PAD 5440 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Transcription

1 University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs 1380 Lawrence Street, Suite 500 Denver, CO PAD 5440 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution r Jonathan Pierce Class Schedule: Mondays and Thursdays 1-3:30pm January 20 March 10, 2011 Office: 500Z2 Office Hours: Monday and Thursday 3:30pm 5:30pm and by appointment. Phone number: jonathan.pierce@ucdenver.edu I will respond to all s within 24 hours. Course Description and Scope Conflict is a part of our lives. The study of conflict and its resolution through negotiation is the goal of this course. We will focus on the concepts and skills necessary to help you identify and resolve interpersonal, intra-group, and inter-group conflicts through negotiation. It is designed to help you understand the dynamics that affect conflict, negotiations, and subsequent resolution and to apply the concepts and skills acquired in a variety of decision-making and dispute contexts. Course Goals and Objectives The goals of this course are that you will be introduced to the central concepts to conflict, negotiation and resolution. You will be able to only apply these concepts in class activities, small group work, in a final exam as well as a term paper. This class is an elective within the School of Public Affairs and therefore I assume that each of you has some interest in learning these concepts beyond the normal requirements of your masters degree. Required Texts Social Conflict: escalation, stalemate, and settlement. Third Edition (2004) by Dean G. Pruitt and Sung Hee Kim. Purpose: This is our textbook for the course and one of the most widely read and cited books in conflict resolution. Getting Past No: Negotiating with Difficult People. (1991) by William Ury.

2 Purpose: This is the book we will primarily use for negotiation and is one of the most widely read and cited books in the negotiation literature. The Little Book of Conflict Transformation. (2003) by John Paul Lederach. The Little Book of Dialogue for Difficult Subjects. (2007) by Lisa Schirch and David Campt. The Little Book of Cool Tools for Hot Topics. (2007) by Ron Kraybill and Evelyn Wright. Purpose: The Little Book Series are easily accessible complimentary books that will be assigned at times to go more in-depth into certain topics than your primary textbooks. Note: Throughout the course assigned readings may be subject to change. Information about Class Procedure Respect for your classmates: During class time we will engage in wide-ranging discussions that may generate as much heat as light onto the issue. Being active and critical of opposing view points is encouraged, but please be respectful of the opinions of others at all times. Keep your focus on the class: Turn off all cellular phones, mobile devices, and wireless connections during class unless you have previously arranged with the lecturer. The use of laptops is only permitted for typing notes. The use of laptops in the classroom is a privilege not a right. Food and Beverage: Snacks and drinks are accepted in class. We will be taking multiple breaks during class. Late Penalty: Assignments turned in after the due date will incur a 5% deduction for every day they are turned in late. For example, if you turn in an assignment three days late the highest grade you can earn is an 85%. All assignments are due the first ten minutes of class and if not turned in then will be considered one day late. I reserve the right to have assignments turned in via . If an assignment is to be turned in via , they will be due by midnight of the due date. Written Assignments: For purposes of trying to be as objective as possible during the grading process, all papers should be identified in the following manner. Please place your student ID number on the front of the first page. On the back of the last page print your name for purposes of returning papers. Please use APA, MLA or Chicago style format. Above all else be consistent with whichever style you select.

3 Accommodation for Disability: The University of Colorado Denver is committed to providing reasonable accommodation and access to programs and services to persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities who want academic accommodations must register with Disability Resources and Services (DRS), 177 Arts Building, , TTY , FAX I will be happy to provide approved accommodations once you provide me with a copy of DRS s letter. Academic Honesty: All students are expected to uphold the university s academic honesty code. See ciplinepolicies.htm Plagiarism is considered a direct violation of the university s code. Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of another person s work, in the form of original ideas, strategies, and research, as well as the person s writing, in the form of sentences, phrases, or innovative terminology. Even if plagiarism is unintentional it is still a violation. Use the following guidelines to help avoid plagiarism: 1. For all written assignments use your own words. When you use someone else s words, always use quotation marks and credit the source with proper citations. 2. Even if you are not directly quoting the material, but only using the ideas and/or arguments presented cite. 3. If you are ever unsure use citations. I will use the sources available to me to determine if you have plagiarized any part of all of your written assignments. If I suspect that a paper has used plagiarism, even unintentionally, I reserve the right to fail you for that assignment. Evaluation Your course grade will be determined based on your demonstrated mastery over the material through in-class contributions (including discussion and presentation) and written assignments. The grading breakdown will be as follows: Class Participation 5 Essays 15 Draft of Term Paper 10 Final Term Paper 30 Group Negotiation 10 Final Exam 30 Total Possible Points 100 Scoring Rule: = A, = A-, = B+, = B, = B-, = C+, = C, = C-, below 70 = F Explanation of Class Participation Grade:

