types of speeches in mun

3.2 Making Speeches

Back to Handbook Contents page.

Back to Unit 3: Foundational Skills.

Speeches are an integral part of your performance and experience at a Model United Nations conference. They express your policy and introduce your presence to the body. This article explains why we give speeches in Model UN, how to prepare a Model UN speech and how to use diplomatic language.

For a funny look at how to prepare, read our BuzzFeed list here .

a. What is a Speech in Model United Nations?

As discussed in the section on Rules of Procedure , the discussion of your committee topic happens in two ways, formal debate and caucusing. Formal debate is conducted according to clear rules that govern who is able to speak and when. The chair of the committee will ask which countries would like to speak and add them to a “speakers list”, which is usually prominently displayed on a blackboard, flipchart or projector. The chair will invite a representative the country at the top of the list to come to the front of the room, or to a microphone, and deliver a speech outlining their policy on the committee topic. The speech is time-limited – depending on the size of your committee, speeches may be 30 to 90 seconds long. The chair of your committee will probably have a gavel, that s/he will tap when you have 10 or 15 seconds left and bang when your time is up. You must stop speaking once your allotted time has elapsed.

b. Purpose of Speeches

The main purpose of a speech in a Model UN committee is to introduce and talk about your policy ( using your 3PP ), signaling to other delegations where you stand on the committee topic. In a large committee, you may only get one chance to speak before the entire group, so it is important that your speech delivers a concise, compelling and memorable case for your country’s position. In smaller committees you may get more than one chance to speak, which allows you to comment on the progress of the discussion, the ideas that your country agrees with and the direction you think the committee should go. Making multiple good speeches establishes you as a significant player within the committee, so make sure to raise your placard whenever your chair asks if their is anyone who wishes to be added to the speakers list. When you are finished speaking, immediately send a note up the chair asking to be added to the speakers list again. Within reason, you benefit from being in front of the entire committee as much as possible.

Please note that the speech should try to move the discussion forward in a productive manner. Therefore, try to be as clear as possible about where your country would like the discussion to move, while also being diplomatic. Your speech is not an opportunity to try out your comedic material, start a fight or call out another state. At all times, you must conduct yourself with diplomatic decorum .

c. How to Write Your Speech

Students often feel unsure about how to write their speeches. The good news is that by following a structure carefully, and drawing on your position paper , you can write a compelling speech without much difficulty. A good speech — in its most basic form — grabs the audience’s attention, delivers your main point or “ask” and conveys why this is important. This can be represented as a simple “beginning, middle and end” structure:

Beginning of Your Speech

• Grab the audience’s attention, perhaps with a quote from your Head of State or a surprising statistic that dramatizes the main problem or question your committee is considering (perhaps drawn from your position paper ).
• Explain in a sentence how this quote or statistic relates to the global community’s concern for your committee topic.

Middle of Your Speech

• In one or two sentences, provide context and background (using statistics and other evidence) on the problem, showing how responses so far have not adequately dealt with it and why the committee needs to act.
• Introduce your country’s policy recommendations, using a 3PP . This is the most important piece of your speech.

End of Your Speech

• Reinforce why the urgency and importance of the problem
• Briefly restate your policy and hope for a common solution
• Close with a compelling quote from your country’s president or foreign minister (or a UN official) relating to the topic

Note that you can shorten or lengthen your speech around this structure depending on the time available for speeches in your committee. However, you should never cut the policy recommendation (3PP) , since this is the primary purpose of your speech — you want other states to know where your delegation stands and what you are calling on the committee to do.

You should spend some time before the conference preparing your first speech, but once the committee begins you will probably need to writing speeches “on the fly.” These more improvised speeches should address the specific issues that are emerging out of the committees discussions. Again, they should focus on your state’s policy positions on the topics of discussion. To prepare these more extemporaneous speeches rely on the above structure and information from your position paper research.

One of the Pace University New York City head delegates has prepared a useful “cheat sheet” to print out and take to your committee session to help you write speeches quickly. Click here to download it.

d. How to Practice Your Speech

Almost everyone has nerves when it comes to public speaking, but you can manage these by preparing well, memorizing the information in your position paper (perhaps use flash cards) and practicing. Run through your first speech with a timer, perhaps in front of your delegation partner or a head delegate . Ask them to give you gentle and constructive feedback. Practice giving extemporaneous speeches by having your delegation partner come up with a topic and speaking about it for a minute. Support each other and share useful quotes, information and statistics within the class, particularly among those who will be representing the same country as you. Remember that the head delegates , senior delegates and the faculty advisor are also available to meet with you and help if you feel unsure or uncomfortable with public speaking.

e. How to Present Your Speech

The following is a list of things to keep in mind when presenting your speech:

