Position Paper

English for Academic and Professional Purposes

What is a Position Paper
● A paper that gives basic information and
states your goals
● It helps other people understand your ideas
What is a position paper?

An essay detailing your

country’s policies on the
topics being discussed
in your committee.
When Will a Position Paper be Used?

● Global Classrooms
● When you need to
summarize your
research
● In everyday life
What is “IN” a position paper?

Usually one to
one-and-a-half
pages in length
What is “IN” a position paper?

Introduction
 Identification of the issue &
background

 Statement of the position

What is “IN” a position paper?

Main Body
(a comprehensive breakdown of issues)
Your countries actions in respect to
the problem
 Supporting evidence or facts

 UN actions and agreements in

respect to the issue
What is “IN” a position paper?

Conclusion
 Suggested courses
of action

 Possible solutions
Position paper essentials

 A brief introduction to your

country and its history
concerning the topic and
committee;
 How the issue affects your
country;
Position paper essentials

 Your country’s policies

with respect to the
issue and your
country’s justification
for these policies;
 Position paper essentials
;
 Quotes from your
country’s leaders about
the issue;
 Statistics to back up your
country’s position on the
issue;
Position paper essentials

 Actions taken by your government

with regard to the issue;

 Conventions and resolutions that

your country has signed or ratified;

 UN actions that your country

supported or opposed;
 Position paper essentials

 What your country believes should be

done to address the issue;

 What your country would like to

accomplish in the committee’s
resolution; and

 How the positions of other countries

affect your country’s position.
The parts of a Position Paper
Introduction

●Brief introduction
to the topic in
general and a
statement on your
position.
Introduction

For example:
Rwanda has a history of
valuing sports- in
schools, recreational
organizations, and on
professional teams.
Introduction

For example:
France has long considered
itself a democracy, though
recent events have revealed
flaws in the democratic
process.
Introduction

● Use the introduction to introduce a

country’s opinion or point of view
Body Paragraphs
● Usually three or
more
paragraphs
● This is where
you present
information and
give evidence
● This is the main
part of your
paper
Body Paragraphs
● When you are taking a position,
you need to do two things in the
body paragraph
o First, tell the audience what is
currently happening
o Next, tell the audience what
you want to happen in the
future
Body Paragraphs
For example:
o I currently do not have pizza,
and that makes me upset
o In the future, I would like to
get a large pepperoni pizza.
o (This is a very simple
example, you will need to add
much more information)
 Conclusion

● Summarize
what you
have already
talked about.
 Conclusion

● This may seem like

you are repeating
information, but it is
important to do this
in order to make
your position clear
and to finish strong.
SAMPLES
POSITION
PAPER
 A sample position paper

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Committee: International Labor Organization
Topic: Globalization and Development
Country: Romania
Delegate: Juan Pérez

(Introduction)
The delegation of Romania is pleased to be participating in this committee,
International Labor Organization, and welcomes fellow delegates to
collaborate in finding viable solutions to the important issue of globalization
and development which will be discussed in this debate. In the past two
decades the rapidly growing world trend has been toward globalization. With
the emergence of the internet as a means of communication and the
increasing accessibility of international trade physical barriers are not the only
barriers withering away. Protective tariffs are plummeting and free trade
agreements are becoming more prevalent. Romania appreciates that
globalization creates favorable situations for expansion of commercial as well
as economic assets. In the past year Romania has seen a foreign direct
investment (FDI) increase of 199%. Inward FDI increased from EURO 234
million in 2005 to EURO 699 million in 2006. However, Romania realizes that
increased globalization does not automatically produce more equality.
 A sample position paper

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Committee: International
Labor Organization
Topic: Globalization and
Development
Country: Romania
Delegate: Juan Pérez
 A sample position paper

