HLSS 154: Progress Assignment

Choose either a purely domestic extremist group or an internationally focused terrorist organization and briefly describe the main inspiration (the grievance or cause). Describe how this inspiration serves as both a means of recruitment of individuals as well as which radicalization models best fits the terrorist inspirations for members of the group. Discuss the means of communication used by the group to influence their narrative. Address both the individual-level psychological concepts and group-level drivers for political violence in the form of terrorism.

Related Course Objectives:

CO-1: Examine contemporary theories of terrorism.

• LO-1.1: Understand how social identity impacts radicalization.

CO-2: Describe the psychological and behavioral factors of terrorism.

• LO-2.1: Explain the motivating factors that lead to radicalization.

Directions

For this assignment, complete the following steps:

1. Download the assignment template to write your paper.
2. Locate sources to aid in writing your paper.
3. Introduce your topic. Include a brief summary of your extremist group or your internationally-focused terrorist organization (1/2 page);
4. Describe their main inspiration (the grievance or cause) and how this inspiration serves as both a means of recruitment of individuals and which radicalization model best fits the terrorist inspirations for members of the group (1 page);
5. Discuss the means of communication used by the group to influence their narrative (1 page);
6. Address both the individual-level psychological concepts and group-level drivers for political violence in the form of terrorism (1 page).
7. Provide a conclusion summarizing your paper in a clear and concise manner (1/2 page).

Submission Guidelines

• Your paper must be at a minimum of 4 pages (the Title and Reference pages do not count towards the minimum requirement).
• Scholarly and credible references should be used. At least 3 scholarly articles are required for this assignment.
• Scholarly sources include peer-reviewed articles, government publications, and academic texts.
• Type in Times New Roman, 12 point, and double space.
• Students will follow the current APA Style as the sole citation and reference style used in written work submitted as part of coursework.
• Points will be deducted for using Wikipedia or encyclopedic-type sources. It is highly advised to utilize books, peer-reviewed journals, articles, archived documents, etc.
• Use the Template that is provided to develop this assignment.
• All submissions will be graded using the assignment rubric.