United Nations

Simulation
Introduction: In this unit we have studied the beginnings of the Cold War, the tensions
that stemmed from it and the origin and function of the United Nations, now you will
apply what we have learned by completing a 3-part United Nations Simulation. A crisis
related to the material we have covered this unit will be presented bellow; it should
sound VERY familiar.
You will be split into groups and take the position of an assigned nation or office in the
United Nations. Make sure to take the point of view of the specific nation or office you are
assigned. Also, remember we are in the middle of the Cold War!

CRISIS!!!!!!
An American plane has captured several aerial photographs of
what appears to be Soviet missiles in the island of Cuba. The
United States sees this as a declaration of war by the Soviet
Union. The Soviet Union sees this as a way to protect one of its
closest allies from the threat of American invasion much like the
United States has stationed missiles in Turkey. We are on the
brink of war; the Soviet Union, the United States, Cuba, and
Turkey must come up with a compromise or we risk World War III.
*Be prepared for random complications

PART 1. PREP (15 POINTS)

Directions: You will have 25-30 minutes to complete the worksheet belonging to this section.
Here you will write the introduction to your country and research any other information that may
be needed or necessary about your nation.
Group 1: United States- 5 delegates (pgs. 5&6)
Group 2: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics- 5 delegates (pgs. 7&8)
Group 3: Cuba- 3 delegates (pgs. 9&10)
Group 4: Turkey- 3 delegates (pgs. 11&12)
Group 5: Office of the Secretary General- 5 members (pgs. 13-16)

PART 2. SIMULATION (40 POINTS)

Directions: The actual simulation will happen the following day. The Sequence of events is
presented in the next page (pg.3). Please refer to the rubric (pg. 4) for your expectations.
Requirements:

Country/Office is clearly stated. Position is historically accurate and point of view is concise
& to the point.
Group creates an accurate, reasonable proposal based on accurate facts and is willing to
cooperate with other nations to reach a compromise.
2 distinct justifications are provided for proposal.
Student was actively involved in his/her task, completed it within the given time and
respectfully listened to the point of view of others.
Group turned in all required elements on time:
1. Simulation graphic organizer
2. Position worksheet/notes
3. Position paper

PART 3. POSITION PAPER (25 POINTS)

Directions: The last part of your assignment will be to write a position paper. There should be 5
paragraphs, each paragraph should be between 3-5 sentences, and your papers length should
be 1-2 pages, double-spaced, times new roman, size 12 font. Please include a cover page with
your countrys seal, the name of your country, the names of your group members, and the date
of the debate.
You will have only 1 class period to work on this with your group, if you this is not enough, you
must meet with your group outside of class. You are encouraged to use all simulation notes and
graphic organizers. You will be evaluated based on the quality of your paper, which includes:
content, organization, and grammar.

NATIONS:

OFFICE

1st paragraph: brief introduction to your

country and its history concerning the
topic (5 POINTS)
2nd paragraph: the crisis and how the
issue affects your country (5 POINTS)

OF THE

SECRETARY GENERAL:

1st paragraph: brief introduction to the

Office of the Secretary General, including
its mission and purpose (5 POINTS)
2nd paragraph: the crisis and how the
issue affects the world, and in particular
the members of the United Nations (5
POINTS)

3rd paragraph: what your country

believes should be done to address this
issue (5 POINTS)

3rd paragraph: your opinion on the

proposals made by each country (5
POINTS)

4th paragraph: how the position of other

countries affects your countrys position
(5 POINTS)

4th paragraph: your proposals (5

POINTS)

5th paragraph: your countrys thoughts

about the reached agreement (5 POINTS)

5th paragraph: your thoughts regarding

the reached agreement (5 POINTS)

U.N. Sequence of Events

Session Opening (2 minutes)
The chair welcomes the delegates and announces the topic of discussion

Roll Call (1 minute)

Attendance: the Chair calls country names and delegates say Present

U.N. Simulation Rubric

Student
Debate (25
minutes)
Formal Debate (15
min)

Un-moderated/
Informal Caucus (5
min)

Moderated Caucus (5
min)

Formal debate revolves around

the speakers list. The Chair
asks delegates who would like
to speak. Delegates raise their
flags and are recorded on a list.
This is called the speakers list.
Speakers are called one by one
according to the list.
Speeches focus on
stating the country
positions & offering
recommendations for
action.

Here, the rules of debate are

suspended. Delegates may
leave their seats and discuss
topics freely.
This is a good time to
talk to other countries
that share your point of
view
This is a good time to
try and persuade the
countries that disagree
with you

A moderated caucus involves

discussion outside of the
speakers list. The Chair calls
on delegates one-by-one (this
does not follow the speakers
list, it follows whoever raises
their flags) so that delegates
can give short speeches.
Speeches comment on
what other delegates
have said
Speeches can bring up
new ideas for the
committee to think
about

Close of Debate (10 minutes)

If countries have come up with new proposals, they are to present them now. Office of
the Secretary-General provides their compromise proposals. Nations deliberate for 5
minutes. A delegate must motion to close the debate if he/she feels that the committee is
ready to vote.

