M1A1 Critical Thinking About Military Issues: Strategist

This essay is the foundational start to your writing in this course. In this essay, you will write about a military leader in your area of interest. Search for and choose a military leader who faced a strategic challenge during a time of conflict. A good example might be General Robert E. Lee who planned and executed the famous Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Be sure to review the resources on the use of critical thinking when completing this assignment.
In M1A1, you selected a topic/research question and crafted an outline for this paper. That was your first step. For M2A1:
Research your chosen military leader using the Excelsior College Library or other academic resources. The Liberal Arts Capstones Research Guide is a useful place to start. You can also use websites that are scholarly. Scholarly sites are typically .org, .gov, or .edu. If you are not sure, please ask your instructor. Do not use Wikipedia.
Select 10-14 scholarly research pieces about your military leader and the topic. To learn more about how to tell if the research you found is scholarly, please visit the EC Library’s Scholarly vs. Popular Video [Video File] [03 min 41 sec].
Using the article by Elder and Paul, Analytical Thinking, refer to pages 5 and 6 for examples of how to apply the “8 Elements of Reasoning.”
Referring to your chosen military leader during a time of conflict, discuss how the leader may have applied the 8 elements of reasoning.
Use your references to support your answers. Cite the research you use appropriately using APA style.
This paper is to demonstrate your critical thinking skills. As such, you are to take what you have researched and analyze and synthesize what is written. You are to form educated responses to the Elder and Paul list, which means you need to include evidence from your chosen military leader.
Some remaining guidelines:
Length: 1500 to 2000 words
Double space, font 10-11, include page numbers
Include a separate title page (not counted in page total)
Refer to the SLA Written Assignment Grading Rubric for details on the grading expectations
Include a “References” page using APA style
Do not include an “Abstract”
Use APA formatting style for your citations
Do not plagiarize – (if you did not think it, then cite it!) To learn more about plagiarism, please see Excelsior’s OWL and the Excelsior College Library tutorials on proper citations and avoiding plagiarism. http://libguides(dot)excelsior(dot)edu(dot)vlib(dot)excelsior(dot)edu/tutorials-and-tip-sheets
Refer to Excelsior’s Online Writing Lab to assist you with your writing process.
Here are links to assist you with your writing:
APA Citations Style Tip Sheet [PDF File Size 177 KB]
Smarthinking (writing tutors are available) 
Grammarly (to assist with your grammar electronically)
Additional Tutorials & Tip Sheets from the Library
Library databases to search for scholarly resources
Purdue OWL outline instructions
Purdue OWL sample outline [PDF File Size 65.43 KB]
Compose your work using a word processor (or other software as appropriate) and save it frequently to your computer. Be sure to check your work and correct any spelling or grammatical errors before you upload it. When you are ready to submit your work, click "Browse My Computer" and find your file. Once you have located your file, click "Open" and, if successful, the file name will appear under the Attached files heading. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Submit."
Before you submit this assignment to the dropbox below, be sure to upload a copy to the "Final" dropbox for this assignment on Turnitin.com. A "Draft" dropbox is also available so that you can use the originality report provided as a learning tool to improve your work prior to final submission.
Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and his 20th Maine Regiment was faced with a grim situation that unfolded on 02 July 1863; he and his Soldiers must hold the Union line at Little Round Top at all costs, with ammunition depleted and advancing confederate enemy on his 314 Soldier line, Chamberlain ordered “fix Bayonets – wheel right”. If Little Hilltop was not held at all costs, the entire Union line will collapse against the attacking Confederate Forces. 
Union Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and his 20th Maine Regiment held their ground on Little Round Top against the Confederate assault on 02 July 1863 with ammunition all but depleted instead of executing a full-fledged retreat. This single battle in the Civil War has been widely credited for saving Major General George Meade’s Army and ensuring victory in the Battle for Gettysburg and turning the war effort in favor of the Union Forces.
1. Did Colonel Chamberlain exercise effective battle command or should he have ordered full retreat of his troops? Colonel Chamberlain was faced with an immediate strategic challenge and critical decisions had to be made with little to no time for preparation.