Proposal Writing Tips

Although many delegates make it look very easy, proposal writing consists of a lot of preparation along with critical and logical thinking. Debating is something that improves with experience; however, there are many steps delegates can take to improve their style.
It all begins with choosing the right proposal. A huge part of moving on to General Assembly or Plenary is how one presents his proposal; however, choosing the right proposal facilitates presenting and defending it. David Murdter, California, gave many great tips for proposals. Murdter made his breakthrough at last year’s General Assembly where he successfully proved all of his adversaries wrong in his summation. He said to choose an obscure proposal. When speaking about his proposal this year, Murdter said, “When I first read the research, it caught me unaware.” Newer ideas will spark more new debates; therefore, a newer topic will score better. The second step after choosing a proposal is researching it. “I become as knowledgeable as I can,” Murdter said. The best way to prepare your argument is not only to dissect all the points, but to also write down a list of counter-arguments. This way, the delegate is prepared for any possible con-speakers.
While pro-con debate occurs, it would be beneficial for the delegate to keep a list of arguments in favor of his proposal for the summation. Jordan Smith, North Carolina, said “Keeping statistics is the best way to prove points, although dramatic stories can sometimes move people.” The summation is the icing on the cake to a proposal. Keeping the summation to the point finishes the debate very well. The best way to keep a proposal going is to know it inside and out. If it is very original, debatable, and presented well, then it has a lot of potential. If the delegate just stays well-informed and debates well in committee, he or she can make it through to Plenary.