Conflict Management Analysis: Writing Assignment 3
Chapter 12
Assignment Directions
William Wilmot and Joyce Hocker define conflict as “an expressed struggle between at least two
interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from the other
party in achieving their goals” (211). Think of a significant or memorable conflict you are having (or recently
had) with someone with whom you have regular contact. Also consider and explain the situation and
context in which the conflict occurred.
Based on this information, write a 2-3 page paper adhering to the following directions:
1. Explain how the conflict you had with the other person fits the elements of the definition of conflict by
explaining
• how the struggle was expressed,
• what your opposing needs are,
• how interference is occurring,
• how you and the other person are interdependent, and
• what the scarce resource is.
These ideas are addressed in the text on pages 369-371.
Define conflict and apply Unmet (0 %) Needs Improvement (50-69%) Fair (70-79%) Good (80-89%) Excellent (100%) The paper does not address the
definition of conflict. The definition of conflict is
provided but the student fails to
explain one or more of the 5
elements of the definition.
The definition of conflict is
included, the student addresses
all 5 elements of conflict BUT
one or more of these elements is
incorrectly explained or
applied.
The definition of conflict is
provided, the student correctly
and completely explains each
of the 5 elements AND
correctly applies each of the 5
elements to his or her example
of conflict.
The definition of conflict is
provided; the student correctly
and completely explains each
of the 5 elements AND
correctly applies each of the 5
elements to his or her example
of conflict. The student
provides compelling evidence
and analysis of the relationship
between the concepts and
example.
Points Earned:__________/ 17.5 Possible Points
2. Name, define and explain the type of conflict (ego, pseudo, content or value) you are having (or had) with this
other person. The types of conflict are explained in a Web page and video in the course in the Conflict folder.
Explain the type of conflict Unmet (0 %) Needs Improvement (50-69%) Fair (70-79%) Good (80-89%) Excellent (100%) The paper does not address the
type of conflict experienced in
the example.
The type of conflict is not
explained; it is only listed. The type of conflict is
identified and explained. The
student provides minimal
evidence that the type of
conflict identified applies to the
example.
The type of conflict is
identified and explained. The
student provides some
evidence that the type of
conflict identified applies to the
example, AND the relationship
of the evidence to the concept
and example is clear.
The type of conflict is
identified and explained. The
student provides evidence that
the type of conflict identified
applies to the example, AND
the relationship of the evidence
to the concept and example is
clear. The student includes
excellent evidence and analysis
to support his or her
conclusion about the type of
conflict in the example.
Points Earned:__________/ 17.5 Possible Points
3. Name, define and explain the conflict management strategy (avoiding, accommodating, compromising,
competing or collaborating) each of you are using (or used). These strategies are explained on pages 371-378 in
the text.
Explain the conflict management strategies Unmet (0 %) Needs Improvement (50-69%) Fair (70-79%) Good (80-89%) Excellent (100%) The paper does not address the
conflict management strategies
employed in the example.
The conflict management
strategies used by each person
are not explained, only listed.
The conflict management
strategy used by each person is
identified and explained. The
strategies chosen are correctly
applied to the example.
The conflict management
strategies employed by each
party to the conflict are
identified, explained AND
correctly applied to the
example. The student provides
some evidence to support his
or her evaluation of the
strategies used.
The conflict management
strategies employed by each
party to the conflict are
identified, explained AND
correctly applied to the
example. The student provides
excellent evidence and
analysis to support his or her
evaluation of the strategies
used.
Points Earned:__________/ 17.5 Possible Points
4. Evaluate the effectiveness of each other’s conflict management strategies and explain an alternate conflict
management strategy that would be mutually beneficial to you and the other person, and why you think it would
help resolve the conflict. What, if anything, would (or could) you have done differently based on this analysis?
Evaluate and Identify and Alternative Conflict Management Strategy Unmet (0 %) Needs Improvement (50-69%) Fair (70-79%) Good (80-89%) Excellent (100%) The student does not evaluate the effectiveness of the Conflict Management Strategies that were used, nor
does he or she identify an
alternative strategy.
The student evaluates the
effectiveness of the conflict
management strategy chosen
by one or the other party OR
the student identifies an
alternative strategy that could
be employed BUT does not
include both elements in the
paper.
The student evaluates the
conflict management strategies
used by each party in the
conflict and addresses an
alternative strategy that could
be used BUT the student does
not provide strong evidence to
support his or her evaluation
and alternative strategy.
