The best memos go beyond storytelling to provide systematic analysis. The memos might address the following:
How did the actual process and outcome of the negotiation compare to the
predictions of various writings on negotiation?
What did you learn about negotiation, conflict, and/or power from the exercise?
What did you learn about yourself or about other people in the exercise?
How did your outcomes differ from those of the other class members? Why?
If you had the chance to do this negotiation over, what would you do differently?
What I look for in grading memos:
Understanding—Demonstrating that you know the material learned in the
course through discussion of the negotiation process and outcomes. Integrate
the concepts from class discussions and readings; each memo should include
reference to at least 3 of the readings from class. The second memo should
offer analysis and insights of which you would not have been capable before
taking the course.
Depth—This analysis should be more than simply a recapping of the planning
document concepts or a play-by-play account of the negotiation.
Learning—Explicitly address what you would do differently if you could do it
again.
Clarity and precision in writing.
