Delegation Resource Manual: Preparing for the Model Legislature
Page 81
YMCA PA Youth & Government Program
For example, if you wanted to eliminate the death penalty, the interest groups would include
Prosecutors, Defense Attorneys, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Victim Advocates.
The first and last most likely would be against the elimination, while the second and third
would most likely be in favor of the move.
Once your topic is selected and the interest groups have been identified, you should bring
your research on the subject matter and analysis of the issue together. While you may
already have an opinion on your topic and an idea about which side of the argument you
want to take, you need to ensure that your position is well supported. Listing out the pro
and con sides of the topic will help you examine your ability to support your counterclaims,
along with a list of supporting evidence for both sides. Supporting evidence includes the
following:
Factual Knowledge - Information that is verifiable and agreed upon by almost
everyone.
Statistical Inferences - Interpretation and examples of an accumulation of facts.
Informed Opinion - Opinion developed through research and/or expertise of the
claim.
Personal Testimony - Personal experience related by a knowledgeable party.
Once you have made your pro and con lists, compare the information side by side.
Considering your audience, as well as your own viewpoint, choose the position you will take.
In considering the audience, think about the constituent questions posed earlier in this Club.
To determine your viewpoint for your bill, ask yourself the following:
Is your topic interesting?
Does your topic assert something specific and propose a plan of action?
Do you have enough material to support your opinion?
With these questions as your guide, now take a stand. Answer the questions posed
previously in the form of an essay that at the end should tell readers your position, why you
believe what you believe, why the opposition is wrong, and provides research to support
your points.
The final step of the position paper process is to propose a solution and determine the
results to be expected. Now that you have completed writing the position paper, reread it,
make any changes you want, and submit it to your club advisor to be turned into the State
office. This position paper should be the basis for your bill!
Here are some tips when writing your position papers:
Keep it simple: To communicate strongly and effectively, avoid flowery wording
and stick to uncomplicated language and sentence structure.
Make it official: Try to use the seal of your school or club or create an “official”
letterhead. The more realistic it looks, the more others will want to read it.
