It is important to review assignment details thoroughly if you want to get the best grade possible, but if you're unfamiliar with the expectations of a research paper this may seem daunting. Here are some reminders about important things to consider for your Conflict Research Paper assignment.
After you have confirmed the topic (ongoing conflict) you've chosen with your professor, you are to describe and analyze the issue thoroughly in a research paper. You should think of your task as developing a first step to resolving the conflict by analyzing its causes, the goals and needs of each party, and (if possible) suggesting ways toward a resolution of the conflict. Act as a third party seeking to analyze the case with an eye to working with the parties to find a resolution acceptable to both sides.
A challenge some students face is overcoming their personal opinions and taking sides when writing about the issue chosen, which is not what this particular assignment is asking of you. Your task is to research the issue of your choice, to identify and document facts, establish positions, analyze approaches to the conflict of each side, apply theories and models, but not to take sides in the conflict. (If you find you have more to say on the issue, remember that! Maybe this first paper could lead you to write more on the subject in other classes or as time goes on.)
This paper should be no more than six pages long, so it will be more of an outline or skeleton of the conflict and important information than a full-blown, definitive analysis. Though it will not be as long as other papers, any sources used should still be cited in a standard style.
Research and document the questions to the right as you go, using them as an analytical framework in your paper to which you can add more information or other approaches. Be sure you both describe and analyze the issue thoroughly in your writing.
Which parties are involved in the conflict?
What are/were the identifiable or proximate cause(s) of the conflict?
Using the theories, explanations, and definitions put forward in your readings and in class lectures/discussions, outline the conflict in terms of: principal behaviors, actions and reactions, key claims, and counter claims.
Provide analysis for each party's position regarding the conflict:
How did the parties recognize that there was a conflict? (Through cognition, emotions, instinct, etc.)
What approaches did the parties adopt initially? Did either or both alter their approach? If so, why?
What is your assessment of motive and behavior of each party for the conflict?
What were the primary interests of each party? How did you identify them?
Were there underlying causes? If so, what were they and how did you identify them?
What steps were taken to address the conflict?
What steps either facilitated a resolution or exacerbated the dispute?
What conflict theory or theories appeared to apply?
In your opinion, do any of the conflict models we have learned about apply to this conflict? Which one(s)?