Reaching Group Consensus

Session Three

Develop criteria for effective proposals

• In preparation for developing their delegation’s proposal, ask students to consider how they might go about asking their parents or guardians if they can go away on a trip for the weekend. What are some ways of getting their point across knowing that their parents or guardians may take a different view on the idea? Suggestions might include: don’t ask for too much, offer something in return, provide tangible evidence of the benefits, anticipate possible objections. Use their response to identify criteria for an effective proposal:
• thoughtfully articulated
• benefits are evidentially supported
• shows willingness to accommodate.

Prepare proposals

• Direct student groups to use the research notes taken during session two and the class-developed criteria to develop their group’s proposed resolutions regarding each issue they want to consider. Ask students to complete a copy of Issue Negotiations for each issue to outline their goals, reasoning, anticipated objections and proposed strategies.