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

 

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