Homework due 1/19/12

1. Watch the BBC 1 minute news with an adult and record 2 news stories.

2. Start writing the 1st paragraph of your position paper. Read over the sample paper in your handbook (pg. 18) and the guidelines for writing the paper. Notice the format they use at the beginning. Use the exact format but with your own information. Come see me for help before Wednesday if you are not sure what to do. Please type this paragraph and print it out.

3. Prepare a 1 minute presentation for the group that covers this information:

your topic

what does your delegation (your country) think about this topic OR

how is your delegation involved to this topic

4. Don't forget to sell your dinner tickets and try to collect a gift certificate or gift for the raffle!

Homework due 1/12/12

1. Watch the BBC and record 2 news stories. Are there any updates on Syria, Yemen or the former president of Egypt, Mubarak?

2. Search "Permanent Mission UN Malaysia (or Bahamas)"

This will take you to the delegation web site of your country.

Find out who your delegate is.

For Malaysia, there is a LOT of information on this web page. Some of you will be using this web site for your position paper. Bookmark it!

Bahamas, this web site is brief, but you can download the guide to see if you learn any new information.

3. Both countries belong to the Non Aligned Movement. Find out what that is, and write a few sentences about it.

4. Write a paragraph about your topic that answers the following information:

what is your topic

what is the problem

who or what is causing the problem

what is to be done about it

find a statistic that is related to the problem

5. If I send you a link or give you an article, follow it or read, read, read! Any research you do now will make you happier when it's time to write your paper.

6. Decide where you will go to look for a donation to our raffle.

Good luck!

Homework due 1/5/12

1. Watch the BBC 1 minute news and record 2 news stories. Try to watch it one extra time to see if there is any new information about the stories you record.
2. Communicate with your backboard group, and bring in what is needed to the next meeting.
3. When I met with you at the last meeting, I gave most of you some new things to look up based on your background guide. Do the new research, and take notes on what you find.
4. Start researching this idea: how is my country related or involved in my topic for Model UN? Read, read, read as much as you can about your topic.
E-mail me if you have any questions.

Homework due 12/15/11

1. Watch the BBC 1 minute news and record 2 news stories.

2. Re-read your background guide. Try to finish all of the research questions at the end of the guide. E-mail me if you can't find something.

3. Be prepared to talk about your topic with me at our next meeting.

4. Communicate with your backboard group and come prepared for next week's meeting.

Homework due 12/10/11

All students:
1. Continue to watch the BBC and record your 2 news stories. We won't always have time to discuss all the news topics, but staying aware of current events helps you do well in Model UN in many different ways.
2. Come prepared to do the next stage of your project or backboard. Call or e-mail your group members to make reminders of what needs to get done at home.
3. Go to the MMUN web site, go to Conference Resources (along the top) and click on your committee.Please print out your background guide. Read through the guide, and highlight or take notes about your committee topic. Be prepared to answer questions about the information you read. Complete at least half of the questions at the end of your committee topic. Use the suggested web sites and your own personal research for help.

Homework due 12/1/11

Hi students,

Don't forget to bring me your Peace cards if you haven't already.

All students:

1. Watch the BBC and record 2 news stories

2. Go to this web site: http://www.mdgmonitor.org/index.cfm

This web site keeps track of how countries are doing in terms of the Millenium Development Goals. Remember when we talked about them?

On the left, click on "goal pages." (underneath the pictures of the goals).

Select 3 goals and click on them one at a time.

3. Using the interactive map, find out how your country is doing in terms of the goals. Pay attention to the color used on the map and scroll over your country to get a number. Compare this number to other countries in Africa or the Americas or Asia. Write a summary paragraph about these goals and your country's progress. Is your country doing well with these goals?

4. Find one image that could go on your country's backboards (pictures of Bahamanian food, picture of Malaysian traditional dress, a map, etc.). Make a color copy or drawing. Bring to the meeting.

** Come see me for help if you do not understand how the MDG monitor web site works.

Homework due 11/17/11

Hi students,

1. Watch the BBC and record at least 2 news stories. Listen for any news regarding Greece and financial crisis.

2. Finish drawing and coloring your cards. Look at them closely when you are done to make sure they are your best work. Don't forget to use Prismacolor pencils.

3. Keep your homework from last week handy. We will go over it next week. For this week, we will look more closely at either Malaysia or the Bahamas. Answer these questions:

a. When did your country join the UN?

b. When did country become a nation?

c. Did the UN help your country to become a nation?

d. If your country was a colony, give the mother country's name and explain the effect the change has had.

e. Is your country a large, medium or small contributor to the UN budget?

f. Is the UN involved in any way in the health issues of your country?

g. Who are your trading partners?

h. Which ones are considered adversaries (enemies)?

i. Which countries located near your country have had violent conflicts?

j. Have have these conflicts affected your country?

k. What percentage of its expenditures is spent on education?

l. What is the school expectancy rate?

m. Where is your country in the index of most developed/least developed nations?

The CIA Factbook is the best web site for answering these questions.

This web site may also be helpful:

http://geography.about.com/od/politicalgeography/a/unmembercountries.htm

Please come see me if you do not understand how to use the CIA Factbook site. Doing a news article search on the BBC will also help you understand what is going on in your region (Asia or the Caribbean).