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Introduction)
(
The delegation of Romania is pleased to be
participating in this committee, International
Labor Organization, and welcomes fellow
delegates to collaborate in finding viable
solutions to the important issue of globalization
and development which will be discussed in this
debate.
In the past two decades the rapidly growing
world trend has been toward globalization.
 g
Fla
With the emergence of the
internet as a means of
communication and the
increasing accessibility of
international trade physical
barriers are not the only
barriers withering away.
Protective tariffs are
plummeting and free trade

g
Fla
agreements are becoming
more prevalent. Romania
appreciates that
globalization creates
favorable situations for
expansion of commercial as
well as economic assets.
In the past year Romania has
seen a foreign direct

g
Fla
investment (FDI) increase of
199%. Inward FDI increased
from EURO 234 million in
2005 to EURO 699 million in
2006. However, Romania
realizes that increased
globalization does not
automatically produce more
equality.
Sample No. 2
 A sample position paper
(Main Body)
Globalization and Development can contribute to the advancement of the
Position
overall international human condition; however, the delegation of Statement
Romania recognizes that without proper regulation the potential for
advancement will remain limited to an elite few individuals,
businesses, and nations. Unless checked and aimed toward the
common good, globalization cannot effectively serve the global
community. Crucial in dealing with the complexities of globalization,
good governance must act with solidarity and responsibility. Romania
believes that in involving people in globalization we must promote moral
values, democratic principals, inclusive global political culture, institutions
that safeguard both individual civil rights and inherent freedoms, and the
common good. In addition, coping with the influx of information from
globalization governments must act with solidarity and insight. Access to
digital education will undoubtedly result in the confidence of citizens in
their respective administrations and allow for a greater degree of
transparency, and therefore a lesser degree of corruption.
 A sample position paper
(Main Body)
Globalization and Development can Position

contribute to the advancement of the

Statement

overall international human condition;

however, the delegation of Romania
recognizes that without proper
regulation the potential for
advancement will remain limited to an
elite few individuals, businesses, and
nations.
(
Unless checked and aimed
toward the common good,
globalization cannot effectively
serve the global community.
Crucial in dealing with the
complexities of globalization,
good governance must act with
solidarity and responsibility.
(Romania believes that in involving
people in globalization we must
promote moral values, democratic
principals, inclusive global political
culture, institutions that safeguard
both individual civil rights and inherent
freedoms, and the common good. In
addition, coping with the influx of
information from globalization
governments must act with solidarity
and insight.
Access to digital education
will undoubtedly result in the
confidence of citizens in their
respective administrations
and allow for a greater
degree of transparency, and
therefore a lesser degree of
corruption.
Sample No. 3
 A sample position paper
(Conclusion: Actions & Solutions)

Romania believes the multinational business community has the ability

and the obligation to support pertinent values in human rights, labor
standards, and environmental preservation. As stated by the president,
Mr. Traion Basescu, Romania feels a "heartfelt attachment to
multilateralism, as an effective instrument designed to identify the
adequate answers to the challenges brought by globalization." Ratifications
Romania is party to the majority of multilateral treaties and
conventions identified as such by the Secretary General in the context
of the Millennium Summit in 2001. Romania has always supported
innovative and effective ways of establishing cooperation within and
between regional organizations. As one of the newest members of the
European Union, Romania is an active member of the World Trade
Organization, and looks forward to offering its support to the
redirection of globalization to best benefit the global community.
Source: United Nations Association of the
United States of America
 A sample position paper
(Conclusion: Actions & Solutions)

Romania believes the multinational business

community has the ability and the obligation to
support pertinent values in human rights, labor
standards, and environmental preservation. As
stated by the president, Mr. Traion Basescu,
Romania feels a "heartfelt attachment to
multilateralism, as an effective instrument
designed to identify the adequate answers to the
challenges brought by globalization."
Romania is party to the majority of multilateral
treaties and conventions identified as such by the
Secretary General in the context of the
Millennium Summit in 2001. Romania has always
supported innovative and effective ways of
establishing cooperation within and between
regional organizations. As one of the newest
members of the European Union, Romania is an
active member of the World Trade Organization,
and looks forward to offering its support to the
redirection of globalization to best benefit the
global community.
Source: United Nations Association of
the United States of America
Brainstorm
Topic:
Committee:
Country:

Introduction:

UN – National/International Actions:

