AHS Model UN

Sponsor: Mr. Wahl

Research Tips

from the New Mexico Model United Nations Handbook

A basic maxim of Model UN participation is: the more you know, the more fun you will have. Time and time again this maxim is borne out by the comments from novice and experienced delegates during and after the sessions. Thus, research – of your country, its philosophy of foreign policy, its specific stands on the issues of debate, and the views of other countries with regard to the issues – is a cornerstone of the Model UN experience.

Researching a country is like researching a role for a movie or a play. The more you know about what makes your character tick, what motivates him/her, what s/he cares most about, the easier it is to act the role. Get to know your country. Keep in mind that its history and culture are as important as its economy and politics for you to learn its basic philosophy of foreign affairs. Click here for more research tips.

Country & Topic Research Resources

Databases

For current, reliable news sources, check out the Current Events Pathfinder.

Gale Virtual Reference Library is a collection of academic reference eBooks for multidisciplinary research. Use the Search box to search all e-books, or select “Nation and World” from the Subjects list on the right side of the page.

Gale in Context: High School offers contextual information on a broad range of topics, people, places, and events. Find articles from reference books, newspapers, and other sources, as well as video and audio files.

Gale Databases offers articles from newspapers, magazine, reference books, and video and audio files. InfoTrac Newsstand is a collection of thousands of national and international newspapers.

CultureGrams contains up-to-date, concise cultural and statistical snapshots of every country recognized by the United Nations; features include video clips and slideshows, a worldwide photo gallery, and interviews.