Free MUN course
Model UN video masterclass
Practical lessons from award-winning MUNers, covering the essentials from procedure to drafting.
How does MUN work?
The basics. So you always know what's going on.
- Resources
- Find definitions of all important terms in our MUN glossary
- Read real-world UN Security Council resolutions.
- Exercises
- 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 Speakers' List.
- What's the difference between being "present" and being "present and voting"? Show answer
- What is a moderated caucus? Show answer
- How can I ask the chair about how the rules of procedure work when in session? Show answer
- What's the most important thing to know about MUN? Show answer
Read the full guide: What is Model UN? What MUN means and how it works · MUN rules of procedure (ROP): points, motions and voting explained
Research
How to prepare for your next conference without wasting time.
- Resources
- Read some actual Security Council resolutions.
- Find country facts in the CIA World Factbook.
- Discover more about your country using the Freedom House Index.
- Exercises
- 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.
- Discover who your allies are. If you are preparing for a specific conference search for allies of the country assigned to you, else pick a random country.
- Figure out your country's (approximate) policy on the issue and write a 300 word abstract about it.
Read the full guide: How to research your country for Model UN
Speeches
How to overcome anxiety and deliver award-winning speeches.
- Resources
- Our friends from Wisemee assembled a list of 20 public-speaking tips for Model UN.
- 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.
- Watch this speech this speech by Barack Obama, by some considered the speech that made him president.
- Exercises
- Which elements can you use to deliver a great speech in MUN? Show answer
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Read the full guide: Your first MUN opening speech: an example, a template and how to give it
Documents
How to write working papers and resolutions that hold up in committee.
- Resources
- Exercises
- What's the purpose of a position paper?Show answer
- Which elements can you use to deliver a great speech in MUN? Show answer
- What is the difference between operative paragraphs and preambular paragraphs in a draft resolution? Show answer
- In which three kinds of ways can amendments change operative paragraphs of a draft resolution? Show answer
- Which questions should any operative paragraph answer? Show answer
- Write an operative paragraph 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 paragraph should answer. Remember, no full stops are allowed in operative paragraphs. Example solution
Read the full guide: How to write a MUN resolution (format, paragraphs and a full example) · How to write a MUN position paper (with a full example and template)