Model United Nations 2011
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES: cognitive, knowledge, understanding, abilities, habits and attitudes
This is the four step instructional sequence of the class year around:
• Introduction. Analyzing themes areas such as Globalization, Population, Ethnicity, Political Geography, Geopolitics of Energy, International Law and Organizations, War and Peace in World Politics, to settle a knowledge base of International Relations. Additionally we will investigate the relevance of various geographic concepts to human development and challenges under the constant dispute between Globalization and Cultural Diversity: Population, migration, languages, religions, ethnicity, political geography, development, agriculture, industry, settlements, urban patterns, resources issues
• Preparation. Students will research the United Nations and its work, the government, policies and interests of a U.N. member state that students will represent, and the global issues on the agenda. They will deeply research their chosen or given countries and how it feels about the crisis that we will be discussing to play the role of a delegate in a convincing way. The research and study will lead to the development of “position paper” and the negotiating strategy and tactics of the assigned country for the simulation.
• As part of the program we will have a field trip to New York City to visit the Headquarter of United Nations.
• Participation. At this stage students become ambassadors of the assigned or chosen countries and they develop skills associated with the MUN experience: public speaking, negotiating and consultation, listening, conflict resolution, and organization and management of time and resources.
• Evaluation. To provide reflection and thought we will evaluate the results in steps 1, 2 and 3. Participants will be reflective of their own learning and experience.
• Some of MUN students will participate in a conference where they will travel to a College or University and then have a two days program where they represent a country delegate in sessions of Model of Security Council or General Assembly of the United Nations.
The happy and successful MUN student participating will:
• Become Inquirers and researchers as they investigate multilateral issues from a chosen or given national perspective showing independence in learning;
• Be Knowledgeable exploring concepts and issues that have local and global significance.
• Acquire negotiation skills as they role-play the representative of a specific country:
• Develop speech making, public speaking and debating skills as they pronounce their assigned country’s stand on various issues:
• Be caring and engaged in consensus building considering and respecting the views and opinions of other participants representing others member states;
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED MATERIALS
1. Workbook: Lena Granberg and Glenda Tesalona ed. Global Classrooms: Peacekeeping Unit. 1st (New York: United Nations Association of the United States of America, 2001)
2. Students are required to bring to class a binder every day, which they have to keep updated.
3. Presentations throughout the year will include physical appearance (foamboard) and the technology (powerpoint, imovie, movie maker, etc).
COURSE POLICIES AND EDUCATOR’S EXPECATIONS
Grading
A. Quizzes 10 %
B. Papers (Essays, position paper) 30 %
C. Class participation 40 %
D. Presentations 20 %
Classroom participation
Reading assignments, participation, good listening, , effort and respect for the other students and general conduct will all be taken into account in the grading process and will be daily controlled.
Homework
One point will be subtracted from the overall semester average for each missed assignment. In the case of an excused absence, assignments are due on the first day back. Students will be required to remain after school to finish incomplete homework assignments handed out on the day of the absence (they can consider this as extra help).
Presentations
Papers and presentations not submitted on time will be marked down one letter grade per day late. In case of an excused absence, papers and presentations are due on the first day back.
In order to pass the course, all assigned work must be completed.
Academic Honesty
Any presentation, assignment, paper, quiz or exam found to be copied from another student or otherwise plagiarized, will not be accepted, nor may be made up for credit. The penalty for academic dishonesty is described in the Student Handbook and will be applied both to the borrower and the lender of the work in question.
When using sources is important to cite author or authors to protect intellectual propriety.
Study Skills
An average of 20-25 minutes dedication, 6 days a week to complete homework, to review contents from previous classes, to fulfill presentations; taking effective notes in class (copying from the board); be ready for starting the class with all your material on the desk; being focused and good listeners in class; building and memorizing International Relations vocabulary using context clues to learn word meaning (definition, synonym and antonym).