Module 7 Deliverable: Paper Submission
This is the topic:
Final Paper topic
What are the key vulnerabilities of the Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and waste sector and how might they affect the U.S. How is this sector protected from cascading events, international or domestic terrorism to ensure safety of the public and national security.
Step 1: Review the Capstone Research Paper prompts
To ensure you are addressing all required topics:
What is the homeland security emergency management topic that you are examining (its research or thesis question, key relationship, or subject matter, etc.)?
How does this topic demonstrate coordination in planning and operations for homeland security and/or emergency management?
• For example, what homeland security/emergency management problem, hazard or threat are you addressing, and how does it show changes, or the need for change, in emergency operations such as planning (EOP), or training, or coordination with other agencies for response and recovery?
How does the topic address changes in risks, threats or hazards? How might the topic address increased threats, risks or hazards, such as with cascading effects?
• For instance, if your topic is critical infrastructure protection of the energy sector, what risk assessment methods can be used to better understand potential cascading effects of a widespread power outage due to a natural disaster? Or, what mitigation programs have been put in place in a specific jurisdiction – like the state of Texas after the major power outage from the 2021 Texas winter storm?
How can you apply the all-hazards approach to homeland security and emergency risk management to your topic?
• For example, the nation realized after 9/11 that a singular focus on one threat (terrorism) can have a negative impact on how practitioners in the field view and react to other threats (e.g., the response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Katrina). In what ways does your topic demonstrate preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery to all types of hazards (natural, technological, intentional)? In addition, emerging and evolving threats require greater attention to cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection. How does your topic address these threats from an all-hazards perspective; or, how does your topic employ the whole of community to the all-hazards approach?
Finally, in what ways have your research findings added to the body of knowledge in homeland security and emergency management studies?
o For example, how might what you have found lead to improved strategies, policies, planning and operations for mitigation, preparedness, response, or recovery efforts?
It is essential that your responses be based upon scholarly readings and remain at all times defensible (in an academic sense). As is the case with every assignment in HEM498, presenting any unsubstantiated, illogical, or indefensible position will have an adverse effect on the final grade. Please direct any questions regarding these expectations to the instructor.
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
Your analysis and responses to the questions in the prompt should be based upon scholarly readings and should remain at all times defensible (in an academic sense). You have a great deal of information to draw from in creating your research paper, including the assigned readings, research and policy sites identified in modules 1-3, and hyperlinked sources in the module notes.
• A concise concluding paragraph
In your conclusion, assume you are briefing someone senior in the most relevant homeland security emergency management community for your work (e.g., DHS, FEMA, CISA, 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 is approximately 10 pages of double-spaced 12-point font text. References and title pages do not count towards word requirements.
Step 3: Ensure your paper adheres to APA formatting
The assignment should be formatted according to APA-style. This includes the format of the list of references.
Please reference the resources below for guidance with proper formatting and citation practices, as well as other writing resources.
• Avoiding PlagiarismLinks to an external site.
• Excelsior Library Writing HelpLinks to an external site.
• APA StyleLinks to an external site.
