Writing Position Papers

NMUN Expectations

Position papers should provide a concise review of each

delegations policy regarding the topic areas under discussion and
establish precise policies and recommendations in regard to the
topics before the committee.
International and regional conventions, treaties, declarations, resolutions,
and programs of action of relevance to the policy of your State should
be identified and addressed.

Discussing recommendations for action to be taken by your

committee is another portion of the position paper that should be
considered.

Position papers also serve as a blueprint for individual delegates to

remember their countrys position throughout the course of the
Conference.
NMUN Expectations

The NMUN Conference will not tolerate the occurrence

of plagiarism.
Although United Nations documentation is considered within
the public domain, the Conference does not allow the
verbatim re-creation of these documents.
This plagiarism policy also extends to the written work of the
Secretariat contained within the Committee Background
Guides.

Dont worry about citations; they take up room and

wont be necessary if you refer in-text to specific
documents.
Background Information

The first portion of a position paper will give a brief overview of the
issues facing the committee (AKA your topics) and The Gambias
general position within the committee and in the world relating to
these issues.

Essentially, reaffirm your countrys support for whatever the

committee has done so far and reiterate the need for certain
changes.
This is the perfect place for a three-item list.
The Gambia believes that in order to combat poverty in developing
nations, the most important considerations are assistance from NGOs,
infrastructural development and transparency of local government.
These are random suggestions that may just be applicable in any
committee. The point being, you can make anything sound like it
already exists or is a legitimate recommendation.
Keep it Brief

You may be tempted to use every piece of research

youve found over the course of the semester.
First, AVOID THIS TEMPTATION.
Second, pare your research down to the most vital points
youd like to make regarding your countrys stance on an
issue.
Third, make sure youve included recommendations that
can be adapted to working papers in committee.
Lastly, if your position paper seems to be lacking length or
substance, add in those facts which you may have
discarded before.
Finding a Balance

The ideal position paper has a balance of:

General historical and background information,
Statistics related to the topic or your country,
Recommendations for the committee/other countries.

Although it will be much easier to write a position paper

based solely on The Gambias history or all of the
awesome statistical tidbits youve found, you must
include recommendations.
The Dias is more interested in your ability to create new
solutions or adapt old ones than it is in your ability to spout
general facts.
Keep it Distant

Be careful about tone throughout the paper.

Position papers dont need to read like professional legal
documents, but avoid personal pronouns and slang.

Passive voice is OK.

Because you will be passing non-binding resolutions in
committee, its appropriate to let your recommendations
and therefore language be passive.
Grammar & Punctuation

Unsurprisingly, grammar and punctuation play an

important role in the grading process.

This doesnt mean you can hide poor research behind

pretty words.
BS is often more transparent when its written, so get rid of it.
It is better to write a slightly shorter paper that is factual,
well-written and based on research than a longer paper
full of nice-sound garbage.
Tricks of the Trade

When youve typed everything relevant and still feel that

something is missing namely length from your position paper,
there are a few tricks to be used.
Type the full name of any NGO, institution, resolution or official
document and put its acronym in parentheses the first time you use it.
From then on, use the acronym only.
Write out the name of the numbers one through twelve. (Actually, do this
anyway. Its grammatically correct.)
Change the line space.
Your lines dont have to be single, double or 1.5 spaced. Get
creative.
When it makes sense, change active sentences to passive. All those
extra helping verbs start to make a difference.

If your paper is lacking substance, none of these can hide that fact.

Again, it is better to have a substantive paper that is less than two

full pages than to simply use all of these tricks.
Make it Effective

Using past precedents is good. Setting them is better.

Refer to past resolutions, acts or organizations that you think
are relevant to the issue at hand, but when you do so you
need to:
Express support,
Express opposition,
Rethink them in terms of new strategies, changing
economies and/or globalization.
Dont just cite a resolution to fill space. Make it serve a
purpose in your paper.
Feasible is Your Friend

There are lots of fun words that show up pretty frequently

in good position papers. Dont be afraid to harness the
power of formal, political writing. It makes you look
smarter than other people.

Be careful about word misuse.

What is infrastructure?

You can get away with more in committee than in your

position paper in terms of mistakes and misuses, so
proofread and dont BS.
Evaluation

What vocabulary is prevalent in position papers?

What language never should have been used in the first

place?

Take a look at the sample position papers and analyze

the tone, vocabulary, etc.
What are some strengths in each one?
What are some weaknesses?