4 Your class participation grade is based upon you engaging in class discussions in a manner that adds to or asks questions about the course material with the goal to achieve better understanding of the subject matter for both yourself and the class. Active and informed participation in class discussion will be reflected in your final grade. Chronic absence or tardiness impairs your ability to actively participate in class discussion and will then affect your class participation grade. Absences and Tardiness You are allowed up to two excused absences before it will affect your class participation grade. An excused absence means you have contacted me within 24 hours either prior to or after class. After two excused absences I will begin to deduct points from your class participation grade. Explanation of Essays: There will be three assigned essays. Each essay is to be a 1-3 page [double-spaced, 12 point font, 1 inch margins] response paper to assigned material and worth 5 points each. They will be graded based upon the completion of the assignment. Term Papers: The paper will focus on applying concepts and theories learned from the course to a historical conflict. The paper will be on one of the following conflicts and attempted resolutions: 1. Israel / Palestine conflict Camp David England / Northern Ireland Belfast Agreement or Good Friday Agreement 1998 and up to two other optional conflicts decided upon by the class (possible examples could include climate change, labor disputes, healthcare). Please note that while all propositions will be respected and listened to this will become part of a larger group project and therefore at least six students must agree on a specific conflict and resolution. Sign up and determination of the two optional conflicts will occur on January 24. Each individual must complete their own term paper. The texts suggested for you to use as the source of the case description are the following: Camp David 2000: Dennis Ross. The Missing Peace. (2004) Good Friday Agreement 1998: George Mitchell. Making Peace. (1999, 2000). Draft Term Paper: Due Date February 14, 2011 (subject to change) This is a graded assignment that should be prepared and taken with the gravitas of the final draft. The purpose is to ensure that you begin to work on the final draft paper as well as for me to further evaluate your analytical and writing skills. This should be a 4-5 page paper. It is not to be an outline. The paper should include the following components: 1. Cover Page pages: Introduction describing the conflict that provides enough information to give the reader an adequate background or history of the conflict.

5 This should highlight the central events and leaders who are significant to the negotiation process pages: Presentation of the concepts or theory you will be applying. This should be a discussion of the definitions, examples, and reasons why you chose those specific concepts or theory, and what are the strengths and weaknesses of those concepts or theory. Please note that you may change the concepts or theory you select when it comes to the final paper. This exercise will still be valuable as you can use these concepts when writing your final exam answers. 4. Optional: You may include an outline or short description that will not be graded, but I will provide feedback describing the application of these concepts to the case study, as well as concluding remarks about the future of the conflict. Final Term Paper: Due Date March 10, 2011 (subject to change) This will be an 8-10 page paper [double-spaced, 12 point font, 1 inch margins]. For how it will be graded please see the grading rubric attached to this syllabus. The paper should have the following components: 1. Cover Page 2. An introduction describing the conflict that provides enough information to give the reader an adequate background or history of the conflict. Approximately 1-2 pages. 3. The reader should be able to understand the presentation of the concepts or theory you will be applying. This should be a discussion of the reasons why you chose those specific concepts or theory and what are the strengths and weaknesses of those concepts or theory. Approximately 1-2 pages. 4. Identify and apply the concepts or theory to the conflict and negotiation process. Approximately 3-5 pages in length. 5. Discuss the resolution decided or current state of the conflict. What could have been done better or your prescriptions for resolving the conflict. 1-2 pages. 6. Works Cited or Bibliography This is to be an applied case study paper. Therefore, what is important is that you demonstrate your analytical capabilities in applying the course material to the case study. Examples of previous papers may be provided upon request. Final Exam: Due March 3, 2011 (subject to change) The final exam will consist of long essay questions that require multiple paragraphs to answer adequately. You will be asked to answer three questions. There will be at least five different questions that you may choose from when completing your answers. The final will be a take-home examination and will be handed out on February 28 and due at the beginning of class on March 3. Questions will be based on lectures, readings, and class discussions. Answers will be based upon the criteria found on the grading rubric attached. Group Negotiations: March 7 and 10 (subject to change)

