Research

Paper
ModelUNPreperation
ThefirststepinpreparingforarewardingModelUNexperienceistogatherinformation.
Giveyourselfplentyoftimebeforeaconferencetoresearch,readandthenformulateyour
arguments.SincemostdelegatesusetheInternetforaboutmajorityoftheirresearch,
UNAUSAhascompiledalistofwebresourcestohelpyougetstarted.However,you
shouldnotoverlooktheresourcesavailableinbooksandperiodicalsatyourlocallibrary.
Whileconductingresearch,trytokeepinmindthatyourprimarygoalistorepresentyour
countryasrealisticallyaspossible.Todoso,youwillneedtoresearchthreedifferentareas.
Followtheselinksfortipsonresearchingeachofthethreecomponents:
Yourcountryanditspositions
Theissuestobedebatedattheconferenceand
TheUNsystem.

CollectingCountryInformation
WhenresearchingyourpositionataModelUNconference,youwillfirstneedtolearn
aboutyourcountrysoyoucanaddresstheissuesraisedattheconferenceasarealUN
delegatefromthatcountrywould.Torepresentyourcountryaccurately,startbyanswering
thefollowingquestions:

Whatsortofgovernmentdoesyourcountryhave?
Whattypesofideologies(political,religiousorother)influenceyourcountry's

government?
Whichdomesticissuesmightinfluenceyourcountry'sforeignpolicy?
Whataresomemajoreventsinyourcountry'shistory?Whyaretheyimportant?
Whichethnicities,religionsandlanguagescanbefoundinyourcountry?
Whereisyourcountrylocatedandhowdoesitsgeographyaffectitspolitical
relationships?
Whichcountriesshareaborderwithyourcountry?
Whichcountriesareconsideredalliesofyourcountry?
Whichcountriesareconsideredenemiesofyourcountry?
Whatarethecharacteristicsofyourcountry'seconomy?
Whatisyourcountry'sgrossdomesticproduct(GDP)?Howdoesthiscompareto

othercountriesintheworld?
WhendidyourcountrybecomeamemberoftheUN?
Doesyourcountrybelongtoanyintergovernmentalorganizationsoutsidethe
UNsystemsuchastheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization(NATO)orthe
OrganizationofthePetroleumExportingCountries(OPEC)?
DoesyourcountrybelongtoanyregionalorganizationssuchastheEuropean
Union(EU),theAfricanUnion(AU)ortheOrganizationofAmericanStates
(OAS)?
Doesyourcountrybelongtoanytradeorganizationsoragreementssuchasthe
NorthAmericanFreeTradeAgreement(NAFTA)ortheOrganisationfor
EconomicCooperationandDevelopment(OECD)?

TipsforResearchingYourCountry
Lookupyourcountry'spermanentmissiontotheUN.Youcanalsocallthemission
directlytoaskquestionsorrequestapositionstatementonanissue.
Findyourcountry'svotingrecordsandreadspeechesontheUnitedNations
BibliographicInformationSystemwebsite.
LookattheCIAWorldFactbookforageneraloverviewonyourcountry,andfor
figuresandstatisticsaswell.TheWorldFactbookisproducedbytheUnitedStatesCentral
IntelligenceAgency(CIA).Wouldyourcountry'sgovernmentagreewiththewayyour
countryischaracterizedintheWorldFactbook?
Checkoutnewsandmediasourcesforrecentdevelopmentsinyourcountry.
Seemoreat:http://www.unausa.org/globalclassroomsmodelun/howto
participate/modelunpreparation/research/countryresearch#sthash.Ac6NbwUk.dpuf

ResearchingConferenceTopics
Onceyouhavelearnedaboutthecountryyourepresentandit'sgovernment,people,and
economy,youshoulddevelopanunderstandingoftheissuesthatwillbedebatedatyour
committee.Manyconferencessendoutbackgroundmaterialsorissuebriefs,whichcan
helpjumpstartyourresearch.Youmaywanttolookatthesourcescitedinthesematerials
formoreindepthinformation.Iftheconferencebackgroundmaterialsposequestions,you
shouldanswerthemwithyourcountryinformationinmind.
Herearesomeadditionalquestionstohelpguideyourresearch:

Whatistheproblem?Howdoesitaffectyourcountry?
Whathasyourcountrydonetocombattheproblem?
Whatarethevarious"sides"inthedebate?

