Lower Division Oral and Written Communication
and
Related Critical Thinking Skills Course
Conflict Resolution Forum
Assignment
(Oral Presentations)
GROUPS:
Arbitrators (4 representatives)
Special Community A (4
representatives)
Special Community B (4 representatives)
Global Community (12 members)
FORMAT:
·
Arbitrators
select a Moderator (Speaker 1) who provides an overview of the deliberative
context. This speaker provides a history of the conflict and outlines goals of
the forum (to which all participants have agreed in advance). The speaker also
provides an overview of guidelines for interaction. (10 minutes)
·
One of Community A’s Representatives (Speaker 2)
provides an overview of Community A’s
most significant concerns (7 minutes).
·
Speaker 2 responds
to global community questions (3 minutes).
·
One of Community B’s
Representatives (Speaker 3) responds to Speaker 2’s presentation (5
minutes).
·
Speaker 3
responds to global community questions (3 minutes).
·
Arbitrators
select a representative (Speaker 4) to provide a thoughtful summary and
analysis of Speaker 2 and Speaker’s 3’s
presentations, including an overview of the question and answer sessions
(5 minutes).
·
One of
Community B’s Representatives (Speaker 5)
introduces Community B’s most significant concerns. (7 minutes).
·
Speaker 5
responds to global community questions (3 minutes).
·
One of
Community A’s Representatives (Speaker 6) responds to Speaker 6’s presentation
(5 minutes).
·
Speaker 6
responds to global community questions (3 minutes).
·
Arbitrators
select a representative (Speaker 7) to
provide thoughtful summaries and
analyses of Speaker 5 and 6’s
presentations, including an overview of the question and answer sessions (5
minutes)
·
BREAK (groups
convene among themselves to prepare for remainder of the forum)
(7 min.)
·
One of
Community B’s Representatives (Speaker 8) provides an overview of the group’s
perspective in light of the forum (5 minutes)
·
One of
Community A’s Representatives (Speaker 9) responds to Speaker 8’s presentations
(5 minutes)
·
One of Community A’s representatives (Speaker 10)
provides a summary of his or her group’s perspective (in light of the forum).
(5 minutes)
·
One of
Community B’s representatives (Speaker 11) responds to Speaker 10’s
presentation (5 minutes)
·
Arbitrators
select a representative (Speaker 12) to provide a summary, addressing the
following questions: What have we
learned as a result of the forum? What
are the key issues? What are the key barriers to resolution of the
conflict? What resources are available
to resolve the conflict? How should we proceed? (10 minutes)
Speaker Responsibilities:
Speaker 1: The Moderator
(Arbitrator Rep): Provides an overview of the deliberative
context. This speaker offers a brief history of the conflict and outlines
shared goals for the forum. During this presentation, the Moderator is expected
to make clear why the conflict matters, as well as guidelines for
interaction.
Speaker 2 (Community A Rep): This presenter is expected to clearly articulate
Special Community A’s primary concerns. Speaker 2 is responsible for
offering a clear articulation of the group’s perspective, facilitating
understanding of their point of view.
During the presentation and question and answer period, the speaker is
expected to anticipate and address others’ concerns. Anticipation of Speaker 3’s
perspective is especially important during this presentation. The
speaker is also expected to respond thoughtfully to audience questions.
Speaker 3 (Community B Rep): This presenter
is expected to respond thoughtfully to Speaker 2’s presentation. Speaker
3 is responsible for demonstrating
understanding of the point of view represented by Speaker 2. Speaker 3 is also
expected to respond directly and thoughtfully to Speaker 2’s perspective,
providing strong, relevant and comprehensive support for his or her key claims.
During this presentation, the speaker is expected to anticipate and address key
concerns likely to arise within the global community (in response to the
speaker’s perspective). The speaker is also expected to respond thoughtfully to
audience questions.
Speaker 4 (Arbitrator): This presenter is responsible for providing a
clear, concise, and articulate overview and analysis of the previous
presentations and question and answer sessions. The speaker is expected to
attend thoughtfully to observations and concerns raised during all aspects of
the forum. During this presentation, the speaker is expected to anticipate and
address key concerns (including those of both special communities, as well as
those of the global community revealed during audience questioning).
