Discussion Questions:

Question 1: Marijuana is often called a “gateway drug” that leads to other addictions such as alcohol, nicotine, and “harder” drugs. However, several states in the US have legalized marijuana for medical use and a few for recreational use in small quantities. If you were a police officer in the United States, would you advocate legalization? Is marijuana really a gateway drug? What could the long-term effects of legalization be?

Question 2: Eight nations have successfully detonate nuclear weapons and several others are believed to have them. Only one country has ever developed nuclear weapons and then dismantled them. Many nuclear powers feel that the world will be safer by limiting the development of nuclear weapons in other countries. Countries involved in regional conflicts feel that nuclear weapons make them safer and prevent conventional wars. To what extent is it possible to limit the spread of nuclear technology and fissionable materials? How could this be managed? Do you feel that the possession of nuclear weapons by major countries in the Gulf region would make the Middle East more or less stable?

Question 3: The vast majority of scientists agree that climate change is occurring and accelerating. Saudi Arabia is particularly vulnerable with fragile ecosystems and reliance on non-renewable water resources. A recent survey indicates that most Saudis believe that they will be affected by climate change. How do you think Saudi Arabia is vulnerable and how would you suggest preparing for the coming changes.

Question 4: Cyber espionage is an extension of traditional espionage. It allows hostile actors to steal information remotely, cheaply, and on an industrial scale. It can be done with little risk to intelligence officers and agents. Globally, how serious is the threat of cyber epsionage at the moment? What can nations do to protect themselves from attacks? Are cyber espionage missions against neighboring countries ethically and legally responsible?

CILO1 Rubric

CILO 1 Unsatisfactory Baseline Developing Good Exemplary
1.1
Identificatio
n

No points of
information
identified.

One relevant
point of
information
identified.

Multiple
relevant
points of
information
identified

…and linked
together to
support a
central
statement
or question

…with a
framework
for inquiry
stated (i.e.
an
indication of
the
structure of
the
response).

1.2
Differentiati
on

No
distinction
between
fact and
opinion
made.

Distinction
made once.

Distinction
made
routinely

…and source
of opinion/
fact
explained

…and fact/
opinion
used to
develop an
idea
appropriatel
y.

CILO 2 Rubric

CILO 2 Unsatisfactory Baseline Developing Good Exemplary
2.1 Position No position

stated.
Position
stated
inconsistentl
y.

Position
stated
consistently
throughout
essay

…and
amplified
with
supporting
claims

…and
succinctly
restated to
achieve
closure.

2.2 Support

No evidence
is provided.

One piece of
evidence is
provided
that is
properly
cited and
relevant to
the position.

Several
pieces of
evidence are
provided
that are all
properly
cited and
relevant to
the position

…and are
drawn from
multiple,
cross-
disciplinary
sources

…and relate
to both sides
of the
position.

CILO 3 Rubric

CILO 3 Unsatisfactory Baseline Developing Good Exemplary
3.1 Bias No critique

provided.
One
dimension
of bias
identified.

Multiple
dimensions
of bias
identified

…and
explained

…and
guidance on
how best to
interpret the
source/
argument
provided.

3.2 Accuracy

No critique
provided.

Claims
checked
against once
source.

Claims
checked
against
multiple
sources

…that are
independen
t

…and
accepted as
being of high
reliability.

3.3 Authority No critique
provided.

State
authority of
one source.

State
authority of
all sources
used

…and
compare
sources’
overall
reliability
based on
authority

…and
describe
context in
which each
source is
valid.

CILO 4 Rubric

CILO 4 Unsatisfactory Baseline Developing Good Exemplary
4.1
Conventions

No syntactic
variety.

Uses a
limited
range of
sentence
patterns and
cohesive
devices.

Uses a full
range of
sentence
patterns and
cohesive
devices

…and
incorporates
in text
citations
and
academic
register

…and shows
sophisticatio
n in fluency
of
expression

4.2 Cogency Ideas are
obscured or
hard to
discern.

Ideas are
clear

…and
logically
coherent

…and
provide
focused,
relevant,
explanation
and support
to the
argument

…and frame
the
argument
within the
context of a
broader
discourse.