Directors

About directing

Great directors are integral to the success of any Model UN conference. They ensure high standards of debate and work to create a comfortable and engaging committee environment. At AMUNC, directors need to be well versed in rules of procedure, as well as committed, reliable and approachable. Directing will add an entirely new perspective to your Model UN experience. More importantly, it's a lot of fun!

As a director you will be responsible for chairing one of AMUNC's committees and topics. Assistant directors play more of a supporting role in the committee, working with the directors to ensure everything runs smoothly, and stepping in to chair where needed.

Key dates

  • April 7. Briefing papers and biography due. Email your paper to committees@amunc.net.
  • March 22. Director registration opens.
  • April 18. Director registration and payment closes. You must register before this date or your spot at the conference will be reallocated.
  • July 10. Director training day. This is compulsory for all directors.

Materials and information

Directing, especially for the first time, can be a daunting experience. The AMUNC team will provide ample online support and training to ensure that you can be fully equipped and confident when you walk into your committee room. This section will be updated periodically with materials and content to help you prepare to be a director at AMUNC 2010. This will include information about writing a briefing paper, training guides, rules of procedure, quizzes, and activities.

Writing a briefing paper

Reminder: Briefing papers must be submitted to committees@amunc.net by April 7.

All directors are required to produce a briefing paper for the topic they are chairing at the conference.

Briefing papers are an important way of introducing delegates to the context and issues of the topics they will be discussing. A good briefing paper will help shape the direction of the debate, summarise key areas, and serve as a springboard from which delegates can conduct further research.

Your briefing paper should provide a solid overview of the topic, while leaving room for further investigation by delegates. Think about the briefing paper as an introductory essay or report. It allows delegates to gain a quick understanding of the debate, and points them to resources that will help them explore further.

Below is a brief summary of the the key components of writing a briefing paper. For a more detailed explanation, we recommend that you download the briefing paper writing guide and have a look at the sample papers. You can download these from the sidebar on the right. Remember, if you have any questions or problems, don't hesitate to contact the USG Committees, Bec Beard, or talk to your co-director.

Please note, briefing papers for the NGO Program, Press Gallery and Crisis Council will follow a slightly different pattern. The content and format of the paper will be discussed with relevant directors individually.

Briefing paper outline

It is best to break the briefing paper into segments. These include:

  • Introduction to the committee and its mandate.
  • A proper body, in which the topic is explored and key issues are outlined.
  • Conclusion and summary of points.
  • Recommended reading list.

Briefing paper flow

Tips for a better paper

  • Pose questions for delegates to consider. Note points that you wish delegates to focus on, both in preparation and during the session. Position these in the paper to coincide with the issue to which they refer.
  • Use case studies, images and graphs. These help to illustrate the information you are conveying by adding scope and clarity.

Style and format

  • Your briefing paper should be written in the style of a formal essay or academic journal article. It should be 1500 to 2000 words long.
  • Use headings and dot points.
  • Aim to provide a neutral exploration of issues, countries and solutions.
  • Submit your paper in Word format (.doc). It should be single spaced, in Times New Roman, with a 12 pt font size.


Plagiarism and referencing

Please be aware that plagiarism is a serious offence and shall not be tolerated at AMUNC. You should also make sure your sources are reliable and any facts and figures are double-checked. While Wikipedia is a great starting point to get a feel for a topic, it should be viewed as a door to further research, and not a primary reference.

Please make sure you refer to the briefing paper writing guide for information about citations and referencing.