SYLLABUS
Abilene Christian University
MEDIATION: Principles & Practice
PSYC 606.01 (13120)
Spring Semester 2006
Peter Robinson, J.D.
Managing Director, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution
Office: 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, California 90263
Office Telephone: 310-506-4655
Joe L. (Joey) Cope, J.D.
Executive Director, Center for Conflict Resolution
Office: 809-B Judge Ely Blvd, ACU Box 28070
Abilene, Texas 79699
Office Telephone: 325-674-2015
Office Fax: 325-674-2427
E-mail: copej@acu.edu
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Purpose:
Consistent with the mission of ACU (“To educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world”), the purpose of this course is to prepare you to serve as a peacemaker through mediation. This course is designed for persons with leadership roles in church, community, or workplace as well as those who wish to pursue mediation as a professional activity. In particular, you will develop the ability to:
· Determine the appropriateness of the situation for mediation
· Develop facilitative skills
· Assess a dispute and plan mediation strategy
· Conduct mediation sessions
· Document and evaluate the quality of agreements made as a result of mediation
· Integrate ethical and biblical principles in the mediation process
· Consider the costs and implications of practicing mediation
Course competencies and grading:
The attached “Course Competencies and Grade Assessment” describes in detail the specific objectives of this course and the criteria for assigning grades.
Attendance:
Because of the essential skill development nature of this course, opportunity to participate in classroom discussions, to observe demonstrations, and to practice skills is necessary. Consequently, attendance is expected at all class meetings.
Textbook (required):
· Moore, Christopher W. (2003), The Mediation Process (3rd ed.), San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
· Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Advanced Mediation Practice, Course Handbook (available only in ACU Campus Store, textbook section).
Course Competencies and Grade Assessment
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Competencies |
Grade Weight |
Measurement |
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25% |
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Competencies |
Grade Weight |
Measurement |
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50% |
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1. Given case study materials describing a dispute, identify and describe the positions, issue, and interests.
2. Given a mediation role-play, identify and document the points of agreement; assess the quality of the agreement reached.
3. Given written case study materials, identify and apply relevant biblical principles to the issues of fairness, honesty, ethics, and use of power in mediation situations.
4. Prepare and prioritize 50 personal interests by distributing 10,000 value points.
5. Prepare a “mediation worksheet” from a mediation role-play you facilitated in class. The “mediation worksheet” form will be provided.
6. Based on a completed mediation role-play, prepare a reflective brief assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the your performance as a mediator, including personal emotional reactions, experiences or bias; analyze the strength or weakness of other students you observed as they mediated; and prepare a plan for personal improvement. (4-6 pages, typed, double-spaced, one inch margins.)
7. Write a final paper on a mediation topic approved by the instructor. (13-18 pages, typed, double-spaced, one inch margins, minimum of 6 sources, properly cited.) |
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Competencies |
Grade Weight |
Measurement |
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25% |
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Demonstrate:
1. Techniques to elicit and respond to
parties perspectives on their positions, issues and interests.
2. Techniques for dealing with strong emotions of self and parties.
3. Techniques to balance power within a mediation.
4. Techniques for generating creative solutions.
5. Techniques for keeping the parties engaged throughout difficult mediations.
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Grade Scale
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Grade |
Points |
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C |
70-79 |
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B |
80-89 |
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A |
90-100 |
Tentative Course Schedule
Meeting |
Reading Assignment and Written Work Due |
Class Activity |
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March 2
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Handbook: Sections on “Convening,” “Opening,” and “Negotiating”
Moore: pp. 43-81, 102-117 |
Lecture; introductory exercises |
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March 3
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Moore: pp. 211-268 |
Lecture; Mediation roleplays,
debriefings
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March 3
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Moore: pp. 166-207, 269-308 |
Lecture; Mediation roleplays,
debriefings
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March 23 |
Handbook: Remainder;
Moore: pp. 447-450, 472-476;
Written Assignments 1 & 2 due |
Lecture; Mediation roleplays,
debriefings
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March 24
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Moore: pp. 309-441
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Lecture; Mediation roleplays,
debriefings
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March 25 |
Moore: pp. 85-101;
Written Assignment 3 due
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Lecture; Mediation roleplays,
debriefings;
business considerations; class evaluation
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April 28 |
Written Assignments 4 & 5 due
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