 Whichaspectsoftheissuearemostimportanttoyourcountry?
Ifyourcountryisnotinvolvedwiththeissue,howcanitbecomeinvolved?
Howwillyourcountryshapethedebateattheconference?
Whatargumentswillothercountriesmake?
Howdothepositionsofothercountriesaffectyourcountry'sposition?
Isthereevidenceorstatisticsthatmighthelptobackupyourcountry'sposition?
TipsforResearchingIssues
Checkoutnewsandmediaforuptodatedevelopmentsonanissue.
GoogleAlertsisagreatresourceforfindinguptodatenewsonyourtopic.GoogleAlerts
areemailupdatesofthelatestrelevantGoogleresults(web,news,etc.)basedonyour
queries.Justentertermsrelevanttoyourtopic,andadigestofrelevantwebpagesand
newsarticleswillbesenttoyourfreeGmailaccountonadaily,weekly,oreven
instantaneousbasis.
Askyourcommunity,schooloruniversitylibrarianifyoucangetaccesstoLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse.LexisNexisisasystemthatsearchesthousandsofperiodicals.Another
serviceisQuestia.Thisservicecostsabout$15.00permonth,butallowsyoutoaccess
thousandsofdocumentsfromyourpersonalcomputer.Askifyourschoolalreadyhas
access.
LookattheUNGlobalIssuespage,whichhasanindextosomeprominentissuesaswellas
alistofUNagenciesthatworkinvariousissueareas.Also,throughtheUnitedNations
DocumentationCenter,youcanfindresolutionsandvotingrecordsfromthecurrentand
previousyears.
Visitnongovernmentalorganization(NGO)websites.NGOsareanimportantpart
oftheUNsystem,inpartduetothevaluableresearchandinformationtheygenerate.Look
forNGOsthataddressyourtopic.
Readacademicpublications.Althoughtheycanbecomplex,theyprovideindepth
informationonmanyissues.Professors,studentsandresearchersareconstantly
conductingstudiesandpublishingpapers.
Seemoreat:http://www.unausa.org/globalclassroomsmodelun/howto
participate/modelunpreparation/research/topicresearch#sthash.kRJdFFiP.dpuf

UNSystemResearch

UnderstandingtheUNsystemwillhelpyouplayyourrolerealisticallyataModelUN
conference.ItisimportanttounderstandwhichbodiesandactorsmakeuptheUNsystem,
whattheUNcanandcannotdo,andhowinternationalissuesareaddressedbytheUN.
Herearesomequestionsthatwillhelpgetyoustarted:

WhataretheimportantelementsoftheUNCharter?
WhatarethemainbodiesoftheUN?
HowaretheUN'sbodiesandagenciesorganized?
Whichcountriesserveonthebodyoragencyyouaresimulating?
Howdoesthebodyoragencyyouaresimulatingoperate?
WhatarethemostrecentUNactionsonyourissue?
WhydidpastUNactionssucceedorfail?
Whatconferencesandmeetingshavebeenheldwithregardtoyourissue?
WhathaveUNofficialssaidaboutyourissue?
TipsforResearchingtheUN
VisittheUNwebsiteatwww.un.org.ReadaboutcurrentaffairsontheUNNewspage.In
addition,youshouldlookattheUNCyberschoolbuswebsite,aswellasUNAUSA'sguideto
usingit.
ReadoneofthemanybookspublishedbytheUN.TheUNpublishesbookswithgeneral
UNinformationaswellasspecificreports,whichcanbepurchasedontheirwebsite.
Talktotheexperts.IfyouareinoraroundNewYorkCity,itmaybepossibletosetupa
briefingwithaUNsecretariatmember.CalltheDepartmentofPublicInformationat212
9634475.
Seemoreat:http://www.unausa.org/globalclassroomsmodelun/howto
participate/modelunpreparation/research/unsystemresearch#sthash.MtBO979D.dpuf
AdditionalResources:UNCyberschoolbus
TheUnitedNationsrunsawebsitedesignedespeciallytohelpstudentsandteacherslearn
abouttheUnitedNationsandprepareforModelUNconferencescalledtheUN
Cyberschoolbus.BesidesinformationaboutModelUN,theCyberschoolbusincludes
curriculaforteacherstousetoeducatetheirstudentsonvariousaspectsofinternational
affairsandtheprogramsoftheUN,aforumforModelUNersandmuchmore.Tohelpyou
navigatethewebsite,UNAUSAhaswrittenaguidepointingoutsomeofthemostuseful
resourcesavailableattheCyberschoolbusandgivingyoudirectlinkstoeach.
Seemoreat:http://www.unausa.org/globalclassroomsmodelun/howtoparticipate/model
unpreparation/research#sthash.0qE6RyBR.dpuf

