Journal+Details

Philosophy of the Journal
Model United Nations is a research activity. Good debates are the product of good research. In the MUN program, students learn how to become good public speakers. They learn the procedures for a fair debate. They also learn about the country they represent. Yet, students seem to learn the least about the actual work and functioning of the United Nations. One of the goals of this conference is to develop the ability of students to learn about the work of the United Nations.

In every conference, the debate chairs are the true leaders. The debate chairs set the agenda for the conference by choosing the actual debate topics. Debate chairs also use a wiki to present the background information for each debate topic. The chairs support delegates in their research by leading them to important internet resources related to the topic. in fact, delegates will spend many hours working with the debate chairs, both at the conference and online. Debate chairs, therefore, need to be prepared to lead through example. They must be knowledgeable about their topic and able to engage delegates in online discussions prior to the conference.


 * The journal will be an opportunity for potential debate chairs to show that they can**
 * 1) **pick a unique topic that is relevant to the current work of the United Nations,**
 * 2) **locate internet resources and share them via links in their journal, and**
 * 3) **communicate the background to the topic succinctly, in their own words, and using the rules of written English.**

The journal is considered the most important part of the application process. Assuming that you are chosen as a debate chair, it is perfectly acceptable to use the topic in your journal as the topic for the fall conference. On the other hand, if you wish to change to a new topic after being chosen as a debate chair, that is also acceptable.

General Procedures for Creating a Journal
A sample journal, written by Mr. Robinson, can be seen here.
 * Each journal will appear on its own page. These pages will be linked to the page called "Directory of Applicants," which is listed on the left hand side of this page. Explicit directions for carrying out these steps can be found below.
 * The choice of topic is left up to each applicant. West Lake MUN consists of four forums: General Assembly, ECOSOC, Security Council and an Advisory Panel to the Security Council. Applicants should find a topic that relates to the forum in which they hope to serve. Do not choose a topic for your journal that has already been chosen by another debate chair.
 * There is no required format for the journal page. Applicants are free to develop it as needed.
 * The journal does not need to be a complete product before being posted. Feel free to edit your page as many times as you wish. You can start by simply putting a few notes and links on the page, and then adding text and formatting as you narrow the topic.
 * Keep the philosophical goals (see above) at the front of your mind as you develop your page. A strong journal will contain good research and good writing. Adding pictures, graphics, and fancy formatting to your journal page will not help you if the research and writing are weak. A good writer is a good reader, and vice versa. Good research is often inspired by a love of reading and writing.
 * As a member of this wiki, you will be able to edit any journal page on the wiki. However, you should only edit the journal page that you have created.
 * Use the discussion pages for communication. Whenever possible, avoid sending e-mail and even private wiki-mail. The discussion feature lets all members of the wiki read your question and the answer you receive. Other people will learn something by seeing your question and the answer. Think of the wiki as a conference room; we are all present, all listening, and all working together.
 * Feel free to seek advice about your journal. MUN is a collaborative activity, and you are encouraged to speak with your teachers, friends, parents, and others as your research your topic and develop your journal page. Also, by developing your journal over time, you will show a true collaborative spirit, since your work will guide others while also being informed by their efforts.

How to Create a Page on this Wiki

 * 1) Sign in to wikispaces and locate this wiki - http://westlake10chairs.wikispaces.com
 * 2) Click on the words "New Page" at the top of the left hand column.
 * 3) In the dialog page that opens up, enter a name for your page. The name should be short but related to the topic of your journal. You do not need to enter tags.
 * 4) Click the "Create Page" button at the right.
 * 5) You will now to taken to your page and placed in edit mode. You can begin typing immediately. The Editor Bar at the top allows you to do a small amount of formatting with the text, such as making text bold, italicized, underlined, etc. You can also create bullet lists, links, and tables, as well as add files. More directions for most of these items will be posted below.
 * 6) When you are finished editing your page, click the "Save" button on the right end of the Editor Bar.
 * 7) To find you page again, click on the "Manage Wiki" link at the top left of this page, then choose the "Pages" icon in the "Content" section of the manage wiki page. You will see a list of all pages on the wiki, including yours. Click on your page name.
 * 8) Go to the page called "Directory of Applicants" and add your name in the table found there. Also, add a link to your journal page. The instructions can be found below the table. The"Directory of Applicants" page will serve as the Table of Contents for the journals; all applicants will be able to access their journal through this page.

If you have any questions regarding the material on this page, please click on the discussion tab above and post a discussion. Your question can be answered by the MUN conference director or even by another debate chair. Remember, your question might be someone else's question. In other words, if you have a question, you are probably not the only confused person. Asking your question in a discussion forum will benefit the entire group.