How to write a Position Paper

University High School Model United Nations

Position Paper Outline:Project: Coming to AmericaTopic: U.S. Immigration PolicyGroup: (Your Full Names)

Background: Write a paragraph explaining the topic of U.S. immigration policy (Use what you learned

in Liberty Lit, Keeping Up with the Times, for example.)

Past U.S. Action: Write a few paragraphs explaining how the U.S. has dealt with immigrants in the past

(From the Sources Mouth, Migration Map, By the Numbers)

Create your own policy and solutions:

Write a few paragraphs explaining how your group would address immigration issues, your opinions on immigration in the U.S., and what changes need to occur. (ANY of the workshops can provide info on these)

Background Information: Discuss the topic in general. Include: History of the issue and the problems

Pick only the most important points to include in your position paper

This section should be concise. Even if your background is shorter than half a page, it’s ok because it is better to have a shorter yet more informative background section than it would be to have a longer but repetitive background.

It should be from an objective standpoint.

Even if you are directly involved with the topic at hand, you still have to write the section as an outsider.

Past US Action: In this section, you will include: A summary of U.S. Immigration policy/

political issues Relevant documentation (primary source,

map, table) Relevant examples from workshops Objective viewpoint.

Policy and Solutions This section is the biggest and the most important part of your paper and

your performance in committee. This is the section of your paper where your group TAKES A STAND on immigration issues.

Point of View: the standpoint of your country. The research and information should always work in your favor.

Policy: Your groups opinions and any solutions you want to propose.

Research that you generated in your workshops, including maps, primary sources, tables, family trees, tec.

Research any anecdotal experiences that may help express your view.

Policy and Solutions Solutions 1. EXPLAIN why your solution to the Immigration issue is

important.

2. To make this part of the third section reflect some thinking on your part, you should combine these already established viewpoints with a few novel ideas for solutions that have not yet been explicitly considered by the U.S. Government.

Think outside the box Be practical Think of long term changes

Policy and Solutions The last think you should keep in mind is staying on track. When

researching and writing possible solutions, make sure you stay on topic and do not go onto tangents so that you end up giving solutions that barely relate back to the original topic.

Also, make sure you do not include things that are impossible in the real world.

DON’T DO IT… NO BULLSH*T

NO First Person

NO Slang

NO Contractions

NO Plagiarism

NO PROCRASTINATION