Describe the conflict, issue or polarizing topic you'd like to explore:
What is the conflict about? (try to describe it in a way that is neutral)
Who is involved in the conflict?
What is happening? What are people saying and doing? Who are they talking to?
Are there just two sides or is there a range of perspectives?
Describe your relationship to the conflict:
How are you personally impacted by this conflict?
What experiences have shaped your views?
What role are you playing? What are you saying and doing?
How do you feel about the conflict?
Why do you think this issue is important to you?
What are you afraid might happen?
If you had a magic wand, and everything is just as you wanted, what would it look like?
What questions or doubts do you have about the conflict?
How did you come to your understanding of the issue?
What informs your perspective? How do you decide which information to trust?
Where do you feel torn about the issue?
Are there aspects of others positions that make sense to you?
What do you want the other side to understand about you?
What do you want to understand about the other side?
Find Someone to Interview
The assignment after Module 2 will be to interview someone who has a different perspective on the issue than you. Remember that this could be almost any adult human.
If it's helpful, it could be a good idea to reach out to someone now to schedule the conversation.
Suggestion:
Tell them about the course you're taking and why you want to talk to them
Tell them that you do not want to debate the issue, nor even discuss it. If want a discussion, it will be a different time.
The goal of the conversation will be to understand their perspective by practicing listening techniques.
If you both want, they can give you feedback about your listening and confirm they believe that you understand them.
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