Position Paper Guidelines
The following details the formatting and content construction of SJMUN position papers:
Formatting
Length: 3 Pages
Font size: 11-12 point font
Font: Times New Roman
Margins: .5 to 1.0 inch margins
Line spacing: Double Spaced
Header: Every position paper should have a three line header with the following information:
{Committee Name}
{Committee Topic}
{Official Name of Country Being Represented}
Flag: A flag in the upper right hand corner of the page is not required at SJMUN.
Content Construction
All position papers at SJMUN should consist of three paragraphs.
Paragraph One (Topic Information Paragraph)
This paragraph introduces the topic that will be debated in your committee and will also be the shortest paragraph of the paper. This paragraph should feature the following elements:
Paragraph Two (Country Position and Information Paragraph)
This paragraph discusses the position of your country along with relevant information concerning your country and the topic. This paragraph should feature the following elements:
Paragraph Three (Solution Paragraph)
This paragraph showcases your innovative solution to the topic based on the position of your country, and this paragraph will be the longest paragraph of the paper. This paragraph should feature the following elements:
Formatting
Length: 3 Pages
Font size: 11-12 point font
Font: Times New Roman
Margins: .5 to 1.0 inch margins
Line spacing: Double Spaced
Header: Every position paper should have a three line header with the following information:
{Committee Name}
{Committee Topic}
{Official Name of Country Being Represented}
Flag: A flag in the upper right hand corner of the page is not required at SJMUN.
Content Construction
All position papers at SJMUN should consist of three paragraphs.
Paragraph One (Topic Information Paragraph)
This paragraph introduces the topic that will be debated in your committee and will also be the shortest paragraph of the paper. This paragraph should feature the following elements:
- Quotes from experts, government officials, and international organizations
- Statistics that demonstrate trends involving the topic
- Historical background of the topic
- Causes of the topic
- Other information relevant to the topic
Paragraph Two (Country Position and Information Paragraph)
This paragraph discusses the position of your country along with relevant information concerning your country and the topic. This paragraph should feature the following elements:
- Quotes from government officials and reports
- Your nation's historical and current relation to the topic
- Demographic information and other statistics regarding your nation and the topic
- Legislative actions, both domestic and international, performed by your nation that pertain to the topic
- Your nation’s overall position on the topic
Paragraph Three (Solution Paragraph)
This paragraph showcases your innovative solution to the topic based on the position of your country, and this paragraph will be the longest paragraph of the paper. This paragraph should feature the following elements:
- A complex, well-written, and thoroughly explained solution to the topic
- References to previous failed attempts at resolving the topic paired with reasons why your solution will not fail
- Your expectation of the effect your solution will have on topic if implemented