GLOBAL CLASSROOMS POSITION PAPER

What is a position paper? 1 to 1.5 pages in length Gives facts about your country and the topic Includes proposals for resolutions (what you think should be done in the future) Resolutions are actions for ALL countries, not just your own country. Works Cited an in-text citation (MLA) Can be used later to write opening speeches

It’s not as scary as it sounds!! Position Paper… It’s not as scary as it sounds!!

TITLE In the top left hand corner: Committee: (HRC) Topic: (Combatting Violence Against Women) Country: (Your full country name) Delegate: (Your names)

PARAGRAPH BREAKDOWN Introduction Domestic Action International Action Potential Resolutions Conclusion (Optional)

INTRODUCTION Introduce the topic (with a slight skew toward your country’s position) and give background information. How does the issue affects your country? Skew it to your country’s position. Example: if the topic is combatting violence against women and your country has made progress in defending women’s rights, explain what measures your country and similar countries have taken

DOMESTIC ACTION Past policies, events, and actions related to the issue in your country What happened? Why? Current situation and actions in your country Statistics and quotes to back up your country's position You can also spread these throughout your position paper

INTERNATIONAL ACTION Past resolutions and agreements in which your country has been involved Resolutions, agreements, conventions, etc. Current global issues related to your topic

POTENTIAL RESOLUTIONS What your country believes should be done in the future Actions most focus on all countries, not only yours. Work with other countries and organizations Give at least two proposals for future actions What? Who? When? How? Give details and be creative  Don’t forget about the money (funding)

“Tell ‘em what you told ‘em.” CONCLUSION What your country would like to see accomplished in the committee's resolution Tie it back into the international issue “Tell ‘em what you told ‘em.”

BEFORE you start writing, you need to know… What’s your country’s position on the topic? WHY? what’s the history? laws/policies/resolutions? country demographics? (GDP, population, import/export, etc) SO… WHAT’S YOUR PROPOSAL?? i.e. what do you want the committee’s resolution to be? WHAT should be done? WHO should be doing it? WHEN should it be done? HOW should it be done? At least TWO statistics or quotes that support this proposal At least TWO different ideas for what can be done towards this proposal

POSITION PAPER TIPS When you list a statistic or a quote, cite your source.  NO PLAGIARISM. Keep it simple Make it official (Use appropriate vocabulary) Get organized (Each paragraph should have a topic sentence) Cite your sources (when you write a quote or statistic, put where you found the information) Edit, edit, edit…

TIME FOR PRACTICE Using a sample position paper… Underline the topic sentences. Label the introduction, domestic action, international action, and resolutions paragraphs. Underline the statistics and quotes. Highlight official words that you could use in your position paper.