Communication Essay

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.