Writing MUN Position Papers Tufts MUN

Part 1: READ THE NEWS!!! If you don’t already, start reading the news every single day. Pay special attention to international affairs, especially if the UN is involved Good sources Please make sure to read a reputable news source. Good services on the internet include: BBC @ http://news.bbc.co.uk NY Times @ www.nytimes.com The Economist @ www.economist.com The Times (London) @ www.the-times.co.uk Washington Post @ www.washingtonpost.com

Part 2: Research Three steps Research your country Research the issues Research the UN organ/agency

Country Good sources: BBC News Country Profiles http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/country_profiles/def ault.stm CIA World Factbook www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook The Economist Country Briefings www.economist.com/countries Governments on the WWW: http://www.gksoft.com/govt/en/ Links to official gov’t websites – may not be in English

Issues Sources: For sources on specific issues: Issues facing the UN @ http://www.un.org/issues/ The Avalon Project at Yale @ http://avalon.law.yale.edu/ Foreign Affairs @ http://www.foreignaffairs.org/ Foreign Policy @ http://www.foreignpolicy.com/ For sources on specific issues: http://www.unausa.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKRI8MPJpF &b=458795

Organ/Agency Sources: UN System – Not UN system – Organizational Chart of the UN System www.un.org/aboutun/chart.html Not UN system – Links to various international organizations (NATO, OPEC, G77, etc) @ http://www.unausa.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKRI8MPJpF&b=45 8791

Part 3: Writing the Position Paper 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 and/or precedent that backs up your country’s position Conventions and resolutions that your country has signed or ratified; UN actions that your country supported or opposed.

…and most importantly What your country believes should be done to address the issue; What your country would like to accomplish in the committee’s resolution Also make sure it is organized into sections completely devoted to ONE particular topic. If you use statistics or quotes - CITE THEM

The following information must be at the top, e.g.: Committee: United Nations Development Program Topic: Palestinian Development Country: Kingdom of Spain Delegate: Andreas Vindenes

Part 4: Speech! You will have to read the position paper out loud as an opening statement. Hence, it should flow well and be well organized Use language that you won’t have trouble actually speaking i.e. resist the urge to stuff your paper full of SAT vocab words

Part 5: Your folder (optional but recommended) Use the research you’ve gathered while writing your position paper to create a folder/binder full of information that could be useful to you during the conference. Not only will it help to have a reference if you need to look something up, it also is a nice intimidation tactic (you look well prepared)