Background guides and preparation

Step 1: Learn about Model UN.

• What is MUN? Watch this video

• See this website for top tips to get you started

Step 2: Make sure to read the background guide for your topic

2025 Background Guides:

Background Guide 1:  Addressing Deforestation

Background Guide 2:  Protecting Children Online

Background Guide 3:  The Protection of Child Refugees

Background Guide 4:  The Education Crisis

Background Guide 5:  Confronting Global Water Insecurity

Step 3: Learn about your committee

• Ask your teacher which UN Committee you are in, and learn a little about the kind of things that committee discusses.

• Do a Google search with the Committee’s name. You can also Google the Committee along with your topic to see what action your committee has taken on this topic in the past

Step 4: Research on the country you’ve been assigned so that you can represent it well in the conference.  

• In MUN you are not arguing your personal opinions but the opinions of the country you are representing. To learn more about your country visit the CIA Factbook. or the BBC Country profiles

• Try to keep up on your country by keeping up on cultural events and reading the news

• Use this general research template to guide you

Step 5:  RESEARCH your country's position on your topic

Research Template 1: Addressing Deforestation

Research Template 2: Protecting Children Online

Research Template 3: The Protection of Child Refugees

Research Template 4: The Education Crisis

Research Template 5: Confronting Global Water Insecurity

Step 6: Write a position paper!

This is what you have been doing all this research for!  You will use it to introduce yourself as a delegate to your committee as well as act as a template for the arguments you will make in committee.

• If you want to learn more about writing a position paper, you can watch this

Position Paper Template 1: Addressing Deforestation

Position Paper Template 2: Protecting Children Online

Position Paper Template 3: The Protection of Child Refugees

Position Paper Template 4: The Education Crisis

Position Paper Template 5: Confronting Global Water Insecurity

Step 7:  Send your position paper into us by Monday, Jan 20, 2025

• When your position paper is done, submit it as a pdf to the form linked here. 

• If you have any questions, email wlmun@asl.org.

Step 8:  Turn your position paper into a short speech:

• You should come to MUN prepared with a one minute speech that communicates the most important points that you have made in your position paper. Be snappy and sharp and focussed. At the end of the speech you can yield time to questions or yield to the chair and sit down.

• Click here for some pointers on making a Good Speech:

Good luck preparing for the conference!