Debate speech template: build your case on cue cards
A general debate case on cue cards: hook, definitions, team line, two or three arguments with evidence and impact, rebuttal space and a strong close. Works for most school formats.
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MUN position paper talking points and moderated caucus notes
Research notes for Model UN: turn your position paper into talking points, quick moderated caucus speeches, bloc strategy and clause ideas for a draft resolution.
Free to use, edit, print and study. No account needed: your set stays on this device.
The cards
- 1
Position paper in five lines
- Topic background: [___]
- Country's interest: [___]
- Past actions: [___]
- Position: [___]
- Proposed solutions: [___]
If you can fill this card, you can speak on any sub-topic.
- 2
Key facts to verify
- Relevant treaties or agreements your country has joined: [___]
- Relevant past votes or statements: [___]
- Key domestic policies: [___]
- Allies and regional groups: [___]
Note the source next to each fact.
- 3
Moderated caucus speech frame
Short speeches on one sub-topic, often 30 to 60 seconds:
- Sub-topic: "On [funding / monitoring / access]..."
- Position: "[Country] believes..."
- One idea: "We suggest..."
- Link: "This builds on what [delegate] said about..."
- 4
Motions you might raise
- Moderated caucus on [sub-topic], [total time], [speaking time]
- Unmoderated caucus to form blocs or write clauses
- Introduce a draft resolution when ready
Check your conference's rules of procedure for exact wording.
- 5
Bloc strategy
- Likely allies: [countries with similar interests]
- Possible partners on one issue: [___]
- Likely opposition: [___] because [___]
- What we can compromise on: [___]
- Red lines: [___]
- 6
Clause ideas
Operative clauses start with an action verb:
- Encourages member states to [___]
- Calls upon [body] to [___]
- Recommends the creation of [___]
- Requests regular reports on [___]
- 7
Points of information
Questions to ask other blocs:
- How would your plan be funded?
- Who would monitor it?
- How does it respect national sovereignty?
Answers to prepare for our plan: [___]
- 8
Preambulatory clause ideas
These explain why the resolution is needed:
- Recognising the impact of [___] on [___]
- Recalling [an earlier agreement or resolution you have verified]
- Concerned by [___]
- Noting with appreciation the work of [organisation]
Keep them factual. They frame the problem; operative clauses solve it.
- 9
Answering challenges to our plan
- Funding: [who pays and how]
- Monitoring: [who checks progress]
- Sovereignty: [why states keep control]
- Timeline: [when it starts and is reviewed]
Write one sentence for each so you can answer in a caucus without hesitating.
- 10
Daily debrief
- Who did I speak with today? [___]
- Which clauses are ours? [___]
- What do I need to research tonight? [___]
How to use this template
A Model UN position paper is valuable only if you can use it in the room. These notes turn your research into tools for committee sessions: a five-line summary of your paper, a fact card with sources, a frame for short moderated caucus speeches, the motions you are likely to raise, a bloc strategy card, operative clause starters for a draft resolution, and questions to ask other blocs. A daily debrief card helps you keep track over a multi-day conference. Everything is in brackets, because your country, committee and topic will set the content. Rules of procedure, motion wording and timings differ between conferences, so treat these as a planning aid and check your own conference guide for exact procedure.
Tips
- Fill the five-line card before writing anything else. It forces you to understand your country's core position.
- Keep facts with sources so you can answer if another delegate challenges a claim.
- In moderated caucus, connect to what others said. Building on a previous speaker shows you are listening and attracts allies.
- Know your red lines before the unmoderated caucus, so you do not agree to clauses your country would reject.
- Write clause ideas in advance, but be willing to merge them with another bloc's draft.
- Use the debrief card each evening to plan tomorrow's research and conversations.
Make it fit
- For a General Assembly committee, expand the bloc card; for a small Security Council, focus on permanent members' interests.
- For a crisis committee, replace clauses with directives and track your character's resources.
- For a first conference, focus on the five-line card and the caucus speech frame.
- Teachers can print the clause card as a classroom handout when introducing resolution writing.
- For an online conference, keep the caucus speech frame and bloc card open beside your video window so you can react quickly to the chat and speakers list.
Updated October 28, 2026