Speaker 5 (Community B Rep): This presenter is expected to clearly articulate
and to provide a thoughtful presentation of Special Community B’s primary
concerns. Speaker 5 is responsible
for offering a clear articulation of the group’s perspective, facilitating
understanding of their point of view.
During the presentation and question and answer period, the speaker is
expected to anticipate and address others’ concerns. Anticipation of Speaker 6’s perspective is especially
important during this presentation. The speaker is also expected to respond
thoughtfully to audience questions.
Speaker 6 (Community A Rep): This presenter
is expected to respond thoughtfully to Speaker 5’s presentation. Speaker
6 is responsible for responding directly and thoughtfully to Speaker 5’s
perspective, and for providing strong, relevant and comprehensive support for
his or her claims. During this presentation, the speaker is expected to
anticipate and address concerns likely to arise within the global community (in
response to the speaker’s perspective). The speaker is also expected to respond
thoughtfully to audience questions.
Speaker 7 (Arbitrator Rep): This presenter is responsible for providing a
clear, concise, and articulate overview and analysis of Speaker 5 & 6’s
presentations and question and answer sessions. The speaker is expected to
attend thoughtfully to observations and concerns raised during all aspects of
the forum. During this presentation, the speaker is expected to anticipate and
address key concerns (including those of the previous speakers, as well as
those revealed during audience questioning).
Speaker 8 (Community B Rep): This presenter is responsible for providing a
clear, concise, articulate, and thoughtful summary of Community B’s perspective
in light of the forum. The speaker is expected to attend thoughtfully to all
major insights presented and concerns
raised during all aspects of the forum (including “formal” presentations, as
well as question and answer periods).
Speaker 9 (Community A Rep): This presenter is responsible for responding
thoughtfully to Speaker 8. The speaker is expected to attend thoughtfully to
all major insights presented and concerns raised during
all aspects of the forum (including “formal” presentations, as well as question
and answer periods).
Speaker 10 (Community A Rep): This presenter is responsible for providing a
clear, concise, articulate, and thoughtful summary of Community A’s perspective
in light of the forum. The speaker is expected to attend thoughtfully to all
major insights presented and concerns
raised during all aspects of the forum (including “formal” presentations, as
well as question and answer periods).
Speaker 11 (Community B Rep): This presenter is responsible for responding
thoughtfully to Speaker 10. The speaker is expected to attend thoughtfully to
all major insights presented and concerns raised during
all aspects of the forum (including “formal” presentations, as well as question
and answer periods).
Speaker 12 (Arbitrator Rep): This presenter is expected to provide a thoughtful
summary of all previous presentations. The speaker is responsible for
addressing the following questions: what
have we learned as a result of the forum?
What are the key issues? What are
the key barriers to resolution of the conflict?
What resources are available to resolve the conflict? How should we proceed?
NOTE RE: Audience Question Periods: These periods should be used to gain understanding
and insight. Speakers are expected to respond thoughtfully to each question,
illuminating areas of concern, and responding to the audience’s informational
needs. Respondents should use this opportunity to foster deepened
understanding of relevant perspectives
and issues. Responses should be respectful, thoughtful, concise, and clear, and
respondents should avoid needlessly prolonged answers. As a result of cross examination, global community members
gain deeper understanding and insight.
Criteria for
overall performance
assessment:
1.
To what degree
did each speaker fulfill his or her responsibilities?
2.
Were the
presentations clear, concise, easy to comprehend?
3.
To what extent
did speakers show sensitivity to the audience’s concerns?
4.
How
effectively did each speaker respond to opposing arguments presented during the
debate?
5.
To what extent
did presenters demonstrate relational accountability throughout their
participation?
6.
To what extent
did presenters demonstrate awareness of
the role of standpoint?
7.
To what extent
did presenters demonstrate thoughtful consideration of multiple perspectives?
8.
To what extent
did presenters demonstrate attentive and non-defensive listening abilities?
9.
To what extent
did presenters facilitate non-defensive listening and conflict resolution?
10.
How
effectively did presentations contribute to fulfillment of the forum’s goals
(as presented by the moderator)?
