Hello Class,
Back in Week 2, you selected a topic from the following list:
- Cyber-terrorism
This week, the rough draft of your paper is due!. Your paper should be 900-1000 words in length that explains the topic you have chosen and why. Explain the impact your topic has had on America or a country of your choosing. For example, is there an economic, political, religious, or social impact? How is the impact being countered or addressed? What lessons should be learned? A key part of this assignment is for you to link what you have learned in the course to your topic. For example, you can link to specific textbook pages tables, charts, graphs, chapter topics, course videos and even discussion questions. At least 4 scholarly references should be used to support your main points. Quoted material should be avoided. Instead, please provide paraphrased research to support your main points that are accompanied with in-text references.
Week 1 Discussion Topic: Provide an overview of Al Qaeda and the role of Osama bin Laden in this organization. Your assessment should include the War on Terror that was waged against Al Qaeda and should highlight the current condition of the Al Qaeda organization.
Week 2 Discussion Topic: How does radicalism impact terrorism ideology? Analyze anarchism, Marxism, and fascism.
Week 3 Discussion Topic: Provide an assessment of three historical cases of terrorism.
Week 4 Discussion Topic: ISIS is an organization that emerged following Al Qaeda. Assess how ISIS was formed, its leaders, and its role in terrorism. Also, assess the current state of the war on terror involving ISIS.
Week 5 Discussion Topic: Our assigned reading material this week highlights the steps that are being taken to protect the United States from another terror attack. For example, we have learned about the role of the Department of Homeland Security and specific agencies within this organization that have the responsibility to protect specific targets, such as the Nation’s electrical grid, ports, and other vulnerable locations that could disabling to our Nation if they were attacked.
In this Critical Thinking Exercise, identify a new potential target that was not discussed in our reading that would have devastating effects to the United States if it were attacked by terrorists. Then, identify how you would protect this potential terrorism target to reduce the risk of an attack.
Rubric on Page 2
Weeks 5 & 7 Rough & Final Draft Rubric
| Criteria | 15 points | 20 points |
| Word Count and Title Page | Conforms to word count (800-899 words in the body of the essay). Title page may or may not be included. | Conforms to word count (900-1000 words in the body of the essay). Title page included. |
| Introduction and Conclusion | Introduction mostly previews subject and expected outcome; conclusion mostly reviews subject and comes to a logical conclusion. | Introduction previews subject and expected outcome. Conclusion reviews subject and comes to a logical conclusion. |
| Content | Mostly describes the selected issue/topic and relative theories pertaining to selected issue/topic. | Thoroughly describes the selected issue/topic and discusses relative theories pertaining to selected issue/topic. |
| In-Text Citations and References | In-text citations are used in essay showing all 3 primary/scholarly sources cited. References page included with most of the sources cited properly. | In-text citations are used in essay showing all 4 primary/scholarly sources cited. References page cites all 4 sources properly. |
| APA Format and Grammar | APA format applied mostly correct in both in-text citations and references and/or hardly any major grammatical errors throughout. | APA format correctly applied in both in-text citations and references. No major grammatical errors throughout. |
