Critical Issues Forum (CIF) 2008-2009

Benchmark III - Drawing Conclusions
(Benchmark_III.pdf or Benchmark_III.doc)

Benchmark III (and any revisions to the other benchmarks) is due no later than May 22

In Benchmarks I and II you examined the objectives to gain a comprehensive understanding of nuclear weapons in the world today, their history, production, countries that possess them and why. You also gained a comprehensive understanding of past and current efforts to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons including multilateral, bilateral and unilateral initiatives.

In Benchmark III you will synthesize and evaluate the information you have already gained. In addition you will do further research to create your own interpretations about world events and concerns. From your research you will make judgments and support those judgments with the knowledge you have gained.

Your task is to clearly demonstrate, in a carefully constructed project, an understanding of one of the challenges related to nuclear weapons. Your project will address this challenge through as many of the CIF domains as possible (It is conceivable that some of the domains will not fit your chosen topic). The project must be your own work with clear and correct citations from any work borrowed from others. All work not your own, including photos, graphics, multimedia, charts, and graphs must be credited within your text and in a bibliography.

Below you will find four options regarding nuclear weapons. You will use all of the research you have done for Benchmarks I and II, as well as the additional research you are asked to do for this Benchmark. Think about these options carefully. Using your research as support, choose one of the four options:

1. Eliminate nuclear weapons now.
2. Rely on Arms Control.
3. Keep nuclear weapons as an essential part of national security.
4. Create a choice of your own.

Explain why you think your choice is the best and argue in support of your choice, using your research as evidence.

In addition, create a scenario based on your option to show how your option would accomplish the goal of a safer world.

This benchmark is available as either a PDF or Word file.

About Benchmarks
Benchmark One
Benchmark Two

http://www.criticalissuesforum.org/bmk09_3.html
updated 09 February 2009