A Guide for Faculty and Students: Teaching Model United Nations and Running Your Own Simulation
Introduction
Model UN in a Box, the AMUN simulation guide, is published to assist faculty sponsors and student leaders in preparing their school for participation in Model United Nations conferences. While many rules and procedures described in this Guide are specific to the AMUN conference, the activities and simulation instructions described may also be used by any Model United Nations group as a generic preparation guide, possibly substituting the rules of procedure of another Conference for the AMUN rules that are provided.
This publication is divided into two parts.
The first is a printed handbook, containing chapters on
- Teaching Model UN,
- Caucusing and Consensus Building,
- Decision Making and Documents,
- Rules of Procedure, and
- Running an Effective Dais and Training Dais staff.
The second part is a digital supplement, containing the portions of the book that are most often used as class handouts and simulation exercises including
- All new practice simulations for the General Assembly Third Committee, the Commission on the Status of Women, and the Security Council. These should allow groups to prepare for the three main forms of Model UN simulations: resolution writing, report writing and crisis;
- Placards for all countries used in the simulations, enhanced with at-a-glance country data;
- Position briefs for each country simulated–one for every topic and country suggested for the practice simulations; and
- Blank handouts and forms.
The Guide includes a variety of interactive preparatory suggestions, including instructions for running a practice simulation for a Model UN conference. These exercises can be used by either a Model UN class or club. Also, the exercises in the Guide have been utilized by both college and high school Model UN classes and clubs, and are appropriate at each of these levels and settings.
One complimentary copy of Model UN in a Box is provided to every school that registers for AMUN. Other schools or groups are welcome to purchase the guide for $59.95 with free shipping in the United States (add $20 for international shipping).
In addition to its use as a preparation guide for individual programs, AMUN also welcomes other Model UN groups interested in purchasing Model UN in a Box for distribution to their participants. You can order the Guide by submitting an order with our secure online store. Payment can be made online by credit card or by mail via check or money order. Please note that we are not able to accept Purchase Orders.
Printed Component
The Model UN in a Box Simulation Guide print portion contains the following:
Chapter I: Teaching Model UN in the Classroom.
Despite its name, this chapter details how to prepare a group of students for a Model UN conference in either a class or club setting. It focuses on strategies for building the myriad necessary skills that new Model UNers will require in order to successfully roleplay their adoptive country in a simulation of the United Nations. This chapter also includes suggested assignments and readings, a course syllabus for a semester classes, and suggestions for grading students on the quality of their Model UN participation.
Chapter II: Caucusing and Consensus Building.
The ability to engage in informal negotiations is a relatively abstract and challenging skill to instill in new Model UN participants. This chapter outlines the concepts underlying good roleplaying, negotiating and compromising within a Model UN setting, and contains exercises which teach students the challenges and rewards inherent in seeking consensus among their peers. Exercises include methods for effective negotiation and caucus participation and small and large group activities on consensus building.
Chapter III: Decision Making and Documents.
Perhaps the most concrete results of a Model UN simulation are the documents produced by the various committees, commission and councils: resolutions, reports and presidential statements. This chapter shows Model UN leaders how to teach the significance of these documents to a group. Additionally, the chapter includes information on the mechanics of how these documents are constructed, a valuable lesson for Model UNers. Exercises include how to read United Nations resolutions, a group activity on writing resolutions and understanding committee purview at the United Nations.
Chapter IV: Rules of Procedure.
Every Model UN simulation follows a set of rules, and with few exceptions no two Model UN simulations use the same rules and procedures. This chapter presents the rationale behind all of AMUN’s rules of procedure, including our philosophy behind following or deviating from actual United Nations practices. This chapter will assist new Model UN leaders in understanding why rules are necessary, the differences between General Assembly and Security Council rules, how they are constructed, and how they are intended to be most effectively used during the simulation. The chapter also highlights the most commonly used rules to help focus preparation for newer Model UNers.
Chapter V: Running an Effective Dais and Training Dais Staff.
The most important part of Model UN preparation is conducting a practice simulation which integrates all of the above skills (i.e. document creation, caucusing, consensus building and use of the rules). This chapter will instruct new Model UN leaders in how to lead an effective practice simulation. This includes a summary of each of the dais roles, tips for training dais staff and information on suggestions on how to track the paperwork.
Appendices:
A – Glossary of Terms
B – Research Tips and Resources
C – Sample Forms (completed)
D – Classroom Handouts (completed)
Digital Component (2021 Edition)
The Model UN in a Box Simulation Guide digital portion contains the following:
Simulation I, II and III: Preparatory Simulations.
These three sections include all of the materials necessary to conduct a practice Model UN simulation for up to 30 participants. Depending on the rules and topics one wishes to use, leaders may choose to conduct a simulation of the General Assembly Third Committee, which generally provides recommendatory solutions for Member States, the Commission on the Status of Women, which generally creates a report reporting findings and recommending action to its supervisory body, the Economic and Social Council, or a crisis simulation of the Security Council of 2021, which deals with immediate threats to international peace and security.
The Third Committee and Commission on the Status of Women simulations each provide topic and country briefs for two topics; the Security Council simulation contains one topic brief and country briefs for all countries on the Council and one Party to the Dispute. All simulations contain instructions and material for a Simulation Director to prepare and manage the session.
Countries included in the preparatory simulations include:
| Bangladesh Bolivia Brazil Canada China Colombia Côte d’Ivoire Cuba Egypt Equatorial Guinea Estonia Ethiopia France |
Ghana Guatemala India Iran (Islamic Republic of) Ireland Israel Kazakhstan Kenya Kuwait Mexico Netherlands Niger |
Nigeria Norway Poland Russian Federation St. Vincent & the Grenadines Sweden Syria* Tunisia United Kingdom United Republic of Tanzania United States Viet Nam |
* Party to the Dispute in the Security Council Only
Appendices:
A – Research Tips and Resources
B – Forms (blank)
C – Classroom Handouts (blank)
D – Country & Simulation Placards annotated placards for all simulation countries, annotated with basic facts about the country.
Digital Component (2014 Edition)
The Model UN in a Box Simulation Guide digital portion contains the following:
Simulation I, II and III: Preparatory Simulations.
These three sections include all of the materials necessary to conduct a practice Model UN simulation for up to 30 participants. Depending on the rules and topics one wishes to use, leaders may choose to conduct a simulation of the General Assembly Third Committee, which generally provides recommendatory solutions for Member States, the Commission for Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, which generally creates a report reporting findings and recommending action to its supervisory body, the Economic and Social Council, or a crisis simulation of the Security Council of 2013, which deals with immediate threats to international peace and security.
The Third Committee and Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice simulations each provide topic and country briefs for two topics; the Security Council simulation contains one topic brief and country briefs for all countries on the Council and one Party to the Dispute. All simulations contain instructions and material for a Simulation Director to prepare and manage the session.
Countries included in the preparatory simulations include:
| Argentina Australia Azerbaijan Brazil China Croatia Cuba Democratic Republic of the Congo France Germany |
Guatemala India Indonesia Iran (Islamic Republic of) Japan Lithuania Luxembourg Morocco Nigeria Norway Pakistan |
Peru Republic of Korea Russian Federation Rwanda Sierra Leone South Africa Syrian Arab Republic* Togo United Kingdom United States |
* Party to the Dispute in the Security Council Only
Appendices:
A – Research Tips and Resources
B – Forms (blank)
C – Classroom Handouts (blank)
D – Country & Simulation Placards annotated placards for all simulation countries, annotated with basic facts about the country.