C ONFERENCE P REPARATION
Notebooks
Conference notebooks provide the basis of the MUN portion of your grade within the class. Remember that you can ask a Novice Trainer or more experienced delegate for assistance at any time while compiling your notebook. Notebooks must be organized in a large 3-ring binder with 5 dividers. They will be accepted late, but a penalty will be assessed. Seniors participating in the club who are not getting a grade must complete position papers but are not required to complete a notebook.
What is a Notebook?
A notebook is a compilation of everything you have done to prepare for committee. It includes not only your position paper and the highlighted printouts of your best research, but also other elements that will be explained in more detail below. The completion of the notebook will give you a greater understanding of your research and of your topic and will prove to your advisors that you have prepared. Generally, delegates bring their notebook to committee and refer to it during the course of the conference.
Formatting
For every entry in your notebook created by you (position paper, works cited, country profile, etc.), you must use uniform headings at the top left corner of every page.
An example of a heading is:
Committee Name : Security Council
Topic : Nuclear Power in Iran
Country : United States of America
This allows advisors to identify different topics within a notebook and you to keep your work organized. Some conferences may have different requirements for your page headings, so be sure to double check before turning in position papers. However, please follow this format when turning in work to your advisors.
Components of the Notebook – Outline
The notebook should be divided into the following five sections with labeled dividers:
1.
Background Information (Topic Synopsis, any alternate formats, Country Profile)
2.
Position Paper (for each topic)
3.
Research (for each topic)
4.
Speech (for each topic)
5.
Reflection (turned in with the final version of your notebook on the first school day after a conference.

C ONFERENCE P REPARATION
Notebooks Continued
Components of the Notebook – Detail
Requirements differ by grade level. (9, 10N, 10A, 11/12)
Cover Page
Oftentimes, delegates decorate the cover page with pictures of their nation’s flag and other images that pertain to their topics, but this is optional. It must include…

Your name

The name of the conference

The country you represent


The committee you are in
The topic(s) you were assigned to research

The date of the conference
Section 1 – Background Preparation
This section covers the basics. It must include…

A copy of your topic synopses (all topics) provided by host school

Any other directions given by host school (i.e., position paper format specifications, conference schedule, etc.)

Copies of prewritten resolutions (if applicable)

A copy of your answered twenty questions (9, 10N)

A copy of your full country profile (9, 10N)

A copy of your advanced country profile (10A, 11, 12)
Section 2 – Position Paper

A copy of each of your position papers with footnotes (Chicago style)

A copy of each of your works cited pages (one for each topic OR combined)
Section 3 – Research

Hard copies of the best articles you used in researching your topic and writing your position paper

Main ideas should be highlighted and used as a reference during conference

Best Source Analyses (1, 2, or 3 per topic depending on your grade level) o 9= 1 analysis per topic; 10= 2 analyses per topic; 11/12= 3 analyses per topic
Section 4 – Speech

A one-minute general debate speech for each topic (9, 10)

A one-minute substantive debate speech for each topic (all)
Section 5 – Reflection

Only part of the notebook that you will turn in after the conference

3 Paragraph reflection on your conference experience that answers the following questions: o What were the highlights of the conference and your performance o What were the areas of concern? What do you need to work on for the next conference? Areas of personal growth o Overall impression and reflection and any awards you received:
 Research Award – 10 Extra Credit Points

Commendation – 3 Extra Credit Point

Outstanding – 5 Extra Credit Points

Best Delegate – 10 Extra Credit Points

C ONFERENCE P REPARATION
N OTEBOOK :
Advance Grading Rubric
Student Name: _______________________________________________________________
Committee: _________________________________________________________________
Country: ____________________________________________________________________
_____ /5 Cover Page
Student Name, Conference, Country, Committee, Topic(s), Date of Conference
_____ /10 Background Research
Topic Synopses
Advance Country Profile
_____ /5 Position Paper
Conference Position Paper Guidelines (if different from ET)
Format: Background, UN Involvement, Country Policy & Involvement, Possible
Solutions
Citations: Footnotes and Bibliography
_____ /10 Research
Best Source Analyses (for each topic); Hard copies of articles with main ideas highlighted
Staple Source Analysis to top of article(s)
_____ /10 Speeches & Roast
Pre-conference Roast Participation
Substantive – one-minute substantive debate speech for each topic
_____ /10 Reflection and Overall Notebook Presentation / Organization
_____ EC Awards From the Conference
Research – 10 points
Commendation – 3 points
Outstanding – 5 points
Best Delegate – 10 points
_____ /50 Total Points
Comments:

C ONFERENCE P REPARATION
N OTEBOOK :
Novice Grading Rubric
Student Name: _______________________________________________________________
Committee: _________________________________________________________________
Country: ____________________________________________________________________
_____ /5 Cover Page
Student Name, Conference, Country, Committee, Topic(s), Date of Conference
_____ /10 Background Research
Topic Synopses
Full Country Profile
Twenty Questions
_____ /5 Position Paper
Conference Position Paper Guidelines (if different from ET)
Format: Background, UN Involvement, Country Policy & Involvement, Possible
Solutions
Citations: Footnotes and Bibliography
_____ /10 Research
Best Source Analyses (for each topic); Hard copies of articles with main ideas highlighted
Staple Source Analysis to top of article(s)
_____ /10 Speeches & Roast
Pre-conference Roast Participation
General – one-minute general debate speech for each topic
Substantive – one-minute substantive debate speech for each topic
_____ /10 Reflection and Overall Notebook Presentation / Organization
_____ EC Awards From the Conference
Research – 10 points
Commendation – 3 points
Outstanding – 5 points
_____ /50 Total Points
Comments:
Best Delegate – 10 points

C ONFERENCE P REPARATION
Notebooks – Sample Cover Page
S
N
:
F
L
C
:
E
T
H
S
MUN C
C
:
U
K
C
:
UNICEF
T
(
):
C
L
& C
M
D
C
:
M
15-16, 2014