Core Assessment: Terrorist Activity

Please review the Core Assessment guidelines. This assignment is due Week 7 and requires quite a bit of research and work to complete.

The Core Assessment for this course challenges you to become an “expert” on the causes, nature, and potential future of terrorist activity within a specific country.  You’ll conduct a geographic analysis of recent terrorist activity within your selected country.  Your analysis must cover each of the three principle scales of geographic study: local, national/regional, and international/global.

I give students leeway in country selection, but give some serious thought to the guidelines to make sure your topic will be a good choice. The only caveat is I don’t want any repeats of places selected. If you’re not sure of selection, feel free to send me two or three places you’re considering and I can help you come to that decision. It is your responsibility to confirm your selection with the instructor prior to beginning your research, so please be sure to send me your selection no later than by the end of Week 2 next week. Earlier in the week is better, especially if you’re not sure of your selection. I would like to have everyone’s selection green-lit by that Sunday (Jan. 26).

All Sections

The link to this assignment is broken in the Course Overview section, so I’ve posted the instructions here:

Case Study Research Paper

Core Learning Outcomes for GGH310:

Name and identify on maps the location of current “hotspots” of terrorist activity.

Identify and describe the basic characteristics of regions with common occurrences of terrorism or terrorist activity.

Analyze the root causes of terrorism using a geographic perspective.

Evaluate terrorism and its impact on the global community.

Core Assessment Description & Instructions: Case Study Research Paper:

The Core Assessment for this course will challenge you to become an “expert” on the causes, nature, and potential future of terrorist activity within a specific country.  You must write an 8-10 page research paper, using a minimum of 8 sources, in which you conduct a geographic analysis of recent terrorist activity within a selected country.  Your analysis must cover each of the three principle scales of geographic study: local, national/regional, and international/global.  (Note: The instructor will announce specific guidelines and procedures for country selection in class, and it is your responsibility to confirm your selection with the instructor prior to beginning your research.)

The paper must include the following sections:

Introduction: Must include a clear thesis statement about terrorism/terrorist activity within the country that you intend to prove through the evidence provided. (Content of Communication)

Local Scale Investigation: Summarize at least 4 of the most recent terrorist activities within the country by briefly describing the locations where the activities have taken place, the type/nature of each of the activities, and briefly discussing the reasons why these particular locations were targeted/used.  You should include a map in your report that, at minimum, identifies the location of each site discussed. [CLO#1; Application]

National Scale Analysis: Describe and analyze at least 4 of the elements of the country’s “Contemporary Operational Environment” (i.e., the physical and/or human characteristics of the region which contribute to the occurrence of terrorist activity).  In so doing, you should discuss the extent to which these elements illustrate the typical conditions found in areas where terrorist activity is most common. [CLO#2; Analysis]

International Scale Evaluation: Evaluate the impact terrorism has had within the country you are studying both regionally (i.e., in any neighboring countries) as well as globally (i.e., in countries outside the immediate region).  You should discuss whether or not you think the terrorist actions taken were the most effective means for the group/organization to achieve its stated objectives. [CLO#4; Evaluation]

Case Study Lessons/Conclusion: Summarize what you believe this case study demonstrates about the root causes of terrorism, and propose an action plan that you think could be implemented in order to help diminish the threat of future terrorist activity within this country. [CLO#3; Synthesis] Works Cited: List, alphabetically, any sources you cited within the paper (Note: You must have at least 8 different sources) using APA documentation style.  Be advised that this means you must also have used either footnotes or parenthetical citations within the paper itself.  [Technical Skill in Communication]