Q In Modules 1-3, you submitted your topic and annotated bibliography for your final paper. In this module you will develop a thesis statement and submit an outline for your paper for review and comment by the instructor. The outline will serve as the guide for the writing effort. It should be structured with an introduction, thesis statement, supporting arguments, and conclusions. The outline gives you the opportunity to establish a framework, the critical infrastructure so to speak, to build around your thesis statement in the final paper. The module learning outcomes addressed by this activity: • Prepare a thesis statement and outline for the final paper (CO #5) Please follow the guidelines provided for creating a good outline and refer to the information for resources on how to organize and write a paper of this length. The better your outline, the easier it will be to write the paper. As you create your outline, remember that your final project should tie together the ideas and observations you made throughout the course. For your final project, you will write a paper that examines the topic that you chose in Module 1, applying concepts and theories explored in this course. Here are the guidelines: A. Include an introduction statement. 1. This is a preview of the paper, along with the thesis statement. 2. Example of Thesis: Hybrid cars contribute to reducing global warming. B. Make claims that emerge from this thesis statement. 1. Example: Claim 1. Hybrid cars use less gas. 2. Claim 2. Using less gas creates fewer carbon emissions. 3. Claim 3. Fewer carbon emissions helps reduce the rate of global warming. C. Add your evidence collected to the claims you have identified. 1. Example: Hybrid cars use less gas. 2. Evidence: Hybrid cars use xxx amount of gas as compared to non-Hybrid cars, according to the consumer index (this evidence is imaginary, for the sake of an example). D. Include a conclusion statement. 1. This is a summary, along with a call to action or impactful statement. E. This outline should be 2-3 pages. F. You can use phrases and complete sentences in the outline. G. Include indicators of where you found the evidence. H. Use 12 point font in a Word document (can also use Open Office). I. Reference the grading rubric to ensure all areas are fulfilled. Also, it is important to cite your sources properly when you are writing a research paper and using someone else’s ideas. By citing sources, you will avoid plagiarism and give credit to the originator of an idea. Ensure your submission is free of grammatical errors. Use APA style (Links to an external site.) for all writing assignments. Please visit the Excelsior College Online Writing Lab (Links to an external site.) for more information. Additionally, I recommend Smarthinking, a free tutorial service available to you from your student toolbar. Use the EC Library resources for research assistance and to properly cite your work: • Military Leadership Research Guide (Links to an external site.) • National Security Research Guide (Links to an external site.) • Plagiarism & Copyright (Links to an external site.) • Excelsior Library Writing Help (Links to an external site.) • APA Citation Help (Links to an external site.) • Excelsior College Online Writing Lab (OWL) (Links to an external site.) Your outline and thesis statement is due during Module 5 using the appropriate assignment drop box. Compose your work in a .doc or .docx file type using a word processor (such as Microsoft Word, etc.) and save it frequently to your computer. For those assignments that are not written essays and require uploading images or PowerPoint slides, please follow uploading guidelines provided by your instructor. Check your work and correct any spelling or grammatical errors. When you are ready to submit your work, click “Submit Assignment” in the upper right corner. Click on “Browse,” browse your computer, and select your file. Click “Open” and verify the correct file name has appeared next to the Browse button. Enter your comments, if any, in the Comments area. Click on “Submit Assignment.” Evaluation This assignment will be graded using the SPS Default Outline Rubric, displayed below. Please review this rubric prior to beginning your work. You can also access the rubric on the Course Rubrics page within the Start Here module. This assignment is worth 10% of your final course grade.