Voting Procedures (2 minutes)

The committee votes on each resolution

Name:__________________________________________
Country:________________________________

Grade:_______________________

Role:_____________________________________

Attempt to meet
criteria

Progress towards
criteria

Met criteria with

some errors

Met criteria

Country/Office is
clearly stated.
Position has some
historical
inaccuracies and
point of view is
broadly stated.

Country/Office is
clearly stated.
Position is
historically accurate
but point of view is
broadly stated.

Country/Office is
clearly stated.
Position is
historically accurate
and point of view is
concise & to the
point.

Position

Country/Office is not
stated and/or point
of view is
historically
inaccurate.

Negotiation
s/
Proposals

Proposal is
unreasonable.
Group is unable to
cooperate with
other nations to
achieve a
compromise and/or
concedes to other
nations too easily.

Group creates a
flawed proposal but
and not cooperate
with other nations
to achieve a
compromise.

Group creates an
accurate and
reasonable proposal
but concedes too
easily to other
nations.

Group creates an
accurate,
reasonable proposal
based on accurate
facts and is willing
to cooperate with
other nations to
reach a
compromise.

Justificatio
ns

No justification is
provided or 1
historically
inaccurate
justification is
provided.

2 justifications are
provided but both
are weak or
historically
inaccurate.

2 justifications are
provided but 1 is
weak or historically
inaccurate.

2 distinct
justifications are
provided for
proposal.

Participatio
n

Student did not

complete his/her
task within the
given time frame
and was often
distracted when
others were
speaking.

Student did not

complete his/her
task within the
given time frame or
was often distracted
when others were
speaking.

Student was
actively involved in
his/her task,
completed it within
the given time but
was occasionally
distracted when
others were
speaking.

Student was
actively involved in
his/her task,
completed it within
the given time and
respectfully listened
to the point of view
of others.

All required
elements were
turned in but were a
day late.

Group turned in all

required elements
on time:
4. Simulation
graphic
organizer
5. Position
worksheet/notes
6. Position paper

Required
Elements

Two required
elements were
missing and/or
assignment was two
or more days late.

One required
element was
missing.

20-18 points = A; 17-16= B; 15-14= C; 13-12 = D; 11 and below = F

COMMENTS:

Government of the United States:

INTRODUCTION:

TYPE

OF

GOVERNMENT:

POPULATION:
RELIGION(S):
LOCATION (AND

HOW DOES
THIS AFFECT ITS
PROPOSALS):

CLOSEST ALLIES:
ENEMIES:

NOTES:

Government of the Union of Soviet

Socialist Republics:
INTRODUCTION:

TYPE

OF

GOVERNMENT:

POPULATION:
RELIGION(S):
LOCATION (AND

HOW DOES
THIS AFFECT ITS
PROPOSALS):

CLOSEST ALLIES:
ENEMIES:

NOTES:

Government of Cuba:
INTRODUCTION:

TYPE

OF

GOVERNMENT:

POPULATION:
RELIGION(S):
LOCATION (AND

HOW DOES
THIS AFFECT ITS
PROPOSALS):

CLOSEST ALLIES:
ENEMIES:

NOTES:

Government of Turkey:
INTRODUCTION:

TYPE

OF

GOVERNMENT:

POPULATION:
RELIGION(S):
LOCATION (AND

HOW DOES
THIS AFFECT ITS
PROPOSALS):

CLOSEST ALLIES:
ENEMIES:

NOTES:

Office of the Secretary General:

Equal parts diplomat and advocate, civil servant and CEO, the SecretaryGeneral is a symbol of United Nations ideals and a spokesman for the
interests of the world's peoples, in particular the poor and vulnerable among
them. The Secretary-General would fail if they did not take careful account of
the concerns of Member States, but they must also uphold the values and
moral authority of the United Nations, and speak and act for peace, even at
the risk, from time to time, of challenging or disagreeing with those same
Member States.
Directions:
Your office will have 5 members: The Secretary General and 4
representatives. The representatives are to split among the 4 nations (US-1,
USSR-1, Cuba-1, Turkey- 1). The representatives will not interfere with each
nations agenda or proposals, they are to make observations, take notes, and
then report back to the Secretary General. The Secretary General is to
navigate between all nations and then him/her along with their team is to
come up with 2 possible compromises for the crisis situation where no
country gets exactly what they want.
The Secretary General is to come up with the agenda for the following day.
Refer to the Sequence of Events worksheet for more information. You are
encouraged to ask for help.
Secretary
General:
Representative
#1:
(U.S.)
Representative
#2:
(U.S.S.R.)
Representative
#3:
(Cuba)
Representative
#4:
(Turkey)

Country:
Problem:

Point of
View:

Summary of
Proposal:

Country:
Problem:

Point of
View:

Summary of
Proposal:

10

Country:
Problem:

Point of
View:

Summary of
Proposal:

Country:
Problem:

Point of
View:

Summary of
Proposal:

11

Simulation Graphic Organizer

UNITED STATES

UNION OF SOVIET
SOCIALIST REPUBLICS

TURKEY

Position:

Justification
#1:

Justification
#2:

Proposal:

Compromise:

12

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