The Model UN Masterclass

By award winning MUNers. For you. For free. Because MUN is about learning.

How does MUN work?

The basics. So you always know what's going on.

  • Resources
    1. Find definitions of all important terms in our MUN Cheat Sheet
    2. Read some real world UN Resolutions here.
    3. Read the rules of procedure of one of our partner conferences Karlsruhe Model United Nations (KAMUN) here.
  • Exercises
    1. Deliver a 1-minute speech in front of a mirror on the topic Pizza vs. Burgers. Take into account the three essential speech guidelines of the General Speaker's List.
    2. What's the difference between being "present" and being "present and voting"? Show Answer
    3. What is a moderated caucus? Show Answer
    4. How can I ask the chair about how the rules of procedure work when in session? Show Answer
    5. What's the most important thing to know about MUN? Show Answer
Lesson as PDF

Research

How to prepare for your next conference without wasting time.

  • Resources
    1. Read some actual Security Council resolutions.
    2. Find country facts in the CIA World Factbook.
    3. Discover more about your country using the Freedom House Index.
  • Exercises
    1. Discover background information on the topic of your next conference. If you're just practicing search for the current agenda of the UNGA Security Council resolutions and pick the first topic they are going to discuss.
    2. Discover who your allies are. If you are preparing for a specific conference search for allies of the country assigned to you, else find a random country here.
    3. Figure out your country's (approximate) policy on the issue and write a 300 word abstract about it.
Lesson as PDF

Speeches

How to overcome anxiety and deliver award-winning speeches.

  • Resources
    1. Our friends from Wisemee assembled a clever list of 20 tips for delivering speeches in Model UN here.
    2. On the UN Web TV page for the General Assembly you can find an archive of speeches. Finding one of the country you're representing can give you a great idea of what tone you might want to strike during your speeches too. UN Web TV.
    3. Watch this speech this speech by Barack Obama, by some considered the speech that made him president.
  • Exercises
    1. Which elements can you use to deliver a great speech in MUN? Show Answer
    2. To get a sense for the time limit start by scripting and delivering in front of a mirror a 60s speech on why weekends should be three days instead of two.
    3. Deliver a 60s speech in front of a mirror on the topic of why coffee and tea should be drank out of mugs instead of glass cups. Give yourself no more than 90s to prepare and only note bullet points.
    4. Deliver a 90s speech on why it should be international law that every person in the world should have your favorite food at least once a week. Prepare for no more than 60s and only note bullet points.
Lesson as PDF

Documents

How to write working papers and resolutions that hold up in committee.

  • Resources
    1. Find a list of operators used in UN resolutions here.
    2. A guide by the United Nations for drafting resolutions can be found here.
    3. The Security Council resolution Alex is looking at in the video can be found here
  • Exercises
    1. What's the purpose of a position paper?Show Answer
    2. Which elements can you use to deliver a great speech in MUN? Show Answer
    3. What is the difference between operative clauses and preambulatory clauses in a draft resolution? Show Answer
    4. In which three kinds of ways can amendments change operative clauses of a draft resolution? Show Answer
    5. Which questions should any operative clause answer? Show Answer
    6. Write an operative clause with the goal of trying to get member states to ensure that every fast food restaurant also has broccoli on the menu. It should answer all questions every operative clause should answer. Remember, no full stops are allowed in clauses. Example Solution
Lesson as PDF