Posture and Gestures

• Stand confidently
• Move around only for dramatic effect
• Feel free to make hand gestures, but avoid pointing with or wagging your finger
• Avoid slouching or fidgeting. If fidgeting helps to manage your anxiety, perhaps hold a pencil behind your back, or move your toes inside your shoes, to keep it out of sight.
• Don’t touch or flip your hair
• Don’t cover your mouth with your hands

Eye Contact

• When you begin, make eye contact with your chair and the committee
• Look up from your notes, don’t simply read them
• If necessary, find a spot to look at in the back of the room

Facial Expressions

• If you look bored, people will tune you out
• You should take your topic seriously and show that through your demeanor and expressions

Speech Aids

• Use note cards if needed, but avoid a piece of paper, which might rattle if your hands are shaking
• Use your notes to enhance your speech, not as a crutch
• Do not read your notes word for word
• Speak clearly, as your audience needs to understand what you are saying
• Maintain diplomatic decorum
• Practice difficult words (Country names, president names, program titles, words with many syllables)
• Speak slowly; don’t try to cram a large amount of information into one speech, as you need to get your point across in 30-90 seconds.
• Practice your volume. Everyone needs to hear you, but don’t yell. You can vary your volume for dramatic effect
• Use variety, pitch, and rate wisely! Don’t start too fast or speed up at the end. When saying a quote or your 3PP, SLOW DOWN!
• Don’t be intimidated by the ten-second tap by the chair
• Be clear on what you are trying to communicate.
• Your goal is to PERSUADE, not to just state your policy or 3PP
• Think carefully about who you are speaking to — who do you need to persuade? You usually don’t need to persuade everyone — focus on those who are undecided, the “maybe” votes
• Think about why your speech matters — this is your moment to speak, don’t waste it. How will the committee be affected by your speech? You will hear hundreds of speeches, make yours stand out.
• Have confidence in your topic and policy
• Make sure you always have sources to back up your information
• Leaving an impression says you are trustworthy, unique, competent and open to negotiation.

Katie James, Elena Marmo, Michael Zona and Matthew Bolton for Pace University, 2013. Version 3.0 BETA. For information, permissions or corrections, contact Dr. Matthew Bolton, [email protected]

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The Art of the Perfect Opening Speech

Written by Pierre-Jean

Mun articles | strategy, july 16, 2019, action | argumentation | debate | hook | model un speech | opening speech | point | public speaking | rhetoric | speakers list | speech delivery.

That’s it. The moment you waited for. It could be your first conference or your tenth, but the first time you ever address your committee will always be a highly nerve wracking, and equally critical, moment for even the most experienced delegates.

Public speaking is a staple of Model UN.  To become an expert speaker, every delegate has to ask themselves the same question: How can I improve my skills, and therefore my performance, while in committee?

First of all, you have to differentiate the two categories of committee speeches: the persuasive speech versus and the opening speech.

Opening speeches usually range from one minute to one minute and thirty seconds long and are presented to the entire committee.  Their main purpose is for a delegate to present their specific position’s stance on the topic of the committee.

The framework for any public speech has remained the same since the rise and fall of Roman Republic: you will have to present a hook, a point related to the topic and a final call to action:

Any type of hook must tackle the ongoing issue in committee, while creating a keen interest for future policies and actions a delegate would like to take. You can choose from a large panel of rhetorical tools such as rhetorical questions, metaphors, jarring statistics, or sound bites to make your speeches more interesting to listen to. Other ideas could include an assertion or a reference to a striking historical event.

After the hook, the next step is to focus on the point you want to make. The point should account for the largest portion of your speaking time: this is your chance to change the flow of debate and establish yourself as a critical contributor to committee. Assert your position’s policy or opinion on the topic of committee. Be sure to use evidence or examples when discussing what your country or representative believes: whether you want it or not, you cannot throw the point you want to make without emphasis on facts. Tactics one could use include using statistics or comparisons, appealing to factual evidence, and using quotes from public officials to emphasize your country’s conviction on its particular stance. 

Never “echo the sentiments” of a previous delegate; never regurgitate the same stale opinions that have already been voiced by all the speeches that came before you. Contribute something new: voice a perspective that hasn’t been represented yet, point out a weak spot in your opponent’s argumentation style, play the devil’s advocate, or bring up a new subsidiary issue within the topic of debate.

III. Action

What you will end your speech on is your call to action: do not reveal your entire set of solutions, but instead make it what closes the deal. The call to action aims to present how you will vote in future caucuses, as well as make it clear to those in committee who you will side with. By crafting an effective hook, using strong evidence, making your opinions clear to the committee, your opening speech can quickly make you the most coveted ally for others to have before the first caucus even begins. 

