Caveat Academy course · Grades 8 to 12

Model United Nations

A semester course that gets you ready for a Model UN conference: how the real UN decides, researching your country, rules of procedure, speeches, negotiation and resolution writing. Six modules at your own pace, with a check in every lesson and a certificate at the end.

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$19one-time · every device you sign in on
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Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the Middle school course library, $79 for 28 items.

6 modules · 18 lessonsabout 12 hours$19

Six modules, eighteen lessons

Each module ends with a practice set that tracks mastery, an explain-it-back prompt, a short written response and a module exam. The final opens when every module is proficient; passing it earns a certificate with a verification code.

  1. Module 1: How the United Nations works

    Explain the UN's purposes and principal organs and analyze Security Council and General Assembly votes, including the veto and two-thirds rules.

    • Why the United Nations exists
    • The six principal organs
    • The Security Council and the General Assembly in action
    about 2.1 h

  2. Module 2: Becoming a delegate

    Research an assigned country's interests, blocs and voting record and write a position paper with specific, realistic proposals.

    • What Model UN is
    • Researching your country
    • Writing a position paper
    about 2.1 h

  3. Module 3: Rules of procedure

    Apply rules of procedure: roll call, speakers' lists, moderated and unmoderated caucuses, points, motions and vote thresholds.

    • Roll call, agenda and the speakers' list
    • Caucuses and motions
    • Points and voting
    about 2.1 h

  4. Module 4: Speaking in committee

    Deliver an opening speech and respond to questions and rebuttals using sourced evidence and the three appeals while avoiding fallacies.

    • The opening speech
    • Yields, questions and responses
    • Persuasion and evidence
    about 2.1 h

  5. Module 5: Negotiation and resolutions

    Negotiate from interests rather than positions and draft, amend and merge resolutions in correct format.

    • Negotiating and building blocs
    • Writing a draft resolution
    • Amendments, merging and passing
    about 2.1 h

  6. Module 6: Global issues in committee

    Evaluate UN tools for peace and security, sustainable development and human rights and use precise terms such as refugee and non-refoulement.

    • Peace and security
    • Sustainable development
    • Human rights and humanitarian action
    about 2.1 h

Try it before you start

This is how every lesson works: step through a worked example at your own pace, then answer a check and get the reason right away. Nothing here is saved; the course keeps your progress.

Module 5 · Writing a draft resolution

Worked example: one preambulatory and two operative clauses

  1. Recognizing that girls in many low-income countries are less likely than boys to finish secondary school,

A lesson check from each module

The checks need JavaScript turned on. The course itself works the same way.

What you get

Academics · Middle SchoolAlso for Academics · High School$19 · included with the Academy pass and Whole-school licenses

What you finish with
A semester of Model UN preparation: you can explain how the General Assembly and Security Council decide, research a country and write a position paper, use the rules of procedure from roll call to voting, give an opening speech and handle questions, negotiate from interests, and draft and amend a resolution in correct format. Passing the final earns a Caveat certificate of completion.
Who it is for
Students in grades 8 to 12 preparing for their first or next Model UN conference, joining a school club, or interested in diplomacy, law and international affairs; homeschool families who want a complete civics and public-speaking unit. Conference rules vary, so read your conference's rules alongside the course.
Format
An online self-paced course: 6 modules and 18 lessons with worked examples you reveal step by step, 144 practice and exam items (multiple choice, numeric, fill-in and ordering), an explain-it-back prompt and a rubric-checked short response in every module, module exams with one retake, a 24-question final and a certificate with a verification code. About 12 hours in all; works on a phone or a computer.
Access
$19 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the course opens once you are signed in with it. Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Also in the Middle school course library ($79) and the Academics Suite pass ($149), and 1 more bundle. Progress is saved in this browser on this device, and the certificate page lets you download your record.
Where it lives
The Middle School space in Caveat Academics; also listed for the High School space in Caveat Academics (the same course serves the high school Model United Nations title).
Support
Access, a receipt, a refund or a correction to the course: team@caveatacademic.com.

How it works

  1. Open the course and start Module 1. Each lesson takes about 25 to 35 minutes; two or three a week finishes the course in about a semester.
  2. Answer the checks as you read. Every answer shows the reason, and a miss links you back to the lesson that covers it.
  3. Finish each module with its practice set and exam. Proficient on every module opens the final; 70 percent passes it.
  4. Print or download your certificate and record from the certificate page.

Start the course

Sources and accuracy

The lessons are original writing by Caveat Academic Services. Facts were checked against these free, open references, which are also good places to read further.

  1. United Nations, Charter of the United Nations (full text): un.org
  2. United Nations Security Council, voting system and working methods: un.org/securitycouncil
  3. UN Digital Library, resolutions and voting records: digitallibrary.un.org
  4. UNHCR, the 1951 Refugee Convention and key terms: unhcr.org
  5. UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals: sdgs.un.org

Model United Nations is a self-paced course from Caveat Academic Services. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the United Nations or any Model UN conference. It follows the sequence of a typical one-semester class but does not replace a school course or award credit. Rules of procedure differ between conferences; the course teaches a common pattern. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.