Conflict

Introduction

Conflicts between people or groups and in different societies are common. They often occur when people do not communicate, are unable or don't want to consider different points of view and refuse to accept the traditions and beliefs of other people. The negative aspects and harmful behaviors associated with societies that do not value cultural pluralism may be lessened when people take the following steps:

face their prejudices;

work on identifying common beliefs, interests and goals;

learn about each others' customs, traditions, and histories;

listen to new perspectives with open minds;

respect the rights of others to promote the common good.

In this project you are going to examine a conflict, learn more about it and then express

your opinion about that conflict in a letter to the editor of a newspaper.

Before you start working, open a new document in WORD and save

it on your diskette under your name [eg. Yossi_Conflict.doc].

Make sure to write the title of the lesson you're working on,

eg. Stage 1 - Defining a Conflict, Stage 2 - Using Conflict Vocabulary, etc.

Now follow these steps:

Stage 1 - Defining Conflict:

Write your name at the top of your Word document.

Write the title of today's lesson: Stage 1 - "Defining Conflict".

Find all the definitions of the noun "conflict" at Factmonster.com or in Webster's Dictionary and copy them onto your page.

(Your project planning page may be either a Word document on a diskette or else a page in your notebook.)

Click here to look at a survey about "Conflict and Me".

Now you are going to write questions for a survey. Write the title "Conflict Survey" on your planning page (in your notebook or in your Word document) and then write ten questions for a "Conflict" survey. You may use the idea given on the site you saw: http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-2921.html

Conduct your survey in your class

Write a short report about the results of your survey.

Discuss your understanding and definition of "conflict" with the rest of the class.

Stage 2 - Using Conflict Vocabulary:

  1. Find a quotation or quotations that you identify with about conflict, prejudice, intolerance or hatred.

    • You can find more quotations here

    • Copy the quotation you chose onto your project page.

  1. Read these words and explanations connected with Conflict Resolution:

    1. Use the Morfix Online Dictionary to translate the words into Hebrew if necessary:

        1. COMMUNICATE

        2. Some conflicts start because people misunderstand each other. Talking things out and explaining might take care of it.

        3. NEGOTIATE

        4. When two or more people decide to work out a conflict themselves, they might follow a set of steps. The steps help them work out the conflict or negotiate.

        5. MEDIATE

        6. Sometimes people want to work out a problem but have trouble negotiating. They might ask someone to help them. That person is called a mediator. He or she mediates the conflict by helping the people work it out. The mediator does not tell the people what to do; he or she helps them decide for themselves.

        7. ARBITRATE

        8. Sometimes a mediator does solve people's problems. Then he or she isn't called a mediator. He or she is called an arbitrator. When people ask an arbitrator to help them, they must agree to do whatever the arbitrator suggests.

        9. LITIGATE

        10. When people can't work out their conflict themselves, they may go to a court and have a trial. They hire lawyers and go before a judge. A judge is like an arbitrator. The lawyers try to convince the judge that their client is right. The judge decides who is right according to the law and decides what solution there should be.

        11. LEGISLATE

        12. To legislate is to make something the law or a rule. Some kinds of conflicts cause people to try to change laws or rules so the problem won't happen again.

        13. Now, in your Word document or notebook, write something about the quotation you chose about conflict, prejudice, intolerance or hatred.

              • Use at least one of the words above (negotiate, mediate, arbitrate, etc) in your writing.

              • You may write your opinion about this quotation.

              • Do you agree/disagree with the quotation? Explain why.

              • You may write a little anecdote (story) illustrating the quotation.

            • You may give some examples to explain the quotation.

Stage 3 - The Two Sides of a Conflict

      1. Who are the two sides of this conflict?

      2. How do they express the conflict?

      3. What are the causes of the conflict?

      4. Who are the leaders in this conflict?

      5. What is the history of this conflict (in short)?

      6. What is a possible solution or solutions for this conflict?

        1. Where did you find your information? (bibliography)

      7. What is your conclusion about the conflict you studied?

      1. Now follow these steps:

      2. [Write your name here.

      3. Address and telephone number.

      4. Email address here.

      5. Write the date here.]

      6. The Editor, [Write the name of the newspaper here.

      7. Write the newspaper's address.]

      8. Dear Sir/Madam,

      9. Re: [ write the issue you're writing about, e.g. "Conflict in Ireland" or the name and date of the article you're referring to]

          1. Paragraph I

          2. Paragraph II

          3. Paragraph III

          4. Sincerely yours,

          5. [Your Name]

      10. NOW FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES:

          • Write in short, get to the point quickly.

          • Use humor and irony, but don't cross the line of good taste.

          • Don't use cliches.

          • Try to add something personal in your letter.

          • Divide your work into clear paragraphs, check your spelling and use connectors where possible.

          • Wait for about two weeks before you give up hope of having your letter published!

Stage 5 - Presenting Your Work:

You should present your work both as a written presentation and as a Powerpoint presentation.

    • Written Presentation:

      • The written presentation is in fact a presentation of the final draft of ALL the written stages of this project. Your project should be submitted in an organized and neat fashion in a folder. You may illustrate it. Make sure to include the following components:

        1. Cover page. Title of project, your name, class, date.

        2. Table of contents.

        3. Introduction.

        4. Sections of the Project (Include here all the stages of the project that you did)

        5. Conclusion.

        6. Bibliography. (Don't forget to cite all the internet sites you used in your project

        7. Reflection. Write a page in which you express what you learned/gained through doing this project.

        8. Appendices.

      1. Illustrations.

    • Multimedia (Powerpoint) Presentation:

    • Create a Powerpoint Presentation to present to the rest of the class.

    • Sample presentations:

Evaluation of Stage 2 - "Using Conflict Vocabulary": to Evaluation

Evaluation of Stage 3 - "The Two Sides of a Conflict":

Evaluation of Stage 4 - "Expressing Your Opinion": to Evaluation

Evaluation of Stage 5 - Written Presentation:

Evaluation of Stage 5 - "Multimedia (Powerpoint) Presentation": to Evaluation

General Reflection Sheet to Evaluation

  • Please write your reflections about the whole "Conflicts Project" and include this page in your Written Presentation.

      1. My name is:

      2. The title of my project is:

      3. I learned these things while doing this project:

      4. I especially enjoyed this part of my project:

      5. I especially disliked this part of my project:

      6. I learned these new skills:

      7. I learned these new words:

      8. Finally, I'd like to say that...

        1. Benchmarks