Model United Nations Assignment

Summary
There are two major parts of the MUN assignment. The first is the position paper and the second is
the resolution.
• The position paper is designed as a tool to help you understand how your particular topic is
impacted, interpreted and informed by your country’s culture, policies, and structures.
o In other words, how has your assigned country dealt with the issue historically? Are
the any contemporary changes?
o Have they sponsored any legislation dealing with the topic at hand?
• Understanding these issues will then help you to draft an appropriate resolution that you
will debate and promote at the MUN in October.
• Please note that you must do external research to successfully complete this project and
we expect proper citation in the APA, MLA, or CMS style format for all parts. However, we
must caution you that you this should be your own analysis—in your own words—with
proper citations and reference to your sources. A simulation is about role playing, not
acting. You will not recite the lines someone has already written but will look at your role
and essentially write your own script in a way that is true to the scenario and the country
you are assigned.
Expectations
Position Papers
The country papers should be no fewer than 5 pages long, double-spaced, and should include the
following parts:
1. Page 1- description of the country and issue.
a. Paragraph 1- Briefly introduce your country and your issue (and component parts of
the issue)
b. Paragraph 2- Demographics of your country as it relates to the issue. For example,
if your topic revolves around indigenous rights then the demographic section
should include some discussion on the state of indigenous peoples in your country,
their numbers, where they are, etc. If your topic is education related then should
include something focusing on literacy rates, graduation rates, are there differences
in rates between males and females, or different regions? This section is about
summary and context of the country assigned.
c. Paragraph 3- Research and summarize the major country commitments, treaties,
resolutions with the UN that relate to your topic. What treaties (e.g., Convention
on the Rights of the Child) has your country sponsored, signed, supported, or
ratified.
2. Pages 2-4, issue area and the country. Elaborate on your specific issue. Identify two
perspectives on this issue:
a. What is your country’s (government) position on it? Are there any historical or
cultural events that you can draw in that would help to inform how your country
would feel about the issue?
b. Are there subcultural groups that are in opposition to the government’s position on
this issue?
c. What are the political positions on this issue? Have political scientists, government
actors, etc. written about this topic (in general, or specifically related to your
country)?
d. This part is about critical inquiry and engagement. If there is no obvious link
between your country and topic, you may have to think outside the box and
consider—based on what you have discerned above in your country description—
how your country would view the issue. We are looking for explicit reasons, based
on your research and understanding, of why you believe your country will have the
positions you argue they will. Sometimes you will have to push beyond the obvious
here. It is unlikely that your country will not have any opinion whatsoever about a
particular issue no matter how irrelevant it may at first seem. Do they have a strong
ally–or enemy–who would stand to benefit? This could certainly be an important
motivating factor. Are they traditionally advocates for nonviolence or
humanitarianism? Again, this would play a very important part in addressing the
context.
3. Pages 4-5- Next steps
a. In narrative form, you will describe what your assigned country will likely argue for
(or against) at the UN on this issue. This is where you must critically think about the
evidence you have presented up to this point in the assignment as justification for
the position you (the assigned country) will be taking. Keep in mind that you, the
student, is not speaking here. You are acting as the delegate to the country. Which
countries do you think will be your natural allies and partners within the UN and
why? Again, you will want to tie your reasoning into the first page foundation that
you established.
Please note that you may find it useful to use section breaks between these three sections and
that is fine. We are looking for clarity in reasoning, depth of understanding and specific examples
or justifications. What is important here is depth not breadth. You have only a limited amount of
time and space so make the words you say matter.
Position Paper Evaluation
Draft- _______/100 points
Final- _______/150 points
Strong (A) Adequate (B) Weak (C) Unacceptable
(D/F)
Style (15%)-
Follows structural
guidelines of
assignment, grammar,
spelling, editing
Depth of Analysis
(15%)-
Critical inquiry, uses
resources well,
interprets and
analyzes information,
selects appropriate
data
UN perspective (20%)-
thoroughly
investigates the
country’s participation
in UN work on issue
(page 1).
