Short Paper 2: Detailing and Analyzing Your Own Conflict

Overview

In this short paper your primary goal is to select and detail a conflict, from your own experience, that you will use throughout the semester to apply conflict concepts. Step 1 details how to choose and write about your conflict. In Step 2 you will be applying what we learned about emotion to the conflict you describe in step 1.

Procedure

Follow the steps below to complete this assignment.

Step 1: Reflect on the Criteria and Choose a Conflict

You will be selecting and writing about a conflict throughout this course. To be as effective as possible, please carefully think about the criteria and tips below before choosing your scenario. If you need help or want confirmation a conflict will work reach out to your instructor as early as possible.

Think about a conflict between you and another person or two other people/parties that you have dealt with personally, either as a consultant, a mediator, or a witness, participant, etc. Choose a conflict that is complex and well-known to you, as you will be building on and analyzing this conflict throughout this course. In other words, choose a conflict that matters and has the potential for mediation.

Tips for choosing a good conflict for your assignments in this class:

• You will be using this conflict for assignments all semester. Choose one you can think and write about for a few months.
• Choose one that is relatively detailed and/or complex (enough that you can analyze it through multiple lenses).
• You should be able to see two different perspectives/views. It can sometimes be useful to think of a past conflict where you have had enough discussion with the other person that you think you really understand their perspective.
• It is usually easiest when there are just two people involved.
• It does not have to be your conflict but should be one you are very familiar with.
• Choose a conflict without a clear resolution (or one where there are multiple paths to resolution).

Step 2: Write up Your conflict Scenario and Scripts

Review the Sample Conflict Scenario and Scripts

Actions

• . When you have completed step two you should have three pages about your conflict:Page 1: Overview
• Page 2: Script of Person A
• Page 3: Script of Person B

Once you have chosen a conflict, write a brief, one page, overview of the conflict. Your overview should give the broad strokes of the situation. Who was involved, what happened, what types of interaction or interactions transpired.

Then, use one, one-sided, double-spaced page each to describe each persons/partys side of the conflict from their point of view (we will call this their script). The script does not need to include dialogue, but just a telling of the conflict from that persons perspective (why they perceived a conflict, what they saw as the issues, what they felt, their behavior during the conflict, what they hoped the outcome would be). Do not use the peoples real names; instead, use pseudonyms for the parties and to whomever else you refer in your description. Each description should clearly detail the persons position and desires. If you find yourself unfamiliar with one side of the conflict, reflect carefully on their goals, positions, and communication to create the best script possible (if you cant do this you likely need to choose a different conflict).

Step 3: Write an Essay

Please address the prompts below in an essay. Instead of having numbered question responses or bullet points please combine your answers into one coherent response. It may be helpful to use the prompts below and the rubric to create an outline of main ideas before you begin writing your essay.

• After you have completed your conflict scenario and scripts, identify the emotions that you can identify in both the first and second script. In other words, separately discuss the emotions you see demonstrated for each person in the conflict. For these emotions discuss what might have triggered them and specific behaviors that helped you identify the presence of these emotions.
• Look for examples of assertiveness or aggressiveness. Why would you label the emotion the way you did? What responses can you identify when this behavior occurred?

Submission Requirements

1. Save your paper as, LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_CAS404.”
2. The essay should be a minimum of 500-700 words but no more than 1000.
3. Please include a word count at the bottom of your responses and BOLD any course terms or concepts.
4. Submit to the relevant assignment submission box as a Word Document (doc or docx).