Position Paper Writing and Research Strategies

Preparation Tips
The Key to success in Model United Nations is your thorough research and understanding about
the (1) history and structure of the United Nations as well as its principal organs; (2) Your
assigned Member State (Country Profile); (3) Your Committee; and (4) your agenda topics. Your
gained knowledge during the course of the research will greatly help you in writing your
position paper and to formulate innovative and comprehensive strategies and proposals. Your
position paper will serve as your backbone and your edge in the committee because it
outlines your Member States policies as well as your Member States stand in the given agenda
topics.

Research Materials:
Academic Books
Scholarly journals
Newspaper articles
Official Gazettes
Official documents
United Nations Publications
Information gathered through your Member States Embassy

Online Sources such as:
o United Nations (http://www.un.org)
o United Nations News Centre
o UN Bibliographic Information System and other credible sources.
o Non-Governmental Organizations (particularly those accredited by the UN).
o Country reports and data published by international or regional organizations such as the
World Bank, WHO, OECD, APEC, etc.
o The CIA World Factbook
o Official Website of committee
o Official Website of Member State
o Government (i.e. tourism, embassy) websites

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is considered to be the highest form of intellectual dishonesty. It is the act of
claiming anothers work as ones own. All published materials have intellectual property rights
(IPR). Thus, the organizers of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Philippine Model United
Nations (DLS-CSB PhilMUN) will treat this matter of plagiarism seriously.

Source
Jeanninne G. Trinidad. (2014). Preparation Tips and Research Materials. Retrieved from Model
United Nations 2014 Dais Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/299127976894240/files/







Before Writing
1. Know your committee
History
Jurisdiction
Functions and Powers
Long term and short term objectives
2. Know your agenda
3. Know your countrys Foreign Policy
4. Understand the topics
5. Length for the overall paper must not exceed two single-sided pages.
Font must be Times New Roman sized between 11pt. and 12 pt.
Agenda topics clearly labeled in separate sections
National symbols (headers, flags, etc.) are deemed inappropriate for PHILMUN position papers

*Guidelines and sample position paper patterned after the national conferences of NCCA.

Sample





Format

First Paragraph
Agenda Background
Past UN actions/resolutions
Position of your regional bloc

Second Paragraph
Current Status of the issue
Recent UN action/resolution

Third Paragraph
Countrys stand on the issue
Countrys proposed solutions
Possible solutions in line with your countrys Foreign

Basic Steps
Research
Outline
Draft
Color/critique

Source
16
th
Philippine Model United Nation Dais. (2014). Model United Nations Programme
(PowerPoint Slides 66 73). Retrieved from Model United Nations 2014 Dais Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/299127976894240/files/