At the end of the day, your opening speech will not make or break your ability to win an award in your committee. It’s an opportunity to make a good first impression and set yourself ahead of others for the first few committee sessions; that being said, putting too much pressure on the first speech can result in stuttering or a lack of confidence. The best, and only, thing to do is to give your first speech with confidence and a solid structure in order to start your committee performance off on a strong note.

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Model United Nations (MUN)- All you need to know

by Dhruv Srivastava July 22, 2020

Interested in MUN? Here’s how it works.

Debate, Politics and Global issues . If any of these 3 things appeal to you as a teen, then go ahead and read this article because Model United Nations is the best thing that can ever happen to you!

• What is an MUN Conference
• The Committees and Agendas
• The Procedure

1. What is an MUN Conference?

2. the committee and agenda.

• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
• The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
• Disarmament and International Security Council (DISEC) 
• The International Court of Justice (ICJ)
• World Health Organization (WHO)

3. Roles 

A) the delegate.

If you are the delegate of a nation, these are the things you need to do :

• Firstly, you should research on the topic that the committee will be discussing. You should know the topic in and out. In particular, you should look at the countries involved, shocking statistics and the timeline of the event. This will help you with debate throughout the conference as you will have a very good idea about everything being discussed.
• Know your committee well . As mentioned before, each committee is different. Delegates must be aware of their committees history, procedure and participating nations . These things will prevent you, the delegate from being lost during the conference. 

• Now, you will have to study the country you are representing. Through research, you should find out the allies and enemies of the nation . This is important because you should know who you should support or oppose as the conference progresses.
• You should also know the local problems and other important pieces of information about the country you represent. This is important  because other delegates may try and attack your country using arguments about these problems.
• Finally, you will need to learn about the assigned country’s stance on the issue. This is perhaps the most important thing to do. Delegates need to know in detail about their country’s stance on the issue. This is where the research on allies/enemies and the topic will come in handy as both those things make it very easy to figure out the stance.
• Moreover, you should also look into past actions of the country regarding the issue (treaties signed, military actions, humanitarian aid etc)

• The main point of an MUN is to debate with other delegates about the concerned agenda. This is why preparing proper speeches is of utmost importance .
• Delegates must prepare different types of speeches (explained a little later) which are relevant, persuasive and obviously, matching the country’s stance . This is a skill that you need to develop if you wish to do well.
• Also, as the delegate is not representing himself or herself, they cannot use personal pronouns (e.g., “you”, “I” or “we”). 
• An MUN conference finishes when delegates are able to pass a resolution through voting. This is what the conference was called for in the first place (remember, we are simulating what goes on in the UN). This is why it is extremely beneficial if you as a delegate start to think of solutions to the issue even before you come to the conference.
• However, as explained earlier, it is of vital importance that you keep in mind your country’s stance and past actions as their solutions cannot contradict any of those, at any condition. 

b) The Chairperson

• The Chair is the judge and the moderator of the conference at the same time.
• The Chair needs to make sure tha t proper procedures are duly followed.
• Chairs are also meant to regulate caucuses (explained later), selecting the delegates speaking along with conducting voting.
• Furthermore, they also take the roll call (which is like attendance for the delegates) along with passing the resolution with the most votes . 

4. Procedure of Model United Nations

• Firstly, delegates need to explain to the committee about their opinion of the topic.
• Next, delegates must debate amongst each other about the issue and its impacts.
• Post this the delegates move on to making alliances and writing resolutions.

a) HMUN/UNA-USA Procedure

• General Speakers List (GSL)
• Moderated Caucus
• Unmoderated Caucus
• Presentation of Draft Resolutions
• Voting and Passing of Resolution

b) The Hague International MUN (THIMUN) Procedure

• Lobbying and Resolution Merging
• Discussion of Resolutions
• HMUN Hyderabad (Organized by Harvard University, USA)
• WIMUN Agra (Organized by The World Federation of United Nations Associations)
• IIMUN (Organized by India’s International Movement to Unite Nations)

Written by Dhruv Srivastava

Dhruv is currently an IB high school student. He loves to write and talk about world history and global politics. With an interest in cricket and books, he loves the outdoors but doesn’t mind reading for hours on end. He is also a competitive speedcuber and a member of the World Cube Association (solves the 3x3 Rubik's Cube in less than 12 seconds). Dhruv lives in Mumbai, and loves travelling and learning more about the different people and cultures in the world.

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What is a Moderated Caucus?

"Mods" are timed, formal sessions of debate that focus on solving a small piece of the larger issue. Use mods early on in the conference to flesh out and debate different ideas. Ex. You could hold a moderated caucus on the smaller subtopics of the duration or logistics. Delegates from different countries will present their views on the issue and help you identify potential allies - countries with a similar stance as yours.

