Model UN Prep. Guide
Many thanks to Mr. Moody at LASA for his help in setting up this page. The prep. guide on UNA-USA is EXCELLENT. That page is linked here. The "How to Find UN Documents in Five Steps or Less" is particularly helpful.
Step 1 Country Research
Find out general geographic, political, and economic information about the country you are representing. Questions to explore include
a. What resources does your country have or not have and how does influence interactions with countries near or far from them?
b. What type of government does your country have? (democracy? dictatorship? communist? socialist?)
c. What countries does your country ally itself with?
d. What is the status of your country's economy? Are you considered a developing, lesser developed, or highly developed country? What's your Human Development Index (HDI) rating? What are your chief exports?
e. How do your government and your people feel about globalization?
f. What do the World Bank and IMF reports say about your country? (Are you a contributor or a receiver of $?)
g. What are the big important parts of your country's history?
h. What are the top 5 issues in your country at the moment?
Step 2 Topic Research
The first step is to read the background paper on the topic(s). Always read the background papers first! ones
The background paper should answer the questions below. If it does not, then treat the questions below as ones to explore:
a. What is the problem and how has it evolved?
b. Where is the issue most problematic?
c. How has the issue directly or indirectly affected your country?
d. What has your country done to combat the problem?
e. What does your country plan to do to combat the problem?
List of sources/links to help in country and topic research
Note: Some of these news websites may require registration (it's free) and registering is definitely worth your while. The UN Wire website is a great source but it is only usable by allowing them to email the news to you.
* UN General Assembly
* Google News
* the official government site for your country, particularly their foreign ministry site or equivalent if available
* CIA World Fact Book, US State Department, British Foreign Ministry
* the Permanent Missions to the UN Site
* the Foreign Ministry (or equivalent) site for your nation
* The Economist News
* BBC News, BBC Country Profiles
* NYT News
* Washington Post News
* Transparency International NGOs discussing corruption in governments
* geo.worldbank.org (Great place to start before looking at World Bank)
* World Bank, IMF
* Organization of American States
* Globalization Index
* Economic Freedoms Index
* Freedomhouse ranking of democratic and political freedoms
* UN main website, from there you can access particular committees
* Library of Congress Country Studies
* US Institute for Peace (Peace Agreement Database)
* World Economic Forum
* International Crisis Group
Some UN related or UN committee websites
UN Peacekeeping Operations
UN Millenium Development Goals
UN Declaration of Universal Human Rights
UN Security Council
Disarmament
World Health Organization
Economic and Social Council
UN and Human Rights
UN Development Program
Duke University NGO database
Step 3 Writing a Position Paper and Opening Speech
Position Paper Writing Guidelines
Part 1: Overview statement(s) on the topic in the global context followed by the background of the topic with relation to the country (i.e. what is the country's outlook on or history with the problem)
Part 2: What past actions relating to the topic have been taken by your country, the UN, and other international and /or regional organizations? What is your country's relationship to the topic at the national, regional and international level?
Part 3: Explain the official position of the country (this may be explicitly stated on the web somewhere, or you may need to infer this from your country's past actions and/or support of international treaties related to the topic) and what solutions to the problem are agreeable to your country. Recommend some NGOs or specific states, UN bodies, or other entities that should get involved.
Position Paper Formatting Guidelines
- Approximately 2 1/2 pages in length, double spaced; Please note that page length requirements differ from conference to conference
- One inch margins
- 12 pt, font, times new roman
- black print only
- Heading: Committee Name, Topic, Country Name, School Name, and Delegate Name(s) in the upper left hand corner of the page
- No title
- Include a bibliography in MLA format
Position Paper Grading Rubric
Guidelines for Opening Speeches:
Your opening speech should be 1 paragraph long . . . short enough to present in about 1 minute 30 seconds. You should not try to cover everything ..You should focus on the key issues that are most important to your country. Here are steps:
1.) Begin with a formal greeting:
Something like: “Honorable Chair, Esteemed Delegates . . .”
2.) Get the audience’s attention by writing a few powerful sentences about the basic issues involved and how they relate to your country.
3.) Elaborate on your key points/problems.
4.) Brief summary of your country’s central suggestions and what sort of working papers/resolutions you would be willing to endorse.
5.) Close your speech off with a sentence or two that leaves the audience with a powerful impression (Remember to keep your country’s position in mind)
6.) Thank the delegates and the chair.
