When Ms. Anderson has her students work in groups, she always assigns one group member to the role of mediator. The main purpose of the mediator is to facilitate discussion among group members if a conflict occurs. To best assist the mediators through the process, the teacher should provide them with instruction on how to:

Situation #2: imagine that you are a newspaper editor in columbus, oh in 1863. the civil war has been dragging on for more than two years already and shows no signs of ending soon. you are aware that many black males are willing to enlist in the union army but you fear that they may be mistreated and abused by the majority of soldiers on either side in this war. write a one-page letter (double spaced) editorial for tomorrow's edition of the newspaper. the topic is military service in the union army by free african american males. in your editorial, take a clear position for or against having black men join the fight. be sure to give reasons for whatever position you choose to take.

Danilo has been working for metropolitan taxi for three months. he expected that his job would be to drive around the city, pick up fares, and drop them off at their desired locations, but in his first few days on the job he realized that the job entails much more. he must keep his taxi cab clean and neat, and some days he will be stationed at the shop and go to people's houses to pick them up and bring them to the local airport. within a few months, he has learned that taxi drivers often express frustration with the people they call "civilians"—that is, non–taxi drivers, whose driving skills they complain about incessantly. in his first few months on the job, describes what danilo is undergoing.

Should the city pass a ban on skateboarders on all public property, or are the citizens who oppose the ban right when they argue that there are benefits to having the skateboarders in public parks? plan and write a response in which you state your position and persuade readers to agree with you. support your position with reasons and examples drawn from the proposed amendment to ban skateboarding and from information in the letters to the editor, as well as from your own experience.