Lower Division Oral and Written Communication
and
Related Critical Thinking Skills Course
Conflict Resolution Forum Worksheet
As
your group prepares
for the forum, be sure to complete the following steps:
1.
Understanding each community’s
concerns:
Provide
a clear articulation of
each community’s most significant concerns, including a
thoughtful account of the history of the concerns. Why are these concerns significant to each of
the communities and to the conflict between them? What is the history of the each community’s
key concerns? What is
the nature, scope, and history of the resulting conflict? What are some of the key obstacles to
resolving this conflict justly and effectively?
Addressing these questions fully and effectively will be key to the success of your forum.
2.
Research:
What information is required in order to understand
the nature and sources of the conflict?
What information is required to understand each of the community’s key
concerns, their significance, and their history? What information is required
to assess the obstacles for addressing these concerns fully? What are the most
reliable resources available to secure this information?
3. Delineation
of Responsibilities:
Do
an inventory of each group member’s special assets. Which group
members are especially equipped to assist with preliminary research into the
history of the conflict? Which group
members are best equipped to secure reliable information regarding the nature
and significance of the conflict and of each community’s special concerns? Similarly, which members are best equipped to
serve in each of the forum presentation roles?
(see the format assignment for specific responsibilities)
4. Strategic Planning:
Establish
a group plan to complete each of the steps required to prepare for the forum.
Set deadlines for each step of the planning process. For example, it will be
important to establish a deadline for securing the information required to
outline the history of the conflict, to develop an outline of each community’s
most significant concerns, and to complete an overview of key obstacles to
resolution of the conflict. Be sure to
prepare effectively for use of the February 23 meeting time (the full class
period will be set aside for group work). Finally, be sure to identify each
group member’s availability for possible meeting times (outside of class).