6 This will be a group exercise where you can put your in-depth case study knowledge gained from the term paper into practice. You will meet for two classes as a group in a role-playing exercise. You will be asked to spend the class working as teams with individuals representing parties to the conflict. You will be asked to identify the components of the conflict, engage in negotiation with each other, and then come to a resolution by the end of March 10 at which time the group will be asked to present to the class what it has learned about conflict resolution. January 20 Introductions Review Syllabus Reading Assignment: Pruitt and Kim. Social Conflict. Chapters 1-2. January 24 Current Events Assign term papers Reading Assignment: Pruitt and Kim. Social Conflict. Chapters 3-5. January 27 Role Playing Exercise Reading Assignment: Pruitt and Kim. Social Conflict. Chapters 6-8. January 31 Group discussion: what does or does not count as evidence during a conflict? Essay 1 Due How is evidence in conflicts? Option 1. Watch PBS Frontline Hot Politics April 24, approximate run time 60 minutes OR Watch PBS Frontline The Vaccine War April 27, approximate run time 60 minutes Option 2. Find a newspaper article on the use of evidence in a conflict. Please make sure you include the entire citation of the article.

7 February 3 Role Playing Exercise Reading Assignment: Ury. Getting Past No. All. February 7 Role Playing Exercise Reading Assignment: The Little Book of Dialogue for Difficult Subjects. (2007) by Lisa Schirch and David Campt. OR The Little Book of Cool Tools for Hot Topics. (2007) by Ron Kraybill and Evelyn Wright. February 10 Group discussion on: Can we get past conflicts that deal with issues beyond interests? Essay 2 Due What happens when we face conflicts that are not about interests, but about human dignity? Option 1. PBS Frontline Sick Around America March 31, OR PBS Frontline On Our Watch November 20, 2007 (Warning Contains Graphic Violence) Option 2. Find a newspaper article that discusses a conflict about issues of human dignity. Please make sure you include the entire citation for the article. February 14 Rough Draft of Term Paper Due February 17 Reading Assignment: Pruitt and Kim. Social Conflict. Chapters 9-11.

8 February 21 Return Rough Drafts of Term Papers Discuss Term Papers Reading Assignment: The Little Book of Conflict Transformation. (2003) by John Paul Lederach. February 24 Group Discussion on: When does a conflict end? Essay 3 Due How do we deal with the past after the conflict may appear to be over? Option 1. PBS Frontline Law and Disorder August 25, 2010 (Warning Contains Graphic Language and Imagery) OR PBS Frontline Death By Fire October 10, 2010 (Warning Contains Graphic Imagery) Option 2. Find a newspaper article that discusses conflict resolution. Please make sure you include the entire citation for the article. February 28 Course Review Hand out Final Exams March 3 No Class Final Exams Due March 7 Begin Role-Playing Negotiations March 10 Term Papers Due Complete Role-Playing Negotiations

9 PAD 5440 Grading Rubric for Exam Questions Construct Poor Good Excellent Score Identification The concepts are not clearly defined /2 Application Analysis Critical Writing No examples are given or irrelevant actors and events Concepts are not analyzed at all or done incorrectly No critical examination of the concepts is provided Poor grammar, spelling mistakes, no voice The concepts are clearly defined, but components or range are not A single example is given with little discussion of actors and events Some examination of the concept occurs, but may be limited, not based upon the example, and demonstrate little understanding Discussion of weaknesses of concepts is listed, but not in light of application and analysis Clear grammar and spelling, two or fewer mistakes, not clear on your position The concepts are clearly defined and the components or range are Multiple examples are used, or in depth discussion of relevant actors and events In-depth examination of what the concept reveals about the example(s), range of the concept(s) is demonstrated Based upon application and analysis strengths and weaknesses are Clear and coherent no mistakes, clear voice and position /2 /2 /2 /2

10 PAD 5440 Grading Rubric for Term Paper Construct Poor Good Excellent Score Identification of /4 Concept(s) History Analysis and Application Critical Writing The concept(s) are not clearly defined and Relevant actors and events not or incorrect Limited and poor analysis of the concepts and relevance to the case Limited or poor critical examination of the concepts is provided Poor grammar, spelling mistakes, no voice, no page numbers or cover page The concept(s) are clearly defined, but components or range are not or poorly Discussion of actor and events is too long, lacking relevance to the case Some examination of the concept(s) occurs, but may be limited, little application to the case Discussion of weaknesses and strengths of concepts is not or poorly done in light of application and analysis Clear grammar and spelling, more than one mistake per page, not clear on your position The concept(s) are clearly defined and the components or range are Actors and events presented clearly, relevant and constrained In-depth examination of what the concept reveals about the case, range of the concept(s) is demonstrated Based upon application and analysis strengths and weaknesses are Clear and coherent less than five total mistakes, clear voice and position /4 /12 /6 /4