17-May-2023

As a newcomer to Model United Nations (MUN), one often faces uncertainties regarding how prepare for MUN, make progress, and, most importantly, craft persuasive arguments to secure an award at a conference.

Drawing upon years of experience and research, we have compiled a comprehensive guide of seven essential steps to help you embark on your journey as a diplomat and thrive in the MUN circuit. Let's closely examine each of these steps.

1.Initiate by familiarizing yourself with your Country Profile

Before delving into the conference's Study Guide or Background Guide, it is advisable to conduct preliminary research on the nation or designation you will be representing in your committee. This step is crucial in overcoming any preconceived biases you may have and approaching your representation with an open mind.

By acquiring knowledge about your assigned country, you will be better equipped to gather relevant facts, develop persuasive arguments, and effectively negotiate during MUN sessions.

Key areas to focus your research on include:

• Geography – Utilize a map to locate your country and examine its size, terrain, and surrounding regions. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the country's geographical characteristics.
• Political System – Determine whether your country operates as a democracy, a pseudo-democracy, or a dictatorship. Take note of the ruling party if it is a democracy.
• Data – Gather essential data about your country, such as its population size, primary languages spoken, demographic breakdown, and income levels typically determined by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• Current Affairs – Stay updated with the latest national news relevant to your assigned country. Look out for recent changes in laws, policies, or any noteworthy developments.

By immersing yourself in these aspects of your Country Profile, you will lay a solid foundation for your MUN preparation and be better prepared to engage in fruitful discussions during the conference.

2. Go Over the Study Guide

The Study Guide, also referred to as the Background Guide, serves as a comprehensive resource containing essential information about the topic that your MUN committee will be addressing. By thoroughly reading the study guide, you will gain a clear understanding of the issue at hand and the scope of the discussions that will take place. It is important to note that these guides are typically prepared by the chair and vice-chair of your respective committees.

3. Know more about your committee

The most important details about your group should be in your background guide. If it doesn't give you a full picture, a quick look at the Wikipedia page should help you get a better idea of what's going on.  Your goal is to find out what the committee's goals are, what it's doing now, and what it's done in the past (especially in relation to the current plan). Also, knowing what your MUN group is supposed to do will help you understand what it can and can't do.

4. Comprehend your country’s position

While pondering over on how to prepare for MUN, it is crucial to extensively read news articles to gain insights into the policies that your assigned nation may adopt and understand its stance on various issues. For instance, if you are representing India, consider India's positions on topics such as the environment, terrorism, poverty, corruption, and war.

Even if the conference topic does not explicitly mention your country's connection to the subject matter, answering these questions will help you comprehend your country's diplomatic position regarding the ongoing agenda.

5. Write your introduction.

Each person who goes to a MUN must give an opening speech. If there aren't any opening speeches at a meeting, your first speech will do the same thing. Most of the time, the opening speech lasts between 60 and 120 seconds. In this speech, you should talk about how your country sees the situation and what can be done to solve the problems your group is discussing. Your speech should include details and specific plans for how to fix the problem. Last but not least, your solutions should be good for your country.

6. Review the rules of the meeting.

Before you go over the question on how to prepare for MUN, you should know at least the basics of the Rules of Procedure. The best way to learn ROPs is to use them. Even though you don't have to know the ROP by heart, it is helpful to know how delegates work and how to pass a motion.

7. Draft a resolution

A resolution document is a list of policy suggestions from your block. The most popular types are preambulatory clauses and operational clauses. For a resolution to be considered a real draft resolution, it must be written in a certain way.

MUNs are surely a lot of fun, but your chances of enjoying yourself at the conference are higher if you are prepared. Don't forget to utilize social media, websites, and the simplest opportunity to make friends with hundreds of individuals who share your interests.