Research Paper Preparation Outline
[WLOs: 1, 2] [CLOs: 1, 2, 3]
Prior to beginning work on this assignment, read Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of your primary text and review the DHS Strategic Plan: FY 2020-2024.Also, review the Week 5 Final Research Paper and Approved Research Paper Topics located in your online classroom. Then, you will conduct preliminary research in the Ashford University Library.  The highlighted topics in the Approved Research Paper Topics document have a Research Starter for your use within the library. To access these Research Starters, type in the topic name within the Ashford University Library search function; the starters will immediately show.
For an example of how to format this assignment, click on the Research Paper Outline Template located in your online classroom
For an example of how to correctly format a research paper using APA, click on the APA Formatting Sample Paper.
In your outline,

Draft an introduction and thesis for your Final Research Paper.
Select one of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) goals as identified in the DHS Strategic Plan: FY2020-2024 that you will examine for your Final Research Paper. (This must be a stand-alone statement following your introduction and thesis. For instance: DHS Goal: Secure U.S. Borders and approaches or Secure Cyberspace and Critical Infrastructure.)
Explain a current issue, threat or hazard that leads to a homeland security vulnerability that you want to research. (Review the Approved Research Paper Topics document. You may select one of these, or select one of your own. If you do not select a topic on the list, your instructor must approve your topic).

Write a paragraph discussing why you selected this issue or topic.

Explain other associated issues, threats, or hazards that must be addressed to resolve this homeland security vulnerability.

Identify any constitutional issues in play.
Provide additional information from your initial research.

Identify three questions that you want to research prior to writing your Final Research Paper.

Provide a paragraph explaining why it is important to answer these questions.

The Final Research Paper Preparatory Outline

Must be two to three double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center’s APA Style (Links to an external site.)
Must include a separate title page with the following:

Title of paper
Student’s name
Course name and number
Instructor’s name
Date submitted

For further assistance with the formatting and the title page, refer to APA Formatting for Word 2013 (Links to an external site.).

Must utilize academic voice. See the Academic Voice (Links to an external site.) resource for additional guidance.
Must include an introductory paragraph that ends with a clear thesis statement indicating the purpose of your paper.

For assistance on writing Introductions & Conclusions (Links to an external site.) as well as Writing a Thesis Statement (Links to an external site.), refer to the Ashford Writing Center resources.

Must use at least two credible sources in addition to the course text.

The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources (Links to an external site.) table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.

Must document any information used from sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center’s Citing Within Your Paper (Links to an external site.)
Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. See the Formatting Your References List (Links to an external site.) resource in the Ashford Writing Center for specifications.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.) for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

Required Resource
Text
Bullock, J. A., Haddow, G. D., & Coppola, D. P. (2016). Introduction to homeland security: Principles of all-hazards risk management (5th ed.). Retrieved from https://redshelf.com

Introduction
Chapter 1: Homeland Security: The Concept, the Organization
Chapter 2: Historic Overview of the Terrorist Threat
Chapter 3: Hazards

Website
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2019). DHS Strategic Plan: FY2020-2024 (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from: https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/19_0702_plcy_dhs-strategic-plan-fy20-24.pdf

This Strategic Plan lays out the mission, goals and objectives for the Department of Homeland Security. This plan lays out the vision for the Department and will assist Students with the Research Paper Preparation Outline assignment this week.

Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)

Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

Recommended Resources
Text
Bullock, J. A., Haddow, G. D., & Coppola, D. P. (2016). Introduction to homeland security: Principles of all-hazards risk management (5th ed.). Retrieved from https://www.myedmap.com/Storefront/Home/ASHSP

Chapter 4: Governmental Homeland Security Structures

Supplemental Material
Hart, G., & Rudmand, W. B. (2001). Road map for national security: Imperative for change (Links to an external site.) [The phase III report of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st century]. Retrieved from http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/nssg/PhaseIIIFR.pdf

This report is one of the foundational documents leading to the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security and may assist you with your Week 1 Quiz and the Research Paper Preparation Outline assignment this week.

Accessibility Statement does not exist.

Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

National Commission on Terrorism. (2001). Countering the changing threat of international terrorism (Links to an external site.) [Government report]. Retrieved from https://fas.org/irp/threat/commission.html

This report is one of the foundational documents leading to the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security and may assist you with your Week 1 Quiz and your Research Paper Preparation Outline assignment this week.

Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)

Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

RAND-National Research Institute, Gilmore Commission. (2003, December 15). Executive summary (Links to an external site.) [Annual report segment]. In V. Forging America’s new normalcy: Securing our homeland, preserving our liberty. Retrieved from http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/www/external/nsrd/terrpanel/volume_v/volume_v_summary.pdf

This summary is from one of the foundational documents leading to the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security and may assist you with your Week 1 Quiz and the Research Paper Preparation Outline assignment.

Accessibility Statement does not exist.

Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2019). DHS Strategic Plan: FY2020-2024 (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from: https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/19_0702_plcy_dhs-strategic-plan-fy20-24.pdf

This Strategic Plan lays out the mission, goals and objectives for the Department of Homeland Security. This plan lays out the vision for the Department and will assist Students with the Research Paper Preparation Outline assignment this week.

Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)

Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)