In Model UN, we discuss topics with the aim of solving issues. Moderated caucuses give us a structured way of discussing solutions to the issue at hand:

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How to Answer Questions in MUN

It is not enough to know how to ask good questions, you also need to know how to answer questions properly! Just as there are strategies to ask questions in MUN, there are also strategies to answer such questions. The following guide will teach how to answer the different types of Model United Nations question you can encounter quickly, strategically and effectively.

• Rules for Answering Questions
• Types of Answers

Introduction to Asking Questions in MUN

In Model United Nations, a question can come at any time. Questions can be asked as part of a speech, during General Speakers List (GSL) or moderated caucus speech. Stand-alone questions can be asked as a Point of Information or while on a panel of authors. In all of these cases, your answers, or lack thereof, could reflect poorly on you, or your entire block.

 If you are not properly prepared to answer a question when you are put on the stop this could reflect poorly on you as a delegate, or your entire block. This guide will help you come prepared so you have the tools to answer your next MUN question effectively.

When answering a question, always be sure to:

• Answer the actual question
• Answer as quickly as possible to the fullest
• Bring the focus back to yourself
• Don’t strengthen your case
• Refute the other side

4 Rules for Answering MUN Questions

1. answer the actual question.

Failing to answer a question will be noticed and remembered. Unless there is a better reason to completely avoid answering, try to at least give a partial answer. That should be enough to not be seen as someone who does not know the answer or cannot defend their policy.

2. Answer Quickly and Completely – to the best of your ability

While you are answering a question it is about the person asking, and not about yourself. To move on, take advantage of the new speakers’ time. Try to get them to finish as quickly as possible. It goes without saying that you should only do this if you finished answering their question already. Hard questions should get more time, as fully answering them will serve you better than partially answering. If possible, try to answer with a combination of facts and logic.

3. Bring the Focus Back to Yourself

Once answered, spend the rest of the time developing your case, and repeating your important points. If you are answering a Question to Support, your answer should be about your block. If it is a Question to Challenge, it is likely that your case will need strengthening. If it is a Question to Waste Time, saying the question is irrelevant, or giving a token answer is sufficient, before getting back to what is important. In all cases, the important part is making sure that your ideas are fresh in everyone’s minds by the time your answer is finished.

4. Minimally Engage with Parts That Don’t Help You

Be strategic. If the answer to the question does not strengthen your case, or refute the other side, you should give it as little time as possible. This is easier to do when a delegate asks you multiple questions in one POI. In such cases, you can choose where to focus and where to engage. Remember that the answer time is yours – so use it to your advantage.

6 Types of Answers to MUN Questions 

1 – the direct answer.

A direct and factual answer is especially good for Questions to Clarify and Questions to Support, but can be used for all types of questions when relevant. This does not mean your answer cannot be strategic, or that you must confess your motives, it simply means that actually answering the question will serve you better than an attempt at diversion. Try to use this type of answer when your opponents are challenging you, as it is the most concrete way to defend your resolution.

2 – Calling Out of Context

Especially for Questions to Waste Time, calling out the question on irrelevance can be a legitimate tactic. However, sometimes it is just as effective to pretend the question was better than it was. In such cases, it is suggested to reword it, answer it quickly, and bring the focus back to yourself.

3 – Partial Answer and Pivot

Especially when asked two or more questions, sometimes choosing the most convenient one and answering it can be the most effective. In these cases, answer enough to be considered a legitimate answer, and move on to what you want to discuss.

4 – Stalling

Sometimes the question you are asked required research or more time to put together a position. In these cases, giving an unclear answer, or answer which contains a question in it, might be the best option while collecting your thoughts. If possible, you can give a better answer later.

5 – Side Stepping

Politicians are especially associated with the trait of avoiding direct answers. When asked a difficult question that would have a negative answer, avoidance can be a useful tactic. This can be done by asking a different question within the speech and answering it yourself. Another option is to draw attention to a positive aspect of the topic. Convincing Model UNers with this method rarely works, but if the real answer is incriminating this may be the best option.

6 – Refusing to Answer

When all else fails, sometimes you may have to simply refuse to answer. This is extremely rare at a MUN conference, but sometimes the best option may be simply saying, “I am not answering”.

Answering questions effectively does not become second nature overnight. Improving your answering skills will take time, and you should accept that not every answer will be perfect. As seen in our article on asking questions in MUN, a good question will usually have a purpose behind it. While doing your best to answer a question, remember that most questions do not have completely right answers. You also might not have enough time to answer every part of the question in one speech.

Part of being a MUNer is thinking on your feet. Know what questions are coming and that those questions will need answers. Stand strong and answer those questions as best as you can (except for when you choose not to answer at all). Even an imperfect answer can go a long way towards achieving your block’s goals. Knowing how to answer questions can be really useful in the life we live outside of MUN as well!

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