Houston Area Model UN Conference
To attend HAMUN, all delegates must write one Position Paper on one of the two topics on their committee’s agenda. To be eligible for an award, a delegate must write two Position Papers, one for each of the topics (with the exception of delegates in GA Plen and Crisis committees – these delegates need only write 1 paper to be eligible for awards).
Due Dates for Position Papers:
TBD (for 2024)
To submit your paper, fill out this form and name your paper COMMITTEE - SCHOOL - YOUR NAME.
PLEASE MESSAGE US ON GROUPME BEFORE TURNING IN YOUR POSITION PAPER.
Winning Position Paper Awards:
Essential Resources:
www.houstonareamun.org/get-involved/committees-research/resources/
Helpful Tips:
Here is a position paper TEMPLATE. Feel free to use this to help write your essay.
Due Dates for Position Papers:
TBD (for 2024)
To submit your paper, fill out this form and name your paper COMMITTEE - SCHOOL - YOUR NAME.
PLEASE MESSAGE US ON GROUPME BEFORE TURNING IN YOUR POSITION PAPER.
Winning Position Paper Awards:
- OFFICIAL HAMUN Award Guidelines:
Essential Resources:
- OFFICIAL Example Position Paper:
- HAMUN Resource Page:
www.houstonareamun.org/get-involved/committees-research/resources/
- HAMUN How to Write Position Papers:
Helpful Tips:
- You can find background information about your topic by clicking on the topic within the HAMUN page of your committee. The background guides contain a lot of useful information.
- Do NOT use the sources provided in the BACKGROUND INFORMATION of your topic as your 3 REQUIRED OUTSIDE SOURCES.
Here is a position paper TEMPLATE. Feel free to use this to help write your essay.
[Your Committee], [Your Country] Template | |
File Size: | 20 kb |
File Type: | docx |
How to Write Position Papers
What are position papers?
A position paper is an essay that presents an opinion or “position” on an issue (the topics your committee is given). Model UN position papers are generally 1 to 1.5 pages long.
GUIDELINES:
Your paper should include:
A position paper is an essay that presents an opinion or “position” on an issue (the topics your committee is given). Model UN position papers are generally 1 to 1.5 pages long.
GUIDELINES:
- 12pt font
- Times New Roman
- Single Spaced
- 1 to 1 and a half pages in length
- 3 parts: Heading, Content, Works Cited
Your paper should include:
- Your country's stance on the topic and an explanation that illustrates history with the issue. How does it affect your country?
- Key issues
- Any international treaties/resolutions/conventions etc. pertaining to the topic
- Recommendations for actions
- An account of actions and steps that the country and its government have taken in regard to the issue
- Examples!
FORMAT OF A POSITION PAPER:
THE HEADING
Committee: The United Nations General Assembly
Country: The State of Qatar
Topic: Climate Change
School: Glenda Dawson High School
Sponsor: Mr. Fahler
Name: Greta Grindelwald
CONTENT-Topic Background
- This is the first part of the content of the paper
- It should answer the following questions:
- What is the definition of the topic?
- Where does the topic take place? Who is involved?
- How many people does it effect? Where, and in what ways?
- When did this topic become an issue?
- An introduction of the issue, describing the problem and explaining why it is an issue of international concern, with specific examples and data.
CONTENT- Past International Action
- This is the second part of the content of the paper
- It should answer the following questions:
- What has the UN (e.g. your committee) tried to do on this topic?
- What are the most important resolutions and treaties on this topic?
- What are the two (or more) sides to this topic?
- A description of recent international action related to the issue at hand, with specific examples and making special note of any UN action, as well as evaluating the success or failure of these efforts and whether your country supports them or not.
CONTENT- Country Policy
- This is the third part of the content of the paper
- It should answer the following questions:
- How has your topic impacted your country?
- What has your country tried to do about this topic?
- What have your political leaders (your Pres., PM, Foreign Minister) said about this topic (use quotes)?
- An explanation of the country’s position on the issue that illustrates its history with the issue and how the issue affects the country, with specific examples, along with an account of actions and steps that the country and its government have taken in regard to the issue
CONTENT- Possible Solutions
- This is the fourth part of the content of the paper
- It should answer the following questions:
- What is a possible solution that your country would support? Consider an existing solution that could be expanded with more support or funding.
- How would this solution be funded and regulated?
- A recommendation for specific UN actions that should be taken in the future
WORKS CITED
- The Works Cited should reference at least three key documents (not included in the Background Guide for that topic) related to the topic at hand
- Cited in Modern Language Association (MLA) format.
- If sources are not cited correctly, you risk committing PLAGIARISM
- Your Works Cited page should be the last page in your policy statement with each source in alphabetical order.
- MLA Handbook, BibMe, Citation Machine
- GO TALK TO YOUR ENGLISH TEACHER IF YOU NEED HELP ON THIS PART