The student evaluates the
conflict management strategies
used by each party in the
conflict and addresses an
alternative strategy that could
be used, and the student
provides some evidence to
support his or her evaluation
and alternative strategy.
The student evaluates the
conflict management strategies
used by each party in the
conflict and addresses an
alternative strategy that could
be used, and the student
provides excellent evidence
and a compelling analysis to
support his or her evaluation
and alternative strategy.
Points Earned:__________/ 17.5 Possible Points
5. Incorporate other communication concepts we have covered this semester, such as “I” Statements, perception
checking, empathy, communication competence or assertiveness.
Include other related concepts Unmet (0 %) Needs Improvement
(5069%) Fair (70-79%) Good (80-89%) Excellent (100%)
The student does not apply
any concepts to the situation
other than those required in
the directions.
The student only lists other
concepts which could be
applied to the examples,
BUT the concepts are not
explained OR the concepts
are not correctly applied.
The student correctly applies
at least one other concept
that could be related to the
examples. Each one is
explained.
The student correctly applies and completely explains at least two other concepts that could be related to the example of conflict and includes some evidence and explanation of the relationship of the conflict example to the extra concepts.
The student correctly applies and completely explains at least two other concepts that could be related to the example of conflict and includes superior evidence and a clear and complete analysis of the relationship of the conflict example
to the extra concepts.
Points Earned:__________/ 10 Possible Points
• Your paper should be typed, approximately 3-4 pages long, and double spaced.
• The paper should also be proofread, and mistakes in grammar, spelling, sentence structure, formatting and other
areas of paper mechanics should be kept to a minimum.
• Include a complete introduction to the paper that includes a thesis statement introducing the main ideas of the
paper. Organize the body of the paper into main ides that fit with your thesis statement. Include a conclusion to the
paper that reviews and summarizes the paper.
• Include proper in-text citations in either APA or MLA format; be certain that you include the textbook definitions of
the concepts you use and that you cite these definitions correctly. A works cited or reference page should be
included at the end of your paper.
Overall Outcomes
Proofreading and Organization Unmet (0%) Needs Improvement (50-69%) Fair (70-79%) Good (80-89%) Excellent (90-100%)
There are nine or more
mistakes in proofreading,
grammar, spelling, formatting
or other paper mechanics. The
paper does not follow a
recognizable organizational
structure, such as having main
ideas, an introduction and a
conclusion.
There are seven or more
mistakes in proofreading,
grammar, spelling, formatting
or other paper mechanics. The
paper is organized in a
recognizable way BUT does
not include an identifiable
introduction and conclusion.
There are five or more
mistakes in proofreading,
grammar, spelling, formatting
or other paper mechanics. The
paper is organized and includes
an identifiable introduction
AND/OR conclusion.
There are three or more
mistakes in proofreading,
grammar, spelling, formatting
or other paper mechanics. The
paper is organized and includes
an identifiable introduction
AND a conclusion.
Mistakes in proofreading,
grammar, spelling, formatting
or other paper mechanics are
limited to two or fewer. The
paper is organized in a clear
way AND includes a complete
introduction as well as a
complete conclusion.
Points Earned: _________ / 10 Points Possible
Citation Unmet (0%) Needs Improvement (50-69%) Fair (70-79%) Good (80-89%) Excellent (90-100%)
The paper includes no citation
of any sort.
There is some attempt at
citation, BUT: the citation is
not in a recognizable format,
such as MLA or APA; OR a
significant number of concepts
are not cited; OR there is no
intext citation; OR paraphrases
are not cited.
Some attempt at citation is
included for most concepts
used in the paper that are
originally explained in a
printed source AND most of
these ideas are cited, whether
they are paraphrased or directly
quoted AND the citation is in a
recognizable style and the style
is used
correctly in most cases AND
in-Text citation is used but a
Works Cited is not included.
In-text citation is included for
most concepts used in the
paper that are originally
explained in a printed source
AND all of these ideas are
cited, whether they are
paraphrased or directly quoted
AND the citation is in MLA or
APA style and the style is used
consistently AND a Works
Cited is included at the end of
the paper.
In-text citation is included for
all concepts used in the paper
that are originally explained in
a printed source AND all of
these ideas are cited using
correct in-text citation, whether
they are paraphrased or
directly quoted AND the
citation is in MLA or APA
style and the style is used
consistently AND a Works
Cited is included at the end of
the paper and the Works Cited
is free of errors.
Points Earned: _________ / 10 Points Possible
Comments Total points possible Earned Points
100
Works Cited
Wilmot, William W., and Joyce L. Hocker. Interpersonal Conflict. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011. Print.