Model UN Project:
OVERVIEW
From the list below,
please choose one country to represent.
*United States: You
may not choose this country!
Argentina
Peru
Costa Rica
South Korea
Japan
Italy
Vietnam
Australia
Colombia
South Africa
Sierra Leone
Germany
Guinea
Mexico
Pakistan
Spain
Syria
Angola
Bulgaria
Cameroon
Chile
China
France
Russia
United Kingdom
*signifies permanent
membership
a) Country Profile (100 points): Students will complete a country
profile of a country they choose. The United
States cannot be a country of choice.
This involves a cogent 500-600 word survey—based on Internet and library
research—of the basic demographic, economic, cultural, social, and political
facets of your chosen nation. You will
include an overview of the country: recent political history; information on
the ethnic make-up of the country; important cultural and social traditions
(such as religion); economic status and development level (including leading
economic indicators such as GDP, per capita income, etc.); type of government
and profiles of key leaders; military capabilities, and relationships with
neighbors and international institutions (primarily the UN). Also, you need to indicate the country’s
voting block, level of participation, relationships to foreign policy goals,
and overall strategy in the UN. The
profile should demonstrate that the student has a thorough understanding of the
country, both within the United Nations system and in the global political
arena. Most importantly, you will need
to identify two or three major issues that your country is facing. For example, if you were representing Iraq,
you will probably focus on the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War and the impact
of the UN-imposed sanctions on your country and its population. In addition, each student will be
responsible for presenting one component of the profile (e.g. economy) in
class, as a “formal” speech from that government’s ‘representative’ (the
student) to the United Nations (the class).
Presentations should be no longer than 10-15 minutes in length, and will
be followed by a Q&A session with the class. Students who use Powerpoint will receive an additional 10 points
extra credit. Please see me if you
would like to learn this valuable program.
50 points=500-600 word paper: 10
points each for 1) theme; 2) organization; 3) significance; 4) information; 5)
format.
50 points=Presentation: 10 points each
for 1) organization; 2) clarity; 3) interest; 4) conclusion; 5) question and
answer.
b) Delegate Position Paper Assignment (100 points): This second part of the Model UN
project involves determining and presenting your country’s stance on particular
issues, which will be chosen by the instructor. With the aid of UN documents and statements of the country, write
a 100-125 word paper outlining your country’s position on a particular issue,
what aspects of the topic are of greatest importance to it, whether it has
sponsored, co-sponsored, or voted for resolutions on the topic, and with what
countries it is aligned on the topic.
These position papers will be read in class. Think about the actor’s stake on the problem and how its
resources, geopolitical orientation, social or religious structures impact its
position. Think about what interests
it would advance in such a scenario.
The issues include: 1) continued sanctions on
Iraq; 2) participation in the reconstruction on Iraq; 3) weapons of mass
destruction in the Middle East; 4) the “road map” to peace; 5) the border
conflict between India and Pakistan.
50 points=position paper: 10 points each for 1)
theme; 2) organization; 3) significance; 4) information; 5) format.
50 points=Presentation: 10 points each
for 1) organization; 2) clarity; 3) interest; 4) conclusion; 5) question and
answer.
c) Preliminary Resolution Proposal (100 points): Each delegate will be expected
to write a proposed resolution that your country would like to see passed. In particular, you will need to decide which
issue your country would like your committee to address and which
policy-position you would like to see the committee adopt. Once the resolutions from the other
delegates in your committee are posted, you will need to read and respond to
them. This way you can actively participate in the conference with
foreknowledge of the issues that will be presented at your panel. Responses
need only be 75-100 words per resolution.
50 points=Resolution: 10 points each for 1)
theme; 2) organization; 3) significance; 4) information; 5) format.
25 points=Presentation: 10 points each
for 1) organization; 2) clarity; 3) interest; 4) conclusion; 5) question and
answer.
25 points=Debate: 10 points each for
1) organization; 2) clarity; 3) interest; 4) conclusion; 5) question and
answer.
*10 points extra credit if your resolution
passes
http://www.amun.org/resource/differences.html#part1
Organization of the Model UN:
1. Resolutions
2. Caucusing
3. Speakers Lists
4. Seating Arrangements
5. Rules of Procedure
6. Bloc Spokesperson
7. Consensus
8. Conclusion