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F. Role-play a situation in which a
talkative young man is dating a
quiet young woman.
5. Apply ratings. Select and rank any
fi ve barriers to communication listed in
this chapter. Use the number one as
the most frequently observed barrier.
Use the number fi ve as the least
frequently observed barrier. List some
ways to overcome each barrier.
6. Compare and contrast. What in your
opinion is the best way to resolve a
confl ict? the least desirable way to
resolve a confl ict?
7. Speech, writing. Interview a successful
employee about his or her attitude,
dependability, honesty, ethics,
cooperation, and appearance on the
job. Ask how these factors have impacted
the employee’s performance. Write a
newspaper-style article on the qualities
of successful employees. Use quotes
from the interview in your article.
8. Speech. Prepare a speech on a topic
of interest and present it to the class.
Have classmates critique your speech
on the criteria listed in “Developing
Speaking Skills.”
9. Social studies. Research how
stereotypes and prejudices are formed
about different groups of people. Write
a brief summary of your fi ndings.
10. History. Study the causes of different
wars. Could these confl icts have been
avoided? Were any caused by a failure
in communication?
11. Social studies. List lifestyle differences
in cultures that could lead to confl ict.
12. History. Describe examples of
negotiation and compromise between
nations. Discuss the individuals
representing all parties and their
qualifi cations as negotiators.
13. Speech. Role-play the use of the
confl ict resolution process. Describe
a hypothetical situation that might
occur in your school where the confl ict
resolution process could be used.
Have classmates take roles as the two
groups in confl ict. If your school has
peer mediators, ask one of them to
participate in the role-play.
14. Research technology. What type of
technological skills do you think will
be most important in the workplace
in 10 years? 20 years? Write a brief
summary of your response.
15. Computer project. Use drawing
software to illustrate the cycle of
communication. Make sure to include
speakers, listeners, and feedback.
16. Video presentation. Create a video on
successful communication strategies for
student groups to use at school.
17. Computer project. Select a possible
confl ict between two students who are
working together on a class project.
Describe how the confl ict could be
resolved using each of the methods
of negotiation and compromise. Use a
computer software program to create
charts showing the methods and
corresponding resolutions.