Right after registering for a Model UN conference, it feels like it would be years until the competition weekend comes up. Time goes from telling your team 2 more months to 1 more month and then 1 more week. As a high school student taking work heavy classes and participating in other extracurricular activities, there is little time to study throughout those 2 months since many activities pop up. Sometimes it gets to the point where we forget about conference season (Yes, I’m guilty as charged). “Well I got assigned an insignificant country/role so I can just make up a position in no time!” Wrong. Even if you believe you have researched everything and practiced enough times, there is still a lot of time and items on your agenda to be fully prepared.
Doral Academy’s MUN team prepping for GatorMUN XV
1. Meet more than once, or even twice, every week with your conference delegation: The more times you practice, the better. You become more aware of the smallest mistakes you make and you wouldn’t be as nervous the day of since you already know the main points you want to talk about in either opening speeches or small mod speeches. Meeting often is also an opportunity for team bonding since you get to see each member grow as a delegate and give feedback to help other delegates get a chance like you to place.
2. Practice debating topics from each committee your delegation has a spot in: It’s a bit redundant to debate about topics that you will not gain any knowledge from or will not serve useful to prepare for the big day. It is important to refine speaking skills but that time could be used to study with a different approach. If you are a hands-on learner, using this technique helps you predict the flow of debate. You can already expect what motions are going to pass, solutions to be proposed, and sometimes topic going to be passed (if your committee offers 2 topic). Imagine other team mates as types of delegates you will face the day of and treat them without bias.
3. Decide on the topic you are going to vote for: This is sort of a given but with a lot of time spent evenly researching on both, you forget that in the end you will most likely only speak about one topic. Pick the one you find has more substantial information, longer history that affects a greater populace, and/or the one where you find your argument to be much stronger.
4. Finalize your plans: EVERY delegate should have some sort of plan before walking into the room. Here’s a checklist for crisis and GA committees:
CRISIS:
An example of a crisis arc
- More than one crisis arc – If your main plan (a.k.a crisis arc) fails, you need something to fall back on. Improvising almost never works and the crisis staff knows when you’re becoming vulnerable.
- Ideas for crisis notes – You need to make sure your character gains more power “under the table”. You can be the greatest speaker and constantly on directives, but crisis notes are just as important because crisis staff wants to see how well rounded you are.
- Arc timeline (divided into times for each day, Saturday being the most productive)
GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
- List of solutions (do NOT go in with prewritten clauses, that’s cheating and can get you into major trouble)
- Funding ideas – Many people have the same idea so go against the usual and spend time thinking of new ways or ask your team for any suggestions.
- Opening speeches – It is the most important speech as it is the one where you sell yourself to other countries. Many people remember you for the rest of the weekend for the first speech you give. Without this, your chances of getting connections in the committee are slim.
Waiting for the conference can be both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. As long as you feel confident in the work you’ve put in, you should be fine. If you think cramming is the way to go, no one is going to stop you but it is not the attitude a best delegate has. Be prepared for anything, expect the unexpected and of course, have fun.
