HamiltonHigh School

Model UN Helpful Tricks and Tips

Position Papers

• NOT A HISTORY PAPER. Don’t mention details about the UN’s or your country’s history.

• NO QUOTES!! DO NOT QUOTE LEADERS OR SPEECHES

• The paper MUST be a PAGE long

• SINGLE SPACED, 12PT FONT, TIMES NEW ROMAN
• Paragraphs should be 12-13 lines long
• CORRECT HEADING
• COUNTRY FULL NAME
• COMMITTEE FULL NAME
• ISSUE

• Format of the Paper:
• 1st Paragraph:
• Mention what the UN has done with the specific issue
• Back UN action with treaties and resolutions

• 2nd Paragraph:
• What your country has done relating to the issue
• How has the country worked with the UN to solve this issue?
• Your country’s stance on this issue

• 3rd Paragraph: (which becomes most of your speech)
• What is your country’s stance on this issue?
• Mention specific plans and ideas that your country would like to implement to solve the issue
• How will your country accomplish the plan or idea? (ex. Working with Non-governmental organizations etc.)
• DO NOT USE ALREADY EXISTING PLANS AND TREATIES THAT THE UN HAS USED. (needs to be a unique idea)

Conference/ Delegate Etiquette 

• NO USING FIRST or SECOND PERSON PRONOUNS (ex. I, we, you, our, mine.), including he, she, his, or her

• ALWAYS RAISE YOUR PLACARD TO BE ON THE SPEAKERS LIST OR GIVE COMMENTS/ QUESTIONS FOR SPEECHES
• Remain standing when the speaker is responding to your question

• KNOW YOUR MOTIONS (P23, P25) (see section on motions)

• In the beginning of the speech mention “Honorable Chair and Fellow Delegates”

• Towards the end, “I now yield my time to the chair”

• LOOK at the Chair when you answer questions

• Don’t start responding to the question until the chair ask, “Would the delegate like to respond?”

• Never say NO to a question. Try your best in answering the question.

• PLEASE PRINT OUT YOUR PAPERS AND SPEECHES -- it is not acceptable to read from an electronic device

Powers(P-): *the ones for debate will be on another sheet with debate info. *