How to Conduct Research and Use Sources

Research and Preparation

• Draw on the case notes, additional case materials, and your own research to familiarize yourself with
  • the goals of the NSC in general and of this NSC meeting in particular;
  • the U.S. interests at stake in the case and their importance to national security;
  • your role and your department or agency, including its purpose and objectives in the government and on the NSC;
  • the aspects of the case most relevant to your role;
  • the elements that a comprehensive policy proposal on the case should contain; and
  • the major debates or conflicts likely to occur during the role-play. You need not resolve these yourself, of course, but you will want to anticipate them in order to articulate and defend your position in the NSC deliberation.
• Set goals for your research. Know which questions you seek to answer and refer back to the case notes, additional readings, and research leads as needed.
• Make a list of questions that you feel are not fully answered by the given materials. What do you need to research in greater depth? Can your peers help you understand these subjects?
• Using the case materials, additional readings, and discussions with your peers, weigh the relative importance of the U.S. interests at stake in the case. Determine where trade-offs might be required and think through the potential consequences of several different policy options.
• Conduct your research from the perspective of your assigned role, rather than the particular perspective of the person who currently inhabits that office. Make sure to consider the full range of U.S. interests at stake in the case, whether diplomatic, military, economic, environmental, moral, or otherwise. This will help you strengthen your policy position and anticipate and prepare for debates in the role-play.
• Consider what questions or challenges the president or other NSC members might raise regarding the options you propose and have responses ready.

Sources

• Consult a wide range of sources to gain a full perspective on the issues raised in the case and on policy options. Seek out sources that you may not normally use, such as publications from the region(s) under discussion, unclassified and declassified government documents, and specialized policy reports and journals.
• Remember: Wikipedia is not a reliable source, but it can be a reasonable starting point. The citations at the bottom of each entry often contain useful resources. 
• Just as policymakers tackle issues that are controversial and subject to multiple interpretations, so will you in your preparation for the writing assignments and role-play. For this reason, evaluate your sources carefully. Always ask yourself:
  • When was the information produced? Is it still relevant and accurate?
  • Who is writing or speaking and why? Does the author or speaker have a particular motivation or affiliation that you should take into account?
  • Where is the information published? Determine the political leanings of journals, magazines, and newspapers by reading several articles published by each one.
  • Who is the intended audience?
  • Does the author provide sufficient evidence for their analysis or opinion? Does the author cite reliable and impartial sources?
  • Does the information appear one-sided? Does it consider multiple points of view?
  • Is the language measured or inflammatory? Do any of the points appear exaggerated?
• Take note of and cite your sources correctly. This is important not just for reasons of academic integrity, but so that you can revisit them as needed.
• Ask your teacher which style they prefer you use when citing sources, such as Modern Language Association (MLA), Chicago Manual of Style, or Associated Press (AP).