Current Event Analysis
This assignment is a review of a current homeland security event. My topic is the Nigerian massacres. Make sure you relate the events to what we are studying in this class and follow the rubric.
Format:
· Three to four full pages in length (not including cover page or references – no abstract is required) with the proper margins. Graphs, charts, photographs or bulleted lists do not count in the page requirement. Just meeting the minimum requirements can be worth a B grade. To earn a higher grade, you will need to go beyond the minimum requirements.
· Type style Times New Roman, size 12 font, with one inch margins, double spaced.
· Double space between paragraphs – do not triple space. Use the Paragraph function in Word. Adding extra spacing between paragraphs does not count in meeting the minimum page count.
· APA requirements for format and location of running head, page numbers, titles and subtitles.
· Title Page: Center your title one third down the page. Capitalize the appropriate first letters; do not underline, italicize, or use bold or oversize type. If it is more than one line, single-space it. Near the bottom of the page, center your name, course name and number, professor’s name, and the due date of the paper. The final line should be approximately one inch from the bottom of the page.
· Spelling, grammar, sentence structure, punctuation and other aspects of the style of your paper are grading points. If you have any doubt about your writing ability, the Effective Writing Center will review your paper and provide suggestions. Remember, this is an upper level college course. Your writing should reflect this; therefore, you will need to plan and organization your paper to ensure it is meaningful. A cluster of internet facts jumbled together is not college level writing. Logical flow and the organization of your paper are graded components.
Citations: You must use the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), 6th Edition format to cite your research.
· Use the APA style guide for guidance on proper grammar and writing structure.
· If parts of the paper are quoted, properly cite. All quoted material must include quote marks and cites. Even paraphrased material must be cited. Changing a few words in a sentence is not paraphrasing. Paraphrasing is restating the ideas in the material using your own syntax and words. Any statement presented as a fact must be cited (e.g., Radical Islamic Terrorism is the worst threat to the United States – opinion or fact?).
· Quoting should be done only sparingly; be sure you have a good reason to include a direct quotation. If you use a quote, pick out the most important part of it. Critical thinking is a grading point and a lot of quotes mean less critical thinking.
· The University’s Plagiarism Policy applies to all written assignments for this course.
Research: You must conduct research to substantiate your papers. The best source of this information resides in reputable periodicals.
· DO NOT USE websites that are not credible or a valid academic source. These include infoplease, Wikipedia, etc. A blog can be used but it must be from a reputable source.
· Use current information related to your selected event.
· Follow APA on how to reference your sources (alpha order, indentations, etc). Use the APA tutorial or APA Citation Guidelines in Course Content.
