Model United Nations (UN) is a great extracurricular activity for middle school students interested in history, politics, and the world beyond their country’s borders. If you’re going to attend your first Model UN conference this year, you likely have a lot of questions and may even be a little bit nervous. Don’t worry. In this guide, you’ll learn how to prepare for Model UN and have a great time during the conference. 

Dive into how Model UN works, your role, and how to prepare for a successful conference. 

How Model UN Works

One of the best ways to understand how Model UN works is to attend a session. However, if you can’t do that, here’s a sample breakdown. 

NOTE: This is the bare bones information. We’ll go into more detail about some of these points later on. 

Opening Ceremony: You and the other participants gather in a meeting resembling the UN’s General Assembly. Adults or more experienced Model UN participants may give an opening speech and set expectations.

Break into Committees: This is where the majority of your experience will take place. In committees, delegates representing nations introduce themselves and present their position papers. Committee members debate one another and draft resolutions.

Presentation of Resolutions: Everyone moves back into the General Assembly to formally propose their resolutions and vote on them. 

All of this doesn’t happen spontaneously. Participants who know how to prepare for Model UN make a huge contribution to a conference’s success.

Depending on your school, your Model UN experience may involve:

· A day-long field trip to an event space
· A more in-depth session with an overnight stay in another city
· A virtual meeting connecting you with Model UN participants nation- or worldwide

Your Role in Model UN

Roles in Model UN fall into one of two categories.

Delegates

New Model UN participants start off as delegates. Delegates:

· Represent an assigned country.
· Present a position paper. 
· Interact with delegates from other countries.
· Spend most of their time working in committees. 

Before jumping down to the next section to learn how to become an effective delegate, review the leadership roles that make Model UN work. 

Leadership

Experienced Model UN participants can work in one of the following roles:

Secretary-General: The Secretary-General is like the Model UN’s chief executive officer or president. They coordinate all activities at Model UN and help delegates settle disputes.

Deputy-Secretary-General: The Deputy-Secretary-General supports the Secretary-General in their mission. They perform activities assigned to them by the Secretary-General. 

Committee Chairs: When you work in a committee, a committee chair coordinates the committee’s work. 

As you prepare for and participate in your first Model UN, pay close attention to what different leaders do. Doing so can help you set a goal for what kind of leadership position you want in a future Model UN conference. 

Preparing for Model UN Success

As a first-time delegate, there are a lot of things you can do now to make sure you have a great and fun Model UN experience. The following advice comes directly from the United Nations website, an amazing resource for new and returning participants.  

Become an Expert in Your Assigned Nation and Topic

You’re going to need to read a lot to become an expert on your assigned nation and topic. In addition to the materials provided to you, use the following resources to expand your knowledge and prepare for your first Model UN conference:

· Your nation’s official United Nations mission website.
o See Japan’s website for an example.

· The UN Digital Library‍

· UN Global Issues

If you’re not sure where to start, speak with your school’s Model UN club sponsoring teacher.  

Develop Your Research Skills

As you research your assigned nation and topic, you may feel overwhelmed by the amount of information. Use these tips to find the information you need for Model UN success:

1) Gain a general overview of the country and its culture.

a. This information acts like a house’s foundation. Everything else you learn rests on it.

2) Research information specific to your assigned topic. 

a. News articles are a great resource to dive into the unique issue you’ll focus on during the Model UN conference.

3) Gain a general overview of the nations you’ll work with in committee. 

a.  How might these nations’ backgrounds and policies come into conflict with yours? How might they try to argue against your policy proposals and arguments?

Prepare for the Position Paper

The position paper is where you put your research to work and how you introduce yourself to other committee members. A position paper (1–2 pages, double-spaced):

· Clearly states your country’s position on your topic.
· Includes a policy statement related to that topic.
· Cites relevant evidence (e.g., previous UN actions, resolutions, etc.)
· Makes evidence-based recommendations to the committee.

If these tasks seem a bit scary, don’t fret. Your school’s Model UN meetings leading up to the conference will give you plenty of time to perform research, ask questions, and write a strong position paper. 

Ask for Help When You Need It

Don’t forget that your teacher and more-experienced Model UN club members can help you learn how to prepare for your first Model UN conference. Although you may all have different roles, you are all representing your schools and should work together as a team. They want to help you succeed and return next year. 

FAQ

How do I prepare for Model UN on a tight schedule?

If you’re on a tight schedule, go to your Model UN club’s sponsor teacher for help. They can give you advice on how to save time with:

· Finding the right materials
· Improving your research skills
· Developing a position paper

Another great strategy to prevent feeling overwhelmed is setting aside a specific time every day for Model UN conference prep. Dedicating 30–45 minutes to it each afternoon can help you get everything done before your Model UN club heads to the conference. 

How do I develop my first Model UN conference questions?

Developing Model UN conference questions involves:

· Finding out which nations will take part in your committee meetings
· Reading their position papers during the conference
· Analyzing how their positions may conflict with your nation’s

Although this is something you’ll do during the conference, you can prepare by asking more experienced Model UN club members how they developed questions at past conferences. 

How do I prepare for Model UN as a delegate?

Besides following the steps in this guide, don’t forget to:

· Ask more experienced Model UN club participants for advice.
o They may have made mistakes that you can avoid.

· Listen to everything your Model UN club sponsor teacher recommends. 
o They likely have years of experience helping new participants like you prepare for their first conference. 

In other words, keep your ears open when attending Model UN club meetings at your school. Doing so will help you succeed and enjoy your first Model UN experience. 

How do I prepare for a Model UN leadership position?

Although you won’t have a leadership position at your first Model UN conference, you can prepare by:

· Submitting an excellent position paper
· Coming up with thoughtful questions for other delegates
· Bringing a good attitude to your first Model UN conference

These and other strategies can help you make a great first impression on the other participants and your club’s sponsor teacher. The following year, your peers may elect you to your first leadership position.

Good luck!