Homeland security essay design statement

WMD Proliferation: A New Phase to Terrorism

Max Little

American Military University

Professor Stork

12, March, 2016

Research Question

The research question is: How will weapons of mass destruction proliferation develop into a new phase of terrorism in South West Asia? To develop this research question the first topic that was review was weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation. In order to answer the question about WMD proliferation there has to be a basic understanding of what WMD proliferation is. This is developed by asking: What is WMD proliferation? Why does WMD proliferation happen? How does WMD proliferation happen?

Once the basic understanding of WMD proliferation is reached, there must be general knowledge basis that there is research developed on WMD proliferation. Once it is determined, that there is enough research to develop understanding of WMD proliferation, this can develop particular questions that research can be built upon. Some of these questions that can be built upon would be: How will WMD proliferation affect the security of the United States? Who are the main countries to be cautious about as WMD proliferators? What are the contributing factors that develop into WMD proliferation?

To develop the final attributes to the research question this is done by evaluating the questions that were previously stated. Some of these evaluations of the questions would be: Is this research question a common interest to other researchers and others that would examine the material? This is the understanding that answer this research question would be valuable to the field of WMD proliferation. The question is found to be valuable because WMD proliferation is a current problem that needs to be solved. This determines the question to be feasible with the methodologies of reading other published works on WMD proliferation. This crates the ability to reach the research question of: How will weapons of mass destruction proliferation develop into a new phase of terrorism in South West Asia? Creating a research question that is focused and not to narrow.

Purpose statement

The goal of this paper is to examine the effects of WMD proliferation in Pakistan and the areas around the region. That nature of this topic is to create a comparative and chronological analysis of how WMD proliferation adds to the extreme political agenda of terrorists. Constant political instability in Pakistan provides an example of how this could lead to nuclear material or technologies being obtained by terrorist organizations (Kerr, P. & Nikitin, 2012).

More extensive and expanding nuclear programs in Pakistan could lead to accidental WMD proliferation in and around South West Asia (Kerr, P. & Nikitin, 2012). This paper will examine weapons of mass destruction and proliferation. The focus will be on that WMD proliferation could develop into a new phase of terrorism due to political instability, improper security, and a nuclear arms race in South West Asia.

To develop the purpose statement the scope, purpose, and direction of the paper needs to be determined. The reader will be able to identify what to expect in the paper, and what the paper will specifically focus on. A common beginning to the purpose statement was developed from the research question. The common beginning for a purpose statement that was used was “This paper will examine…” It gave a promise to the reader that there was a development to the argument that Weapons of mass destruction proliferation could develop into a new phase of terrorism due to political instability, improper security, and a nuclear arms race in South West Asia. This does not provide a conclusion, but just a preview of what the paper will include. This purpose statement was included at the end of the introduction since this is where purpose statements are commonly located. This specific purpose statement was expressed in more than one sentence throughout the purpose statement paragraph. The purpose statement was designed to satisfy the requirements of the current assignment of the research paper for HLSS498.

Design statement

This paper will include primary and secondary research sources. These sources will be found from the APUS Library that will include a minimum of six peer reviewed resources. Two other resources will also be found that will add to a total of eight resources. From these resources a comparative analysis will be conducted to conclude what information is relevant to proving the thesis in the purpose statement to be correct. This would include reading and reviewing all resources that a relevant to the information provided. This could include adding more resources than what was initially determined to be enough.

The paper will then have to be focused on the different criteria that are set out for this paper. This would include a Focus/Thesis that provides understating of the current assignment and articulates a very clear hypothesis to the reader. Content/Subject Knowledge will have to be shown to prove there is a demonstration of deep knowledge of the subject and the readings. Critical Thinking Skills will have to be present to show problem solving, ideas and conclusions that are well argued, and making sure that any assumptions are very well articulated. This will be done by developing the paper in a word document that meets the APA guidelines with citations and resources. This will develop into a 10 – 12 page paper that meets and exceeds the criteria of the rubric.

The paper design will start with an abstract that gives a quick summary of the contents explaining WMD proliferation and the affects. This will lead into an appropriate introduction that draws the reader into the research of WMD proliferation. The body of the paper will include how political instability, improper security, and a nuclear arms race can add to WMD proliferation. There will be proper conclusions to each subtopic that easily leads the reader into each different subtopic sections of the paper. The paper will end with a proper conclusion that compares all evidence, and provides an ending/resolution to the focus/thesis.

Research Question:

How will weapons of mass destruction proliferation develop into a new phase of terrorism in South West Asia?

Thesis:

Weapons of mass destruction proliferation could develop into a new phase of terrorism due to political instability, improper security, and a nuclear arms race in South West Asia. Comment by Matthew Stork: Concise and specific! Well done.

References

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Kerr, P. & Nikitin, M. (2012). Pakistan’s nuclear weapons: proliferation and security issues.

Current Politics and Economics of the Middle East. 3(2).

Leonard W. & William E. (2010). An end to the fourth wave of

terrorism?.terrorism? Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 33(7), 594-602, DOI: 10.1080/1057610X.2010.483757.

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