outline paper based on materials

APPLICATION ASSIGNMENT #1 (Spring 2022)
DUE: SATURDAY, February 12 by 10:00 pm ET
Purpose: The purpose of this Application Assignment is to create an outline for a mediation process using the FourStep Model of Conflict Management.
Skills: In this assignment you will practice the following skills that are essential to your success in this course,
in school, and in life generally:
1. Thinking through and setting up a process for resolving a dispute
2. Creating statements that you would use as a mediator/facilitator
3. Visualizing how a dispute resolution meeting (mediation) would take place
4. Anticipating reactions and thinking through responses to those reactions
Knowledge: This assignment will help you to become familiar with the following content knowledge:
1. A mediation process (Four-Step Model of Conflict Management)
2. Different ways to address problems that come up when trying to resolve disputes
Task: Step 1. Read the materials for the module, review the lectures, and print off the Four-Step Model ofConflict
Resolution.
Step 2. Think of a dispute that you are aware of. It can be one that you are personally involved in but need
not be. It must be one that you are familiar enough with that you know the underlying
issues/problems that are causing the conflict and how you believe the parties would act in. It
need not be a large complex issue/problem. Because you are not actually going to go through the
process, I need you to pick a dispute where you have enough information to anticipate the types of
responses and actions that the participants would make or do.
Step 3. Think through how you would set up a mediation session for this conflict using the Four-Step Model
of Conflict Resolution. Use the readings to help organize your thoughts.
Step 4. Now create in outline format the process you would use for the mediation session process, following
the steps in the Four-Step Model handout. This process (and what you say and ask) should be
specific to the dispute you are trying to help resolve. Use bullet points to set off the
different statements you would make or questions you would ask in the process.
A. For the Introduction step, write out what you would say to the participants in the dispute.
The model has four different areas you should cover.
B. For the Story-Telling section, briefly set out what “stories” you believe would be told and
describe how you might use each of the six different methods to get all the “facts” and to
understand all the positions and interests at play in the dispute.
C. In the problem-solving step, come up with some creative ways that you think might resolve
the dispute/issue taking into consideration the participants’ positions and interests. Discuss
ways that you might evaluate the different options for resolution.
D. Since you are not actually resolving the dispute/conflict, you may skip discussing the
Resolution step of the model.
Step 5. Upload your Application Assignment to Canvas by the due date and time.
Technical Paper Requirements:
1. I am not putting a page limit on your process outline. I would expect it to be not less than four
pages (and will probably be more) since it will be partially in outline format.
2. Do not use a title page. On the first line just put “Application Assignment #1 – Mediation Process
Outline” and your name. DO NOT put the course, date, my name, or other things at the top of the
first page. In other words, the beginning of your paper should look like this:
Application Paper #1 – Mediation Process Outline Scott Lee
Then provide a short statement (one to three sentences) to give me the basics of the dispute/issue.
This dispute is about whether or not Susan should leave her current job, move, and take a
job in a neighboring city. Janet, Susan’s roommate (and her sister) is insisting that she
stay.
After the short statement, go into your outline, following the handout format.
3. Use 12-point Calibri or similar sans serif font.
4. Use one-inch margins all around.
5. Use double-spacing except for bullet points, which are to be single-spaced.
5. Use only Word or pdf format.
6. Your paper should follow these instructions, be well written, and organized. Please make sure you
check for things such as typos, proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling. You will lose points for
those types of mistakes. I want to help you not only learn the material in the class but to also
become better writers. You may want to check with the writing center here on campus for help.
They have assured me they are willing and able to help you. You should plan on writing and then
revising your paper (maybe multiple times) to make sure it says what you think it says and what you
actually want it to say before you submit it. (For comparison purposes, when I write papers, I never
have less than seven or eight major revisions, and sometimes many more than that.) Recognize that
they may need some time to review your work so don’t send it to them and expect results in 30
minutes.
Happy thinking and writing!