WRITING YOUR POSITION PAPER Dr. Afxendiou Edited by Nobonita Paul - 2017 Sachem North High School What is a position paper?

Why do they want them? So that staff members can read them and get a feel for the direction the debate will take. It is the best way to have well prepared delegates. Well prepared delegates means better debates and higher quality of discussion.

Why would you want a position paper? Definition says it all: an essay detailing your country's policies on the topics being discussed in your committee; it is your country’s response to the topic. Forces you to write an essay detailing your country's policies on the topics being discussed in your committee. helps you organize your ideas so that you can share your country's position with the rest of the committee You can use your position paper as your opening remarks

NHSMUN Position Paper directions http://www.nhsmun.nyc/documents “Position papers should be (at minimum) four double-spaced, 12-point type (font) pages with 1-inch margins per topic. Any academic citation style is acceptable (NHSMUN Background Guides use a modified version of Chicago style), but citations are mandatory. Position papers without citations will not be eligible for awards.” p. 3

Position Paper Specifications 5 paragraphs (at least 2 pages) Proper heading Your writing must be informed by research (don’t say things that you are not sure about. If you are not sure, look it up or ask one of your teammates) If you can make connections to other countries it will make your paper stronger Show that you are knowledgeable

The process… If you feel you don’t want to follow these directions, that you can write a good, persuasive and defensible position paper without them, feel free to follow your instincts (but it must be written well)

Your introduction Identify the issue - Give the background of the topic (has to go beyond the background guide). Discuss the importance of the topic and the problems that will be encountered in finding a solution. Question 1: What is going on, what are we discussing? Question 2: Is this a new topic or an ongoing one? Question 3: What problems will stand in the way of a viable solution?

SAMPLE POSITION PAPER PARAGRAPH 1 - INTRODUCTION International Labor Organization Romania’s position on Globalization and Development In the past two decades the rapidly growing world trend has been toward globalization. With the emergence of the internet as a means of communication and the increasing accessibility of international trade physical barriers are not the only barriers withering away. Protective tariffs are plummeting and free trade agreements are becoming more prevalent. Romania appreciates that globalization creates favorable situations for expansion of commercial as well as economic assets. In the past year Romania has seen a foreign direct investment (FDI) increase of 199%. Inward FDI increased from EURO 234 million in 2005 to EURO 699 million in 2006. However, Romania realizes that increased globalization does not automatically produce more equality. -Corroboration (red)

YOU MUST SHOW THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE TOPIC! PARAGRAPH 2 State your country’s position - Include major events that shape current policy YOU MUST SHOW THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE TOPIC! Question 1: Where does your country stand on this issue? Question 2: What evidence (statistics, quotes) can you give to support your country’s stand? Question 3: Has the UN already taken any actions, passed resolutions, made recommendations? Question 4: Who are the main players?

SAMPLE POSITION PAPER PARAGRAPH 2 U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization – Pakistan’s Position on Women in STEM fields Pakistan has made progress in both recognizing and dealing with the issue of the lack of women in STEM fields. President Mamnoon Hussain has stressed the need of girls’ education, especially in the scientific fields, to bolster the nation’s socio-economic development8. Education would lead to the inclusion of women in STEM fields. This provides a fresh, new perspective in the workplace, which would generate more advancement in sectors such as commerce, energy, and medicine. According to the World Bank, Pakistan spent 2.5% of its gross domestic product on education in 2013, and the country took it a step further when its first daughter visited U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama in October 223. During this memorable visit, The U.S. invested 70 million dollars to go towards educating adolescent girls in Pakistan. This investment brought U.S. agencies to Pakistan and expanded educational opportunities of hundreds of thousands of Pakistani girls. The allocation of Pakistan’s government funds toward education has been difficult because of its involvement in war, most notably in Kashmir, which depletes the national treasury. This small investment by the U.S. definitely helped. More young girls are exposed to science. However, the fight for more women in STEM is far from over. There needs to be a plan that fights against the stigma of women in STEM and deals with raising funds adequate for promoting these STEM fields in under-developed or developing nations.

PARAGRAPH 3 Recommendations for solutions Short term (alleviate the problem for now) Long term (how do we keep it from recurring) Question 1: What ideas does your country’s government support? Why does it support those ideas? Question 2: What is needed to be done immediately? Who is able to act? Question 3: What is needed to be done to take care of the problem for a long time, perhaps forever? What is your country’s proposal as to what is to be done in the long term, by whom and how? Question 4: Does your country have any support (from other countries, from past UN resolutions, decisions, etc.)? Question 5: Who presents the biggest opposition? Who has opposing views?

SAMPLE POSITION PAPER PARAGRAPH 3 Commission on Human Rights Kingdom of Denmark’s Position on Violence Against Women Another way to stop gender violence would be to reproach member states that consistently violate treaties such as the Convention on Political Rights of Women (1952), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979), and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (1993). Although this Committee cannot impose sanctions, it can pass resolutions verbally condemning states that commit human rights violations. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights can also meet with representatives of governments that violate the above treaties to discuss possible solutions. In order to prevent gender violence, nations must work together to build a culture of support, equality and community. As such, the Kingdom of Denmark looks forward to offering its support, in whatever form possible, to nations firmly committed to ending violence against women in all its forms.

Citations Chicago Style MLA …after the NYC attack, President Trump called for a policy debate on immigration1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- …after the NYC attack, President Trump called for a policy debate on immigration (Baker). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Works cited page) Baker, Peter. “Trump Blames Schumer and Immigration Policies Hours After New York Terrorist Attack.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Nov. 2017, 1Baker, Peter. "Trump Blames Schumer and Immigration Policies Hours After New York Terrorist Attack." The New York Times. November 01, 2017. Accessed November 02, 2017. *****http://www.citationmachine.net*****

HOW CAN YOUMAKE YOUR POSITION PAPER STRONGER? Answer all the questions of the 3 paragraphs that I gave you as a guide (but don’t limit yourself to just them) Focus your research on what is emphasized in the background guide. Sometimes it will contain questions to consider. Make sure that your position paper answers these questions Know the opposing argument Know the opposing countries Know who your allies are Know what actions have already been taken, what discussions/negotiations were held Stream line it, make it shorter without losing your arguments – write and re-write Read it out loud to yourself