Specialized Criteria for Performance Assessment:
Moderator:
·
Connects well
with the audience
·
Sustains
audience attention
·
Fulfills
Moderator’s responsibilities
·
Clearly
articulates key areas of controversy
·
Provides a
concise and thoughtful history of the conflict
·
Provides a
thoughtful overview of why the relevant issues are important
·
Provides a
coherent and concise overview of relevant commonplaces
·
Identifies and
clearly articulates definitions of key terms
·
Fosters
balanced partiality, critical reflection, and relational accountability among
participants
·
Demonstrates
relational accountability
·
Demonstrates
empathic, content, and critical listening skills
·
Makes
effective use of speaking time
·
Utilizes
appropriate language conventions
Speakers 2 & 5:
·
Connects well
with the audience
·
Sustains
audience attention
·
Fulfills
Speaker responsibilities
·
Clearly
articulates the group’s primary concerns
·
Recognizes and
taps relevant commonplaces
·
Provides
strong, relevant, and comprehensive support for central claims
·
Makes
effective use of available resources
·
Anticipates
and addresses others’ perspective
·
Demonstrates
empathic, content, and critical
listening skills
·
Demonstrates
relational accountability
·
Develops
logically coherent and consistent arguments
·
Responds
effectively to audience questions
·
Makes
effective use of speaking time
·
Utilizes
appropriate language conventions
Speakers 3 & 6:
·
Connects well
with the audience
·
Sustains
audience attention
·
Fulfills
Speaker’s responsibilities
·
Recognizes and
taps relevant commonplaces
·
Responds
directly to previous speaker’s key claims
·
Makes
effective use of available resources
·
Demonstrates
empathic , content, and critical
listening skills
·
Demonstrates
relational accountability
·
Develops
logically coherent and consistent arguments
·
Responds
effectively to audience questions
·
Contributes
significantly to audience deliberations
·
Makes
effective use of speaking time
·
Utilizes
appropriate language conventions
Speakers 4 & 7:
·
Connects well
with the audience
·
Sustains
audience attention
·
Fulfills all
published responsibilities for the
presenters
·
Makes
effective use of available resources
·
Identifies and
summarizes key points of controversy
·
Identifies and
summarizes assumptions shared by previous presenters
·
Succinctly
summarizes each of the presenters’ perspectives
·
Provides
thoughtful analyses of previous presentations
·
Demonstrates
empathic , content, and critical listening skills
·
Demonstrates
relational accountability
·
Contributes
significantly to audience deliberations
·
Makes
effective use of speaking time
·
Utilizes
appropriate language conventions
Speakers 8 & 10:
·
Connects well
with the audience
·
Sustains
audience attention
·
Fulfills
Speaker responsibilities
·
Effectively
summaries the group’s primary concerns (in responses to the forum)
·
Recognizes and
taps relevant commonplaces
·
Provides
strong, relevant, and comprehensive support for central claims
·
Makes
effective use of available resources
·
Anticipates
and addresses others’ perspective
·
Demonstrates
empathic, content, and critical
listening skills
·
Demonstrates
relational accountability
·
Develops
logically coherent and consistent arguments
·
Contributes
significantly to fulfillment of the forum’s goals articulated by the Moderator
·
Makes
effective use of speaking time
·
Utilizes
appropriate language conventions
Speakers 9 & 11:
·
Connects well
with the audience
·
Sustains
audience attention
·
Fulfills
Speaker responsibilities
·
Responds
thoughtfully to previous speaker’s
presentation
·
Recognizes and
taps relevant commonplaces
·
Provides
strong, relevant, and comprehensive support for central claims
·
Makes
effective use of available resources
·
Anticipates
and addresses others’ perspective
·
Demonstrates
empathic, content, and critical
listening skills
·
Demonstrates
relational accountability
·
Develops
logically coherent and consistent arguments
·
Contributes
significantly to fulfillment of goals
articulated by the Moderator
·
Makes
effective use of speaking time
·
Utilizes
appropriate language conventions
Speaker 12:
·
Connects well
with the audience
·
Sustains
audience attention
·
Fulfills
Speaker responsibilities
·
Effectively
summaries key areas of controversy
·
Effectively
taps commonplaces
·
Provides a
thoughtful overview of key barriers to resolution of the conflict
·
Effectively
explores resources available
·
Fosters
balanced partiality, critical reflection, and relational accountability among
participants
·
Demonstrates
empathic, content, and critical listening skills
·
Offers a
creative, deeply thoughtful overview of how we should proceed
·
Makes
effective use of speaking time
·
Utilizes
appropriate language conventions