Public Speaking + Speech tips!

 Hey Delegates! 


I hope everyone's excited for BMUN in under 2 weeks! This post is going to cover some tips on how to give strong, substantive, and effective speeches during committee. As you all prepare for the conference, please know it's completely normal to feel excited, nervous, or feel any kind of way toward public speaking!

Whether it is your first or last time attending a conference, please maintain full respect and understanding toward the progress of others and yourselves, and the various speaking levels and abilities of both yourself and your peers. BMUN is ultimately a learning conference more than anything, and we value your growth over all else! 

Here are some tips to consider as you prepare: 

  • Understand your country and character's position: Make sure to familiarize yourself with both your country's stance on the case as well as your own judge/character's opinions and past rulings. The rulings and verdicts you make will definitely depend on your country's (and character's) position and views, making it all the more important to understand them thoroughly prior to committee. 
  • Reinforce your speech with specific citations and evidence: As a judge, you'll be expected to make speeches not based on rhetoric but rather based on case law, past verdicts, and other judicial documents. Additionally, using such evidence will help persuade other delegates to reach a similar and common verdict.  
  • Prepare your speeches, but be flexible: Writing out or preparing notes for your speeches can help you speak with authority and conviction, and give you an edge by clearly conveying thought-out ideas. However, the topics and conversation during committee will often change direction, so be ready to think on your feet and use your preparation to support impromptu speeches! 
  • Engage with and listen to speeches given by other delegates: During the conference, it's important to listen to what others have to say and respond appropriately. Showing interest in others' perspectives will help you build relationships and find common ground.
  • Tone, Voice, Posture, and Language: Speak up, loudly and confidently, and project while speaking. Stand straight and maintain a formal tone, and use appropriate and academic language while speaking. Avoid informal language or slang!
  • Take a deep breath! Giving speeches in front of large groups can be nerve-wracking, so do your best to stay calm and relaxed, and take as much time as you need. Sometimes even just a quick deep breath before you start speaking can help with this! 

Hope these tips help you all have a successful BMUN! Remember to stay confident and stay true to your country and character's position, and you'll be sure to make an impact. If you have any questions or concerns at all with regard to public speaking, please don't hesitate to talk to me or any of the other dais members of ICJ!


Best, 

Deepak Ragu, 

ICJ, BMUN 71 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Recent updates to the case

 Hey Delegates! I hope everyone's doing well! As you guys prepare for BMUN this march, I wanted to make a quick post on some of the recent updates to this case: The latest press release from the ICJ details the declaration of intervention filed by the nation of Liechtenstein, following the declarations of other nations as well. Most notable of these is the United States , a nation that previously has remained on the sidelines of most other ICJ cases.  While member states may submit a declaration of intervention, the admissibility of the declaration must first be decided upon by the ICJ, with the parties to the case (Russia and Ukraine) being allowed to submit written observations on a declaration for the court to consider when judging.  In its submission of a declaration of intervention, the US has also answered two questions regarding both the jurisdiction and merits of this case. The US, generally cautious to cede jurisdiction to international bodies, has encouraged broader juri
Read more

Procedure Guide + Committee Flow

 Hi delegates! As we gear up for Conference, I thought I would get on here and briefly describe how our committee will run next month. We will go over this in more detail at the beginning of Committee Session 1, so feel free to ask any questions when we go over this day of. I'm open to suggestions on the flow of committee as well, so if there's anything you'd like to see/do during committee, make sure to let me, Deepak, and Sophia know when we get to committee! You can find the Procedure Guide here , which describes how we will open debate, how we will address witnesses, and how we will issue verdicts/rulings. Keep in mind that the Procedure Guide uses the Bosnian Genocide as an example, but our topic is regarding the Russia-Ukraine ICJ case.  As for committee flow, you can expect to enter committee and  1. Be given a run down of the committee structure and flow  2. Be introduced to the ICJ case by your dais  3. Open debate with a mandatory Speaker’s List organized by count
Read more

Tips for Rulings

 TIPS FOR ISSUING YOUR RULINGS Hi delegates! I wanted to offer a few tips on how to frame your rulings during our committee sessions, so without further adieu...  1. I encourage you all to begin acquiring evidence (international laws and documents, past precedents, theories that can explain the case, case facts, etc.) to back any and all of your rulings. 2. Be rational and realistic in your rulings. Recognize the limitations of the ICJ and the international community in addressing a conflict of this magnitude.  3. Think about the possibility of reconciliation!!! Although it does seem like a long-shot right now that Ukraine and Russia could be reconciled in the future, it is vital that we as Justices begin brainstorming solutions to the conflict that could enable reconciliation between the two states. I would encourage you to look into past cases of a similar nature and note how reconciliation efforts succeeded and failed in the past, then adapt your approach as such. Very excited for C
Read more