To preform well in a model UN conference, the single most important thing you can do is research.
In the following weeks you will researching:
your country in general
the issue in general
how the issue pertains to your country
what your country has done about the issue, whether on a domestic or international scale
the powers and function of your committee
the structure of the conference
Right now we are going to focus on the first three points.
Start by getting a copy of the country outline worksheet. Write out what you learned on a different piece of paper. An excellent source to start off with is the CIA World Factbook. It will probably not help you on how the issue pertains to your country but it will help with understanding you country in general.
A word on Wikipedia: Wikipedia can be a great starting-off point on all of the above points except the last one. We encourage you to visit the site to learn what you need to learn. Wikipedia is not an authoritative source and should not be cited or quoted in academic writing. Just keep in mind that doesn't mean it isn't useful.
To understand the issue in general, read your committee's background guide. (The GA background guide and the WHO background guide are now available.)
Next week we will be talking about position papers and the fourth and fifth points in the above list. To get a head start, answer the Questions to Consider at the end of your committee's background guide.
In the following weeks you will researching:
your country in general
the issue in general
how the issue pertains to your country
what your country has done about the issue, whether on a domestic or international scale
the powers and function of your committee
the structure of the conference
Right now we are going to focus on the first three points.
Start by getting a copy of the country outline worksheet. Write out what you learned on a different piece of paper. An excellent source to start off with is the CIA World Factbook. It will probably not help you on how the issue pertains to your country but it will help with understanding you country in general.
A word on Wikipedia: Wikipedia can be a great starting-off point on all of the above points except the last one. We encourage you to visit the site to learn what you need to learn. Wikipedia is not an authoritative source and should not be cited or quoted in academic writing. Just keep in mind that doesn't mean it isn't useful.
To understand the issue in general, read your committee's background guide. (The GA background guide and the WHO background guide are now available.)
Next week we will be talking about position papers and the fourth and fifth points in the above list. To get a head start, answer the Questions to Consider at the end of your committee's background guide.