Topic: Emergent Topics in Homeland Security
Description:
Submit a paper (900-1,000 words, typed, double-spaced) that explore a question or a topic that we are scheduled to examine together in class. The purpose of these papers is to provide each student an opportunity to examine his or her own thoughts regarding an emergent trend in the course. Weekly discussion papers will count as 45 percent of the overall course grade. These papers are analytic papers and accordingly have no “wrong” answers. However, they can have “bad” answers. A bad answer is one that does not use the required readings as sources of evidence to support your argument. Reference to the assigned readings is mandatory, and reference to outside sources in addition to the required readings is welcome as a way to support and clarify the student-writer’s opinions.
Discussion Paper Content:
Unless otherwise directed, students will employ four major headings (labeled as such) to construct their weekly discussion papers:
1. Description – Describe the assigned topic, much like a newspaper article (who, what, when, where, how, why). Does it represent a threat? An opportunity?
2. Explanation – Identify factors that are the main reasons or “drivers” of the trend under discussion. Which of these drivers can the US government affect through policy action?
3. Analysis – This is the part of the paper where you examine the drivers and decide which ones are most important. In many cases, this will involve value judgments on your part. Most of the readings will contain analyses of their topics, so you should not find yourselves having to do this from scratch. It is ok to say that source A analyzes the case this way, as long as you cite that you used this source. However, at the end of this section, state your conclusions and justify your reasoning.
4. Recommendations – Make recommendations for how the US government should address the issue under consideration. These can be solutions you have developed on your own. They also can be ones you have read in the sources, as long as you cite them.
Discussion paper format
1. Papers should be 950-1,000 words in length, typed, Times New Roman 12 pt. font with 1 inch margins on all sides, double-spaced, and stapled. No spaces between paragraphs or excessive white space at top/bottom of page.
2. Students are expected to employ proper MLA format in citing sources within their essays (cite your sources as you use them) and to provide a WORKS CITED page.
3. The header for Page 1 of all response papers should read as follows:
4. Headers for pages 2 and 3 should present the following information at the top left and right corners of every page:
Topic:
READ/VIEW:
1) Civil Movements: The Impact of Facebook and Twitter, Dubai School of Government. https://www.dsg.ae/portals/0/ASMR2.pdf
2) William J. Lahneman, “The Need for a New Intelligence Paradigm” (on Blackboard)
3) William J. Lahneman, “Examining the NGPI Dots!” (on Blackboard)
SUBMIT: Policy Paper #4: Analyze how the U.S. government will achieve knowledge dominance and maintain situational awareness for homeland security as the Information Revolution continues to develop. Hard copy due in class plus copy to SafeAssign.
Use rubric at end of syllabus and instructions on syllabus page 6 as a guide in drafting your paper.