Budapest International Model United Nations
How to write a PERFECT Working Paper?
1. A ‘working paper’
Working papers are the written forms of the actual solutions to each problem. After merging,
submitting and debating these may become the resolutions. It is important to know, that during the
debate we call the merged paper a ‘draft resolution’ officially, but in general people refer to it
simply as ‘resolution’. Every WP/draft resolution/resolution has three main parts. A header part,
where the Body, the Issue, and the Main and Co-Submitters are shown. After that comes the
Preambulatory part, which includes the Preambulatory clauses:
 These start with ‘ing’-verbs. You may find a list of these here
 The preambulatory clauses shall include everything that helps a laic person understand
what this resolution is about.
 Do not forget your Position Paper! Most of the things there can be used as preambulatory
clauses, since these are very similar!
The third and most important part is the Operative part of the working paper, with the Operative
Clauses:
 These start with ‘s’-verbs. You may find a list of these here. Be careful, there are some
words that can only be used by the Security Council!
 Main object of the operative clauses is to be OPERATIVE. Most delegates usually forget
this word, but it is important. Your solution, your ideas have to be written down here.
 Be creative! Do not be afraid of writing too much details (actually there can never be too
much!), do not be afraid of writing down your most radical and nearly non-sense ideas. If
they are too much, then during the debates or the lobbying time other delegates will tell
you, but don’t worry.
Every resolution, therefore also working papers, is one single sentence, starting with the name of
the committee (for example The Economic and Social Committee, or The General Assembly for
the main committees) then going on with the preambulatory and operative clauses until it reaches a
full stop at the end of the last operative clause.
2. How to write it? Where to start?
For the preambulatory clauses: as stated before it has to include every reason, detail and previous
action, similarly to your Position Paper. I believe that you will have no problem writing it. The
only note I’d like to take here is that it depends on the committee whether pages of detailed
preambulatory clauses or only a few one-line sentences will be successful. Sorry, there is no one
who can predict which one will convince others! :)
For Operative Clauses I usually suggest to sit down first. I am not kidding, it is important to:
1. know the topic (you probably have gathered enough information for your Position
Paper)
2. be relaxed and focused  being sit helps!
3. Have the operative clauses (link above) nearby
Tel.: +36-1-327-7290
Fax.: +36-1-327-7298
Eötvös József Gimnázium
1053 Budapest
Reáltanoda u. 7.
Email: bimun@bimun.hu
Budapest International Model United Nations
When you are ready, let’s think of anything that would help your country. Anything, do not worry
if it’s too radical or drastic. Write a few notes of these ideas. When you have cca. 5-10 then you
may start actually thinking about the realization of them. If you struggle to collect this amount of
ideas then go back to Google and look for some more ideas (this time you don’t have to
concentrate on your represented country).
Try to compose every single operative clause like it contains:
 the idea of the solution (for example: To establish a new organization)
 the main reason of the solution (for example: Because students have to know about the
UN) – be careful, only the most important reason shall be here (since every reason for the
resolution is stated in the preambulatory part!)
 the needed details to realize the idea – this is very important! Most operative clauses are
considered “weak” because they are not detailed enough (for example: this new
establishment will be financed by... led/guided by... will do...)
These are the most important things, but there is no 100% recipe for writing operative clauses. Try
to always answer with your clauses to the questions: How? Who? Why? Where/When?
Tel.: +36-1-327-7290
Fax.: +36-1-327-7298
Eötvös József Gimnázium
1053 Budapest
Reáltanoda u. 7.
Email: bimun@bimun.hu