Resolutions:
Good morning honorable chair and
fellow delegates. In representation of
the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei,
and the President, Hassan Rouhani,
Introduction
as well as the citizens of the nation,
the delegation of Islamic Republic of
Iran is very pleased to be a part of The government of the Islamic
this important committee in which Republic of Iran has blocked
the topic to discuss is Internet certain websites in the Internet,
Censorship. that have or contain certain key-
words in their URL that are or
could be related to websites
In this committee, nations have come containing any illegal or immoral
together to discuss the controversial
content.
issue that is taking place around the
globe. Illegal activities, such as frauds
and piracy, taking place all In Iran, the kinds of websites that
throughout the Internet must come are mostly blocked are websites
to an end. The purpose of this
concerning adult content, such as
committee is to find a solution that
guarantees the right of expression of
pornography, child pornography,
people all around the world. etc., followed by some of the
Alexa’s Top 500 websites, art
websites, society websites and
Internet censorship has covered news websites. The least blocked
every country in high, medium and websites are reference websites,
low levels. In Iran, limiting the science websites, Iranian websites
websites that people can see is a way and more.
of controlling online controversial or
immoral activities, as well as limiting
By censoring certain websites in
Position/Main
the World Wide Web (WWW),
the Iranian government controls
the view of any kind of site that
Body
provide an excess of adult
content that minors could be
exposed to, it completely erases
illegal activity, like the
downloading of certain data or
movies, that causes violation of
the materials copyright and
other of its laws, and more, and
that way have more control over
these situations.
The delegation, concerned by this
controversy, is willing to explore
and evaluate every solution that is
presented to the table, in order to
mediate upon a long and equally
balanced solution that not only
protects citizens from any kind of
immoral, dangerous and illegal
activity concerning the internet,
but also guarantees the right of
expression of the people, and in
Censoring any kind of website that
contains obscene content. This
includes any kind of pornography
(child included), excess of violence
references (graphic included),
insulting scripts or graphics (this
includes insulting of races,
governments, religion, etc.) and
more.
Block any kind of terrorist, or anti-
governmental websites.
Promote the usage of Internet in
any creative, or learning
environment, which includes using
different media related techniques
in order to promote the right of
expression that citizens have.
By doing so, the users would have
to express themselves in a way that
is not harming, harassing or
abusing any person, place, thing or
organization, in order to maintain
Main
Body/Conclusion
Completely block any kind of
illegal streaming or
downloading websites in
order to ensure that the
copyright of these materials
is not being violated, and in
order to prevent different
viruses from entering the
users machine.
By doing so, the legal
download of these materials
would be promoted and
would also allow certain laws
not to be violated.
This nation, would like to
remind other delegations that
by taking these actions, many
problems concerning
controversy of topics on-line,
would not be created or would
be easily avoided. Also, the
delegation would like to
remind the committee that
these resolutions were thought
upon with the idea of
maintaining peace throughout
society, and also allowing
people to express themselves
freely.
 
The Islamic Republic of
Iran thanks the committee
members for their attention
and hopes to be part of a viable
agreement that most, if not all
nations can agree upon. Thank
you.
Outline
I. Introduction
A. Identification of the issue & background
B. Statement of the position
II. Main Body
A. Your countries actions in respect to the problem
B. Supporting evidence or facts
C. UN actions and agreements in respect to the issue
III. Conclusion
A. Suggested courses of action
B. Possible solutions
Wrap Up
Another way to think about
it
Introduction: Tell them what
you’re about to tell them

Body Paragraphs: Tell them

Conclusion: Tell them what

you just told them
 GROUP ACTIVITY
(15 MINUTES)
What are the possible
strategies and
assessment tools that
you think will be
applicable to the
competencies?
 Group Activity Template
LEARNING
LEARNING POSSIBLE POSSIBLE
COMPETENCY with
RESOURCES STRATEGIES ASSESSMENT
CODE
Group Presentation
&
Critiquing
References
References:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/internet_censorship_a
nd_surveillance_by_country(h
ashtag).C2.A0Iran
en.wikipedia.org/wiki&Internet_censorship_i
n_iran
surveillance.rsf.org/en/iran
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-s
witch/wp/2013/08/15/heres-how-iran-censor
s-the-internet/
 Write a PositionPaper on the
following issues:
1. Public school teachers should no
longer be required to make Daily
Lesson Plan.

2. SHS teachers should have only one (1)

or two (2) preparations.