Country
Assignments
ModelUNPreparation
AfteryourdelegationregistersforaModelUNconference,theorganizerswilldistribute
assignments.
InterpretingAssignedCountries
Youwillreceiveagrid(or"matrix")informingyouofyourcountryassignmentsandthe
committeesinwhicheachcountrysitsattheModelUNConference.Belowisasample
countryassignmentgrid:
Country
GA GA1 GA6
Denmark
xx
Gabon
xx
xx
xx
Philippines xx
xx

ECOSOC
xx

HRC

xx

TotalDelegates
4
6
6

Each(X)representsonestudenttheconferencerecommendstwostudentspercommittee,
thoughyoumaychoosetoassignonlyonestudenttoacommitteeifnecessary.
Ifyouwillbeunabletoassignastudenttoanycommittee,pleaseinformyourproject
partnerassoonaspossible.

TipsforAssigningCountries/CommitteestoyourStudents
Newerdelegatesmayfeelmorecomfortableinlargercommittees,astheycannot
besingledout.Experienceddelegateswillmostlikelyenjoysmallercommitteeswherethey
willspeakmoreoften.

Knowyourstudents'resourcesandstrengthswhenpairingthemaspartners.Trytoensure
thatatleastonedelegatehascomputeraccess.Also,ModelUNisagreatwayforEnglish
languagelearnerstobecomeacclimatedtothelanguagebutpairingtwoEnglishlanguage
learnersmaycausefrustrationforbothdelegates.Trypairingastudentwhohasstronger
verbalskillswithalessverbalstudent.Thisisanequallygoodtipformonolingualstudents.
Knowyourstudents'individualtraits.Hasthisstudenteverbackedoutofaprior
commitment?Ifso,asmallcommitteemaynotbetheperfectplacetoassignhim/her.
Whatstudentsdoinclassisagoodindicationofwhattheywilldoincommittee.Ifs/hecan
workindependently,asmallercommitteecanbetheperfectplace.Butyoumightalsopair
him/herwithastudentwhomaybackout.Anexperienceddelegatecouldthenworkalone
betterinalargercommittee.
Seemoreat:http://www.unausa.org/globalclassroomsmodelun/howtoparticipate/model
unpreparation/countryassignments#sthash.Skhvd0Sn.dpuf

Position
Papers
ModelUNPreparation
Manyconferencesrequirethateachdelegationsubmitapositionpaperanessaydetailing
yourcountry'spoliciesonthetopicsbeingdiscussedinyourcommittee.Writingaposition
paperwillhelpyouorganizeyourideassothatyoucanshareyourcountry'spositionwith
therestofthecommittee.Ifyouconductextensiveresearch,apositionpapershouldbe
easytowrite.
Mostconferencesthatrequirepositionpapersaskforthemaboutonemonthbeforethe
conferencesothatstaffmemberscanreadthemandgetafeelforthedirectiondebatewill
take.Iftheconferenceyouareattendingdoesnotrequireapositionpaper,youshouldstill
considerwritingonetohelpyouorganizeyourresearchandprepareyourspeeches.Many
delegatesusetheirpositionpapersastheiropeningremarks.

