What is Model UN?

Position Papers

1. Provide a concise statement of your country's foreign policy and needs on the topic
2. Identifies key Conventions, Treaties, Resolutions and other measures relevant to the topic
3. Serve as a blueprint for your use in formulating and negotiating workable draft resolutions to resolve the problem

Why do we write a position paper?

Writing a position paper helps your figure out what your country's position on the topics are before you show up to committee. Your position paper should include a brief introduction followed by a comprehensive breakdown of your country's position on the topics that are being discussed by the committee. A good position paper will not only provide facts but MUST make concrete proposals for resolutions. For AMUN, position papers are 1 page long per committee. (Both topics, then, need to be covered within one page). NMUN is different, and details about that will be provided in the spring.

What do I have to include in the position paper?

Your position paper should cover the following:
1. Statement of the Problem: A brief introduction on the problem, and your country and its history concerning the topic and committee;
2. How the issue affects your country;
3. Your country's policies with respect to the issue and your country's justification for these policies; This may include the history of how your country has dealt with the problem;
4. Quotes from your country's leaders about the issue;
5. Statistics to back up your country's position on the issue;
6. Actions taken by your government with regard to the issue. If these actions have succeed, can they be used as a model by others?;
7. Agreements, conventions and resolutions that your country has signed or ratified that are relevant to the topic, including UN actions that your country supported or opposed. If these actions have been SUCCESSFUL, what can your committee do to build on this success? If they have FAILED, what can your committee do to change things?
8. Proposed solutions: What your country believes should be done to address the issue. This is the most important, and most commonly omitted, segment of a position paper.

Position paper format—For AMUN-Chicago, use the following format . All this should be 12 pt, single spaced, and must fit on one page. If it doesn't, trim it until it does!!

1. Sample Position Paper
2. UNAUSA Guide - Position Papers

^ Back to the Top

---------------------------------

University Resources