Over several modules, you will provide an assessment of conditions impinging upon the security of the United States by submitting a National Security Policy Brief Assignment, using either PowerPoint or MS Word. The National Security Policy Brief Assignments will cover a specific area of specialization chosen by the student and discussing that topic in light of the questions and criteria indicated below for each brief.  Briefings provide the opportunity to articulate each stage of policy analysis leading up to recommendation and the nature of appropriate monitoring of policy execution. You are to make reference to Learn materials and outside materials while discussing the specifics required to effectively assess national security initiatives. Your entries should reflect your understanding of the reading materials and presentations assigned, articulating significant methodological points while incorporating pertinent materials in support of your research approach. You may also submit an MP3 recording to augment your analysis.

Each National Security Policy Brief Assignment must be 2–3 pages, double spaced, in current Turabian format.

Please note: the emphasis on these assignments is not on a set page length, but rather on succinctness and thoroughness.

Below are the assigned questions/competencies which should be discussed for each National Security Policy Brief Assignment:

National Security Policy Brief: Part 4 – Argument and Design Assignment

5: Leveraging: Synthetic, Dimensional Modeling

Competency #5 – Exercises Well-Reasoned Argumentation

• Measurement: Monitoring Transformation
• Thinking as Measurement
• Casting Truth into Policy Narrative
• Proof
• What were the critical turning points that could change the outcome?
• Pre-Crisis Status
• Pre-Crisis Turning Points
• Crisis