SamplePositionPaper
Committee:InternationalLaborOrganization

Topic:GlobalizationandDevelopment
Country:Romania
*ThissamplepositionpaperwassubmittedbythedelegationofRomaniaatthe2007UNAUSA
ModelUNConferenceinNewYorkCity.
Inthepasttwodecadestherapidlygrowingworldtrendhasbeentowardglobalization.Withthe
emergenceoftheinternetasameansofcommunicationandtheincreasingaccessibilityof
internationaltradephysicalbarriersarenottheonlybarrierswitheringaway.Protectivetariffsare
plummetingandfreetradeagreementsarebecomingmoreprevalent.Romaniaappreciatesthat
globalizationcreatesfavorablesituationsforexpansionofcommercialaswellaseconomicassets.In
thepastyearRomaniahasseenaforeigndirectinvestment(FDI)increaseof199%.InwardFDI
increasedfromEURO234millionin2005toEURO699millionin2006.However,Romania
realizesthatincreasedglobalizationdoesnotautomaticallyproducemoreequality.
GlobalizationandDevelopmentcancontributetotheadvancementoftheoverallinternational
humanconditionhowever,thedelegationofRomaniarecognizesthatwithoutproperregulationthe
potentialforadvancementwillremainlimitedtoanelitefewindividuals,businesses,andnations.
Unlesscheckedandaimedtowardthecommongood,globalizationcannoteffectivelyservethe
globalcommunity.Crucialindealingwiththecomplexitiesofglobalization,goodgovernancemust
actwithsolidarityandresponsibility.Romaniabelievesthatininvolvingpeopleinglobalizationwe
mustpromotemoralvalues,democraticprincipals,inclusiveglobalpoliticalculture,institutionsthat
safeguardbothindividualcivilrightsandinherentfreedoms,andthecommongood.Inaddition,
copingwiththeinfluxofinformationfromglobalizationgovernmentsmustactwithsolidarityand
insight.Accesstodigitaleducationwillundoubtedlyresultintheconfidenceofcitizensintheir
respectiveadministrationsandallowforagreaterdegreeoftransparency,andthereforealesser
degreeofcorruption.
Romaniabelievesthemultinationalbusinesscommunityhastheabilityandtheobligationto
supportpertinentvaluesinhumanrights,laborstandards,andenvironmentalpreservation.As
statedbythepresident,Mr.TraionBasescu,Romaniafeelsa"heartfeltattachmentto
multilateralism,asaneffectiveinstrumentdesignedtoidentifytheadequateanswerstothe
challengesbroughtbyglobalization."
Romaniaispartytothemajorityofmultilateraltreatiesandconventionsidentifiedassuchbythe
SecretaryGeneralinthecontextoftheMillenniumSummitin2001.Romaniahasalwayssupported
innovativeandeffectivewaysofestablishingcooperationwithinandbetweenregionalorganizations.
AsoneofthenewestmembersoftheEuropeanUnion,RomaniaisanactivememberoftheWorld
TradeOrganization,andlooksforwardtoofferingitssupporttotheredirectionofglobalizationto
bestbenefittheglobalcommunity.

HowtoWriteaPositionPaper
Writingapositionpapermightappeartobeadauntingtask,especiallyfornew
delegates.Butwithenoughresearch,youwillfindthatwritingapositionpaperwill
beeasyanduseful.

Positionpapersareusuallyonetooneandahalfpagesinlength.Yourposition
papershouldincludeabriefintroductionfollowedbyacomprehensivebreakdown
ofyourcountry'spositiononthetopicsthatarebeingdiscussedbythecommittee.A
goodpositionpaperwillnotonlyprovidefactsbutalsomakeproposalsfor
resolutions.
Manyconferenceswillaskforspecificdetailsinapositionpaper,sobesureto
includealltherequiredinformation.Mostconferenceswillprovidedelegatesa
backgroundguidetotheissue.Usually,thebackgroundguidewillcontainquestions
toconsider.Makesurethatyourpositionpaperanswersthesequestions.
Agoodpositionpaperwillinclude:

Abriefintroductiontoyourcountryanditshistoryconcerningthetopic
andcommittee

Howtheissueaffectsyourcountry
Yourcountry'spolicieswithrespecttotheissueandyourcountry's
justificationforthesepolicies

Quotesfromyourcountry'sleadersabouttheissue
Statisticstobackupyourcountry'spositionontheissue
Actionstakenbyyourgovernmentwithregardtotheissue
Conventionsandresolutionsthatyourcountryhassignedorratified
UNactionsthatyourcountrysupportedoropposed
Whatyourcountrybelievesshouldbedonetoaddresstheissue
Whatyourcountrywouldliketoaccomplishinthecommittee's
resolutionand

Howthepositionsofothercountriesaffectyourcountry'sposition.

