NationStates Jolt Archive

These comments were split off of the United Nations Resolution Writing Guide, in order to turn that thread into a more general-purpose UN sticky.

Re-stickify this!

Although, can we have a note to say that it is not obligatory to use only the clause words here - other, similar, appropriate words can be found with a little common sense.

Your change has been noted. You can find it on the tail-end of the section on format, just before the list of clauses. I'll be dropping by the moderator forum to put up a "sticky please?" flag soon.

I poped one in there for you.

Excellent, thank you Sophista.

I'll point out one edit you need to make. In your short lesson on proper use of "its" and "it's", your example for "it's" is missing the apostrophe.

I hope this gets stickified. Nice work!

Misspellings in a spelling guide? LOL oh dear.

Thanks for making my change. It just really annoyed me when I saw a post in this forum by a newbie who said something along the lines of "Oh no I refuse to support this proposal because clause word 'X' isn't on the official list".

Believe me, you should've seen the first draft of this puppy. I thought I'd saved it once all the kinks were worked out in the first forums, but that wasn't the case.

I must've missed the post where the person refused to support it because of clauses. I assume he was summarily laughed off the face of the Earth.

I don't think we have an actively-stickied writing guide, so for the moment, iSticky.

--The Modified Democratic States of Cogitation
"Think about it for a moment."

Many thanks, honourable Moderator.

Here's some real UN resolutions if you want some advice:

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/UN/ungaes10.html
(It's the "Dismantle the Israeli Wall" one)

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2002/SC7564.doc.htm (Scroll down a bit- it's UNSC Resolution 1441, the Iraq one)

Although, generally speaking, try not to be as verbose as the real-life United Nations. They have miles upon miles of paper, but you're limited to a fix number of characters. Sometimes, brevity is your best friend.

Please note that the topic starter can change the Thread Title by editing the first post.

Actually, since the move to Jolt, I don't think you can change title displayed on the forum. :mad:

Just a bump so everyone knows that this topic has new information. The UN Policymaking Guide has been incorporated into the first post on this thread, for those wishing to reference it after the announcement thread has faded from the queue.

Please visit the following additional UN topics: (click the http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/images/icons/icon1.gif icons)

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there is one thing that just about everyone in this game seems to be getting wrong, and its really starting to bug me. and then I come here, and I see why they are getting it wrong. its cause YOUR TELLING THEM THE WRONG THING! you say that resolutions should be writen in sentences and paragraphs. which is absolutly WRONG! resolutions are always a single sentence long. always. here is a really good resolution that I think you should require everyone to read before they write there own:

The United Nations,

Recalling that (5) spaces should be indented before each preambular phrase,

Recognizing that (1) line should be skipped before each title and before and after every phrase,

Gravely concerned that delegates may forget to use a comma at the end of preambular phrases,

Aware that the format of a resolution is one long sentence,


1. Nevertheless recognizes that this format should be used in all Nation States United Nations resolutions;

2. Urges that three (3) lines separate the preambular portion form the operative portion of the resolution;

3. Welcomes clear and simple wording, and splitting complex ideas into sub-operatives:
(a) With a colon introducing the first sub-operative;

(b) With one (1) line between each sub-operative;

(c) With no underling with the sub-operative;

(d) With a semi-colon at the end of each sub-operative and operative;

4. Reminds all nations that a semicolon, not a period, should be used at the end of each operative clause;

5. Observes that a resolution, being only one sentence, always ends with a period.

I did not write this. I was a member of my schools model united nations club for a couple of years, which is where I first saw this. Though I did edit this a little for Nation States. But yea, everyone should read this carefully before subimiting any resolutions.

The NSUN is not a direct parallel to the real-world UN, and not all the same policy rules apply. Whereas there are plenty of intelligent people working with Kofi Annan, the majority of NationStates players would get lost in a second if we made them dredge up real-world legalese into their proposals.

Players are allowed to offer all kinds of proposals. Some people choose to write traditional UN resolutions, but others feel more comfortable writing conventions, treaties, or simple declarations. No where in the rules does it say you have to follow the real-world example of resolutions.

So yes, you're right. That's precisely how you write resolutions like they do in New York or your Model UN program. The NSUN is neither of those things, however, so the rules don't apply.

I'm planning on updating the UNRWG within the month to accomodate repeals and new trends in legislation. If you have any ideas you'd like to see represented, or have beef with some of the things already said, send an e-mail to sophista@gmail.com and let me know. I'll be happy to accomodate reasonable requests, or at least let you argue your case.

Good job. 8)

You might want to also note that words such as "note" or "urges" don't actually make anyone do what you want them to. I think at least one resolution has passed that didn't actually make anything happen.

EDIT: Oops, I didn't read the thread carefully and missed your request for e-mails. :o Sorry.

What are the rules regarding the use of copyrighted material in UN Proposals - can I use such material as long as I credit the author/copyright holder?

What are the rules regarding the use of copyrighted material in UN Proposals - can I use such material as long as I credit the author/copyright holder?

You cannot use any real life sources in your UN proposals, they are unacceptable, so citation isn't an issue.

You cannot use any real life sources in your UN proposals, they are unacceptable, so citation isn't an issue.

The specific thing I was thinking about is an expression of abstract ideas which makes no mention of specific real-world examples of anything.

The specific thing I was thinking about is an expression of abstract ideas which makes no mention of specific real-world examples of anything.
Plagiarize
Let no one else's work evade your eyes
Remember why the good Lord made your eyes
So don't shade your eyes
But plagiarize, plagiarize, plagiarize
Only be sure always to call it please "research"

-- © 1953 Tom Lehrer, Lobachevsky, Songs & More Songs by Tom Lehrer
-- (resissued 1996, Rhino Records, all rights reserved)

Right so one of the moderators deleted one of my props and said that I should read the forum because my proposition wasn't on the topic of INternational Security. Except for now that I have read the forum I have no clue what is or is not considered International Security, or any of the other issues. Could one of you moderators actually post these things before just assuming people are idiots and don't know what they're proposing.

Before you make a proposal... (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=282176) states:
International Security
A resolution to improve world security by boosting police and military budgets.

Global Disarmament
A resolution to slash worldwide military spending.

Precisely what it sounds like. "International Security" increases government spending on the police and military while "Global Disarmament" reduces government spending on the police and military. Both resolutions affect the military more than they do the police, but they do affect both.

These categories can cover any kind of weaponry used by the police or military: including, but not limited to, conventional, nuclear, biological, chemical, space-based, and non-lethal.

Do not use these categories to establish a UN military force. These are resolutions to change the level of national government spending. The UN does not maintain its own standing military under any circumstances.
It's one of seven sticky topics at the top of the UN Forum. Sticky topics in the Forums are considered to be expansions and clarifications of the rules, as well as generally good suggestions of how the game is played. The sticky in question has been in place for more than a year.

It's one of seven sticky topics at the top of the UN Forum..

You, of all people, should know that people do not read the Stickies.

Frisbeeteria, want about regulation of conflicts and military affairs, where do they go?

Why not create a template for UN resolutions? After all, is there not a danger that these things might get passed on the basis of how well written or presented they are, not because of actual content and policies?

Why not create a template for UN resolutions? After all, is there not a danger that these things might get passed on the basis of how well written or presented they are, not because of actual content and policies?

That is an excellent idea actually.

An excellent idea, if not a wee bit difficult to put into practice. I suppose I could use my new-found obscene amount of free time to do the research and put the pieces together . . . . hrm.

Figuring out how to approach it seems to be the hardest part. We could put an example of a resolution from each category? Or write one type of resolution from each of the generally accepted formats?