Political application
(30%)-
Includes and uses
politically appropriate
information on topic;
demonstrates
understanding of
governmental/political
concepts (pages 2-4)
Analysis (20%)-
Clearly identifies
country positions and
proposes solutions
(pages 5)
Resolutions
A resolution is like a bill that you are proposing to become law. Resolutions are the key ideas or
specific policies that you want to have passed by the UN body. They can be awkward with their
own odd language which is why I would invite you all to explore these websites for additional
information:
• http://www.carthage.edu/model-united-nations/writing-resolutions/
• http://www.unausa.org/global-classrooms-model-un/how-to-participate/model-unpreparation/resolutions
“Resolutions usually state a policy that the United Nations will undertake, but they also may be in
the form of treaties, conventions and declarations in some bodies. They range from very general
to very specific in content. Depending on the body involved, they may call for or suggest a course
of action, condemn an action, or require action or sanctions in the part of the member states. The
General Assembly and Economic and Social Council may only call for or suggest actions. It should
be noted that no body other than the Security Council may require action or sanctions from
member states. In some cases, final conventions or treaties may also require action, but this would
only be on the part of the signatory nations.
Amendments to resolutions are the means by which resolutions may be altered by the body
involved. Amendments would create additions, deletions or changes to a resolution in order to
increase its acceptability to all nations involved. Amendments are usually needed for a body to
move toward a consensus on a resolution.
THE FORMAT FOR DRAFTING RESOLUTIONS
Draft Resolutions are written in a standard format. Each draft should be written as a single
sentence, with commas and semicolons separating the various parts. It is expected that all
delegations following outline when preparing their draft resolutions.
1. The Heading
A. The Heading at the top of the resolution is very important as it is used to facilitate the work
of the Secretariat and the Committee Chair in processing the draft resolution. The Heading
includes the subject of the resolution (agenda topic), the name of the Committee/Council
to which it will be presented, and the name or names of the sponsoring countries.
2. The Text
A. Preamble
i. This part of the resolution is designed to explain the purpose of the draft and to state the
primary reasons for support of the operative clauses which follow. The perambulatory
clauses often refer to earlier United Nations resolutions, appropriate articles of the
United Nations Charter, or other United Nations actions. It begins in all caps with the
name of the body to which the resolution is being submitted. The preamble may not be
amended.
B. Operative Clauses
i. The numbered operative clauses take the form of recommendations for actions or a
statement of opinions concerning the situation. Operative clauses are the statement of
policy in a resolution. The draft may request action by the United Nations members,
Secretariat, or other United Nations bodies. The operative clauses begin with a verb to
denote an action, and each clause usually addresses no more than one specific aspect
of the action to be taken. Operative clauses may be amended.
A SAMPLE RESOLUTION
SUBJECT OF RESOLUTION: ECONOMIC AID AND DEVELOPMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
SUBMITTED TO: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1
SUBMITTED BY: BENIN
GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
RECOGNIZING the situation of need in many developing nations concerning the humanitarian issue
of poor, if existing, housing, inefficient agricultural methods, lack of clean water, and lack of basic
medical needs,
GRATEFUL for the aid given by developed countries to Benin in the form of loans and development
programs,
BELIEVING THAT countries could mutually benefit through the establishment of development
programs such as the ones in place of Benin,
1. CALLS UPON able nations to send building materials and engineers to help educate and
facilitate the building of shelter by and for people of developing countries;
2. SUGGESTS that developed countries offer agricultural assistance in the form of education and
send money to developing countries working in conjunction with the World Food Program (WFP)
with the aim of making the use of wasted farm land more efficient and reducing the threat of
hunger;
3. DRAWS ATTENTION TO the services of the World Health Organization (WHO) and encourages
developing nations to work in conjunction with WHO in establishing a plan with the goal of
universal immunization, vaccination, and health education.”
1
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http://web.utk.edu/~modelun/resolutions.htm
Resolution Evaluation
We will be evaluating your work using a rubric. The resolution rubric will evaluate your ability to
follow the resolution style and organization requirements as well as the credibility of your
proposals based on your assigned countries and topics.
Some Essential Questions about your paper*:
Does the resolution follow the writing style? Y N
Is the resolution well-edited? Y N
If so, then your paper meets the assignment and should qualify for at least a C. Grades of A and B
depend on degrees of excellence in form and content. *If the resolution is not unique/original, the
resolution will not be accepted.
Draft- ______/50 points
Final- ______/75 points
Form and Style (30%)
Strong (A) Adequate (B) Weak (C) Unacceptable
(D/F)
Style (10%)-Grammatically correct and
understandable
Preamble (10%)- uses correct clauses and
structure
Operative clauses (10%)- uses correct
clauses and structure
Content (70%)
Strong (A) Adequate (B) Weak (C) Unacceptable
(D/F)
Research (25%)- The preamble
demonstrates a sufficient amount of
research and support
Topic (30%)- The operative clause is
reasonable given the country and topic
Originality (15%)- The resolution itself
unique and original