Many thanks to Mr. Moody at LASA for his help in setting up this page. The prep. guide on UNA-USA is EXCELLENT. That page is linked here. The "How to Find UN Documents in Five Steps or Less" is particularly helpful.
Step 1 Country Research
Find out general geographic, political, and economic information about the country you are representing. Questions to explore include
a. What resources does your country have or not have and how does influence interactions with countries near or far from them?
b. What type of government does your country have? (democracy? dictatorship? communist? socialist?)
c. What countries does your country ally itself with?
d. What is the status of your country's economy? Are you considered a developing, lesser developed, or highly developed country? What's your Human Development Index (HDI) rating? What are your chief exports?
e. How do your government and your people feel about globalization?
f. What do the World Bank and IMF reports say about your country? (Are you a contributor or a receiver of $?)
g. What are the big important parts of your country's history?
h. What are the top 5 issues in your country at the moment?
Step 2 Topic Research
The first step is to read the background paper on the topic(s). Always read the background papers first! ones
The background paper should answer the questions below. If it does not, then treat the questions below as ones to explore:
a. What is the problem and how has it evolved?
b. Where is the issue most problematic?
c. How has the issue directly or indirectly affected your country?
d. What has your country done to combat the problem?
e. What does your country plan to do to combat the problem?
List of sources/links to help in country and topic research
Note: Some of these news websites may require registration (it's free) and registering is definitely worth your while. The UN Wire website is a great source but it is only usable by allowing them to email the news to you.
* UN General Assembly
* Google News
* the official government site for your country, particularly their foreign ministry site or equivalent if available
* CIA World Fact Book, US State Department, British Foreign Ministry
* the Permanent Missions to the UN Site
* the Foreign Ministry (or equivalent) site for your nation
* The Economist News
* BBC News, BBC Country Profiles
* NYT News
* Washington Post News
* Transparency International NGOs discussing corruption in governments
* geo.worldbank.org (Great place to start before looking at World Bank)
* World Bank, IMF
* Organization of American States
* Globalization Index
* Economic Freedoms Index
* Freedomhouse ranking of democratic and political freedoms
* UN main website, from there you can access particular committees
* Library of Congress Country Studies
* US Institute for Peace (Peace Agreement Database)
* World Economic Forum
* International Crisis Group
Some UN related or UN committee websites
UN Peacekeeping Operations
UN Millenium Development Goals
UN Declaration of Universal Human Rights
UN Security Council
Disarmament
World Health Organization
Economic and Social Council
UN and Human Rights
UN Development Program
Duke University NGO database
Step 3 Writing a Position Paper and Opening Speech
Position Paper Writing Guidelines
Part 1: Overview statement(s) on the topic in the global context followed by the background of the topic with relation to the country (i.e. what is the country's outlook on or history with the problem)
Part 2: What past actions relating to the topic have been taken by your country, the UN, and other international and /or regional organizations? What is your country's relationship to the topic at the national, regional and international level?
Part 3: Explain the official position of the country (this may be explicitly stated on the web somewhere, or you may need to infer this from your country's past actions and/or support of international treaties related to the topic) and what solutions to the problem are agreeable to your country. Recommend some NGOs or specific states, UN bodies, or other entities that should get involved.
Position Paper Formatting Guidelines
- Approximately 2 1/2 pages in length, double spaced; Please note that page length requirements differ from conference to conference
- One inch margins
- 12 pt, font, times new roman
- black print only
- Heading: Committee Name, Topic, Country Name, School Name, and Delegate Name(s) in the upper left hand corner of the page
- No title
- Include a bibliography in MLA format
Position Paper Grading Rubric
Guidelines for Opening Speeches:
Your opening speech should be 1 paragraph long . . . short enough to present in about 1 minute 30 seconds. You should not try to cover everything ..You should focus on the key issues that are most important to your country. Here are steps:
1.) Begin with a formal greeting:
Something like: “Honorable Chair, Esteemed Delegates . . .”
2.) Get the audience’s attention by writing a few powerful sentences about the basic issues involved and how they relate to your country.
3.) Elaborate on your key points/problems.
4.) Brief summary of your country’s central suggestions and what sort of working papers/resolutions you would be willing to endorse.
5.) Close your speech off with a sentence or two that leaves the audience with a powerful impression (Remember to keep your country’s position in mind)
6.) Thank the delegates and the chair.