PositionPaperTips
Keepitsimple.Tocommunicatestronglyandeffectively,avoidflowery
wordingandsticktouncomplicatedlanguageandsentencestructure.

Makeitofficial.Trytousethesealofyourcountryorcreatean"official"
letterheadforyourpositionpaper.Themorerealisticitlooks,themoreothers

willwanttoreadit.

Getorganized.Giveeachseparateideaorproposalitsownparagraph.Make
sureeachparagraphstartswithatopicsentence.

Citeyoursources.Usefootnotesorendnotestoshowwhereyoufoundyour
factsandstatistics.Ifyouareunfamiliarwithbibliographicform,lookupthe
ModernLanguageAssociation(MLA)guidelinesatyourschool'slibrary.

Readandreread.Leavetimetoedityourpositionpaper.Askyourselfifthe
organizationofthepapermakessenseanddoublecheckyourspellingand
grammar.

Speech!Speech!Doyouplantomakeanopeningstatementatyour
conference?Agoodpositionpapermakesagreatintroductoryspeech.During
debate,agoodpositionpaperwillalsohelpyoutosticktoyourcountry's
policies.

Letthebulletsfly.Trynottoletyourproposalsbecomelostinaseaof
information.Forspeechmaking,createabulletedlistofyourproposalsalong
withyourmostimportantfactsandstatisticssothatyouwillnotlosetime
lookingforthemduringdebate.

DressingforSuccess
ModelUNPreparation
DressingprofessionallyandappropriatelyisanimportantaspectofModelUN
preparations.Justlikebeingpoliteandhavingpropermanners,dressingappropriatelyis
animportantwaytoshowrespectforthenationyouarerepresenting,foryourfellow
delegatesandfortheUnitedNations.Atsomeconferences,delegatesmayweartheirown
nationaldresshowever,mostconferenceswillrequirewesternbusinessattire.

WhatisWesternBusinessAttire?
Westernbusinessattire,orinternationalstandardbusinessattire,servesascustomary
dressforworkplaces.Itentailswearingasuit,whichismadeupoftrousers,amatching
jacket,abuttondowndressshirt,andatie.Conservativedressshoesandsocksarealso
important.Skirtsanddressesmayalsobewornaslongastheyfalltoadecentlength.The

mainthingtorememberistoalwaysinsurethatyourappearanceistidyandputtogether,
andthatyouarewellcovered.
Clothing
Suits

Tops

Bottoms

Shoes

Hair

Females
Asuitalwayslooksprofessional.Besuretokeep
suitscleanandwrinklefree.

Males
Asuitalwayslooks
professional.Be
suretokeepsuits
cleanandwrinkle
free.
Notshirts.Ablouse,sweater,orbuttondownshirt
Notshirts.A
ofanykindisappropriate.Dressesarealso
collared/button
appropriateaslongastheyarenotrevealingand
downshirtis
adequateinlength(followtherulesbelowforskirt appropriateanddo
length).
notforgetatie!
Nojeansorshorts.Slacksandsuitpantsare
Nojeansorshorts.
acceptable.Skirtsmustbewornwith
Slacks,preferablein
pantyhose/stockingsandshouldnotbemorethan
darkcolors,are
twoinchesabovetheknee.Bottomsshouldhavea
appropriate.
subtlepatternavoidlouddesigns.
Nosneakersoropentoesandals.Remember:high
Nosneakersor
heeledshoesmaylookpretty,buttheycanalsobe opentoesandals.
veryuncomfortable,souseyourdiscretion.
Loafersorother
typesofdressshoes
arepreferred.
Keephaircleanandoutofyourfacefora
Keephaircleanand
professionallook.
outofyourfacea
professionallook.