Step 1: Review the Capstone Research Paper prompts
To ensure you are addressing all required topics:
- What is the National Security topic that you are examining (e.g., its research or thesis question, key relationship or subject matter, etc.)?
- Why is this topic significant in the interdisciplinary field of national security studies?
- For example, what national security problem, dilemma, or threat are you addressing, and how does it affect the field’s understanding of this topic?
- What dimensions of US power (or others’) are most at play in your topic (e.g., material, motivational, specific DIME-FIL aspects, etc.)?
- How have these dimensions been affected by, or used by key actors in your study?
- How is US national security strategy and policy (or others’) affected by your topic?
- What strategy or policy assessments, recommendations, etc. can you reach based on your evaluation and research findings?
- Finally, what has your research findings added to the body of knowledge in national security studies?
- For example, how might what you have found lead to improved strategy, policy, or even the overall position of the US in the world?
Step 2: Compose a 2,500-word research paper
Your APA-formatted research paper topic proposal should include the following
- A title page
- A well-developed introductory paragraph
- Explain the purpose of the research paper and briefly reference some of the main points/contentions offered in the work.
- Answers to the Step 1 prompts
- A concise concluding paragraph
In your conclusion, assume you are briefing someone senior in the most relevant national security community for your work (e.g., DOD, DNI, NSC, JCS Joint Staff J-5 on plans and policy, or J-3 on operations, Secretaries of the Navy or Army, etc.), and lay out the most vital of your assessments, conclusions, and recommendations.
Be sure your conclusion does not introduce new information.
- References list
An APA-formatted list of all sources consulted in the preparation of your research paper.
Note that 2,500 words are approximately 10 pages of double-spaced 12-point font text. References and title pages do not count towards word requirements.