does it help establish the point you are making? What is your interpretation or opinion of it? Quotations are like examples: discuss them to show how they fit in with your thesis and with the ideas you are presenting. //Remember: quotations support or illustrate your own points. They are not substitutes for your ideas and they do not stand by themselves.//
 * Here we see that
 * This statement shows
 * Clearly, then,
 * We can conclude from this that
 * This tells us that
 * From this we can understand that

A. Pick the quotation verb which seems in each case to fit your purpose most exactly. For example:
 * 3. Use some variety in introducing quotations.**

Note that the particular verb you choose helps orient your reader toward your opinion of the statement. "Jones says" is neutral; "Jones informs us" is positive, "Jones alleges" is somewhat negative. Other verbs to choose from include: B. Sometimes you might want to use a colon introduction. For example:
 * says
 * writes
 * observes
 * notes
 * remarks
 * adds
 * declares
 * informs us
 * alleges
 * claims
 * states
 * comments
 * thinks
 * affirms
 * asserts
 * explains
 * argues

Or Kumquat C. An introductory phrase may sometimes be best. For example:
 * is more enlightening:
 * prefers a different argument:
 * discerns this point:
 * distinguishes between the two:
 * reminds us of his youth:
 * believes we should talk less:


 * 4. Sometimes you might want to begin your quotation in the middle of the writer's sentence.** For example, Joe's Text:

Your quotation:

Or, Boz's Text:

Your quotation:

(Note: for embedded phrases like these, do not use ellipsis dots on either side.)


 * 5. Sometimes leave out some words** to condense the quotation. Mid-sentence ellipses use three spaced dots. Example text:

Your quotation:

Ellipses at the end of a sentence use an end-of-sentence period and then three spaced dots. Example text:


 * 6. Parenthetical material goes inside the punctuation mark.** Example:

Compare punctuation without and with parenthetical material:

(Note that the period has moved from next to the last letter of the sentence to behind the right parenthesis mark.)