Writing a Mediation Paper: Black Lives Matter Movement

Writing a Mediation Paper
5 – 7 pages
Topic: Black Lives Matter Movement
Works Cited
Malveaux, Julianne. “Today’s Black Lives Matter Movement Prioritizes Black Life.” Philadelphia Tribune, Jan 17, 2016, pp. 2-2F,3F. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/todays-black-lives-matter-movement-prioritizes/docview/1761652374/se-2.
Valley, Megan. “Black Lives Matter Founders Discuss Motives Behind Movement all Black Lives Matter.” University Wire, Jan 19, 2016. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/wire-feeds/black-lives-matter-founders-discuss-motives/docview/1757878889/se-2.
Renaud, Annie. “Black Lives Matter Panel Discusses Civil Rights, Black Lives Matter Movement.” University Wire, Oct 28, 2016. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/wire-feeds/black-lives-matter-panel-discusses-civil-rights/docview/1836349632/se-2.
“Over Half of Americans Say Racism is Getting Worse in Wake of Black Lives Matter Movement, According to Savanta: “Black Lives Matter: Re-Energizing the Conversation” Study Captures Negative Views of the Country’s Racial Progress.” PR Newswire, Feb 15, 2022. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/wire-feeds/over-half-americans-say-racism-is-getting-worse/docview/2628498813/se-2.
Glickman, Dan, and Tom Vilsack. “Black Farmers and the USDA: Lessons for the Black Lives Matter Movement.” Chicago Tribune, Aug 18, 2020, pp. 15. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/black-farmers-usda/docview/2434703072/se-2.
Terry, Ruth. “Black Hairstyles.” CQ Researcher, 22 July 2022, pp. 1-21, library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2022072200.
Mediation Paper Directions
Name Two Audiences/ Address Two Sides
Introduction: One role that a person in public or private life must sometimes take is that of mediator. A mediator to an argument is able to listen closely to both parties, restate both sides and acknowledge the legitimacy of each side’s claim. The mediator’s role is to then try to bring both parties a little closer together by finding some place where they can agree on a compromise.
Purpose: This paper is unlike your previous paper. Instead of simply introducing two sides of a controversy and then choosing a side from which to argue a claim, this paper will require you to develop and explain fully both sides of an argument. Each side raises important, significant points that must be heard and acknowledged as valid. Your job will be to remain an outside third party to the debate and explain the significant points each side makes in a way that is sympathetic to those who hold each opposing view. One way to do this is to consider a specific context in which each side’s claim makes the most sense to you. Present each side’s argument from this specific context.
After presenting both sides, your purpose is to reduce hostility between parties by presenting a possible workable compromise. You are not expected to find a cure-all, or to solve the controversy, but rather you are to find one area where you can move the parties forward by helping them to agree to some, perhaps narrow aspect of the issue.
Audience: For this paper, you need to consider who would, in reality, be two opposing groups who would argue for each of the positions taken. Pretend you are writing a paper that would be read by both groups. You therefore need to be careful and sensitive in how you explain each side’s claim without offending your readers.
Under your paper’s title, identify and clearly name the two disputing parties who would read your paper. Again, you are a third outside party, a mediator to the dispute.
Topics for Mediation Paper:
Please stick with the social justice theme. What social policies or legislation can make this world a better place?
Organization of Paper Three:
Background Information:
Begin your paper by expressing a social justice controversy.
Write your background section similarly to the way you wrote it in your last paper. Give an overview of the two sides of the issue involved. Provide some history, pertinent laws, and a context for the controversy. End this section with a thesis statement. Your thesis statement is different than in your last paper. In a mediation paper, your thesis statement should either state how both sides raise good points and a compromise can be found, or it should express a possible compromise that can move both sides a little closer. Put this statement in bold.
Three Reasons For One Side of the Issue:
Next, develop and present, in a sympathetic way, three reasons for one side of the issue. For each reason presented, include clear and specific evidence that supports your reasons. Your evidence may be facts, examples, anecdotes, authoritative opinions or statistics from your research. Make certain to introduce your sources directly into your paper and then later to continue to cite your sources using end of sentence parentheses. Use MLA citation format.
Three Reasons For the Other Side of the Issue:
Next develop and present, in a sympathetic way, three reasons for the other side of the issue. Again, you can more easily support each side, if you think about when and where, in which context the argument makes most sense to you. For each reason presented on this side, also include clear and specific evidence to support your reasons. Again, your evidence may be facts, examples, anecdotes, authoritative opinions or statistics from your research. Make certain to introduce your sources directly into your paper and then later to continue to cite your sources using end of sentence parentheses. Use MLA citation format.
Presenting a Compromise:
After presenting fairly and openly, the best of both sides, state a possible compromise that can move each side a little closer. You can find these types of compromised solutions in your research. Policy makers are exploring solutions to social justice issues all the time. Explain your compromise. Again, support your ideas with research and documented your sources well. Without documenting where you are finding your information, you may be plagiarizing.
Conclusion:
Bring your paper to a close with some concluding remarks. You can add one last thought, or you may hint at some next steps where your suggested compromise may lead.
Include:
Works Cited Page
This paper needs to be 5 – 7 pages, (not including Works Cited page) and it needs to follow MLA format.
Use Times New Roman, size 12 font.
At least six articles (a minimum of four from the TCC databases) MLA formatted citations with Research Notes and a working thesis statement will be due first.
Example:
If you were focusing on the Second Amendment, you may address both, members of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and gun–control advocates.
If you were a mediator, you would be an impartial third party to the NRA and gun-control advocates. You would be attempting to move both sides forward with a discussion of whether guns should be further regulated.
An area where you might find some compromise is a narrow focus such as requiring background checks when purchasing a gun for everyone, including those who purchase through private sales at gun shows and over the Internet.

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