Terrorism

Research Paper A major component of this class is a minimum 2250-word (excluding the separate cover, abstract, and reference pages), APA-style research paper. It represents a substantial effort on your part to research and write an in-depth paper. No more than 25% of the written assignment in this course may be attributed to referenced sources. Your paper must be 75% original thought. Again, your cited work and quotations must not exceed 25%.

You must use and cite a minimum of five primary sources (with no more than two being internet sources) in the text and References page. Dictionaries and encyclopedias are not appropriate or considered adequate as referenced sources. Turnitin originality reports provide the instructor with the word count in addition to the percentage of wording attributable to other sources. Do not cut and paste from other sources. Your failure to cite sources by using in-text citations and failure to 5 use APA quotation formatting where necessary will result in referrals as potential Academic Code Violations. Whole or partial papers may not be submitted from previous courses or classes to fulfill this course requirement and will be referred as a potential Academic Code Violation.

You must select a research topic from the following list and use your research to relate the topic to exploiting specifically identified weaknesses in transnational terrorist organizations while demonstrating an understanding of the Saint Leo core value of integrity as it relates to addressing one of the following terrorism-related topics:

Terrorist Cells in America

The Threat and Work of Lone Wolf Terrorists in America

The Roles, Responsibilities, and Work of Three Major Local and/or State Intelligence Units

The Similarities in Homegrown Violent Extremist Groups

The Common Characteristics of American Residents (and/or Citizens) Radicalized for Terrorism and the Motivation of the Groups They Formed or Joined (e.g., Lackawanna Six, Fort Dix Group, Virginia Jihad, etc.)

Domestic Radicalization and Recruitment to Jihadist Terrorism

U.S. Capacity for Combatting Weapons of Mass Destruction

Tangible Connections Associated With Organized Crime and Terrorism

To What Extent Can Publicly Available Information Be Used in Planning Terrorist Attacks

The Use of the Internet to Radicalize and Recruit Terrorists

The Use of the Internet to Train Terrorists

The Use of the Internet to Distribute Propaganda and to Cultivate Material Support

The Use of the Internet to Plan Terrorist Attacks

Cyber Terrorism: The Greatest Risks in the U.S.

Prisoner Radicalization and Terrorism

Financing Terrorism

Joint Terrorism Task Forces: The Return-On-Investment (with Multiple Case Studies)

How the Patriot Act Improved the U.S. Ability to Detect and Investigate Terrorism (include specific case studies)

The Major Investigative Techniques Employed in Terrorist Investigations and a Real-Life Success for Each

The Potential Use and Possible Impact of a Specific Modality of Weapon of Mass Destruction

The following rubric will be used to assess the Research Paper:

Rating: Exceptional corresponds to 90-100%. Performance is outstanding, significantly above the usual expectations. Proficient corresponds to 80-89%. Skills and standards are at the level of expectation. Basic corresponds to a 70-80%. Skills and standards are acceptable, but improvements are needed to meet expectations well. Novice/Missing corresponds to 0 - 69%. Performance is weak; the skills or standards are not sufficiently demonstrated at this time and/or criterion is missing or not in evidence.