Question

Unlimited Attempts Allowed
Available: Mar 9, 2026 12:00pm until Mar 13, 2026 11:59pmAvailable: Mar 9, 2026 12:00pm until Mar 13, 2026 11:59pm
Learning Target:

SWBAT identify the root causes of conflict and explain why people interpret situations differently.

Success Criteria:

I am successful when I can name 3+ causes of conflict.

I am successful when I can identify perspectives in a scenario.

I am successful when I can explain how assumptions create conflict.

Directions: Analyze the conflict using the four categories below. Write your answers in complete sentences.

Identify the Issue:

What exactly is the problem between Taylor and Riley?
Explain Each Person’s Perspective:

What does Taylor believe?
What does Riley believe?
Why does each person feel the way they do?
Determine the Root Cause of the Conflict:

What started this conflict underneath the surface?
What misunderstanding or problem led to the argument?
Identify the Assumptions:

What assumptions did Taylor make?
What assumptions did Riley make?
How did those assumptions make the conflict worse?
When you finish:

Share your answers with your partner.
Highlight one part of the conflict that could have been prevented with better communication.
*Scenario: “The Missing Locker Supplies”
During 3rd period, Taylor goes to their locker to grab markers for a group poster. When Taylor opens the locker, the markers are gone. Taylor immediately storms over to Riley and says, “I know you borrowed my markers again without asking!”

Riley looks confused and replies, “I didn’t take anything from your locker. Why are you always accusing me?”

Taylor gets louder and says, “Because last time you borrowed something, you didn’t return it for days. I can’t trust you.”

Riley crosses their arms and says, “That was one time. You always jump to the worst conclusion.”

Both students walk away frustrated.
make it shorts like a 9th grader wrote it

Answer 1

Identify the Issue:
The problem is that some markers are missing from Taylor’s locker and Taylor immediately accuses Riley without checking facts, which leads to a loud argument and both walk away frustrated.

Explain Each Person’s Perspective:
Taylor believes Riley took the markers again without asking because Riley borrowed things before and didn’t return them quickly. Taylor feels angry and distrustful because of that past experience.
Riley believes they did not take the markers and feels accused unfairly. Riley feels hurt and defensive because they think Taylor always blames them.

Determine the Root Cause of the Conflict:
Underneath the argument is a trust issue from a past incident and quick assumptions instead of asking questions. Causes of the conflict include past behavior that created mistrust, jumping to conclusions, and poor communication/not checking the facts first.

Identify the Assumptions:
Taylor assumed Riley took the markers and assumed Riley would not return them. Riley assumed Taylor always blames them and wouldn’t listen. These assumptions made the conflict worse by causing immediate accusations and defensive replies, so they never calmly investigated the missing markers.

One thing that could have been prevented with better communication:
This could have been prevented if Taylor had calmly asked, “Did you borrow my markers?” or checked the locker area first, and if Riley had stayed calm and offered to help look.