The purpose of this work is to give you, a new intelligence user, the experience of critically evaluating a finished intelligence publication.
First, carefully read the Joint FBI-DHS Intelligence Bulletin White Supremacist Extremism Poses Persistent Threat of Lethal Violence (May 10, 2017).
Second, respond to the following questions.
• Purpose: Is the purpose of the publication clear to the average reader? Does the front section contain enough information for a reader to see how this product fits into the larger picture of homeland and national security or otherwise state why the publication was published?
• Sources: Does the author identify sources, generic and/or specific? Can the reader clearly distinguish between information provided by these sources and the author’s opinion or judgement? Give examples as needed.
• Judgements: Are judgmental statements quickly followed up with the evidence or rationale that apparently led the author to make the judgment? Are assumptions clearly stated as such?
• Summary: The concluding section of the publication may also have any number of names. Are information gaps, future projections, or implications summarized at the end of the publication?
• Conclusions: Are the conclusions at the end of the publication consistent with the main body and key judgements? Were any conclusions that you considered significant left buried in the text?
• Appendices: Are appendices used to present historical or highly technical supporting material or methodology, rather than in the main text? If not utilized, comment if appendices might have been helpful to the reader.
• Form & Format: Comment on the publication’s organization—the type and format used. Is the publication well organized? What might have improved its structure and/or readability?
• Graphics: Were graphics used effectively? Could the publication have benefited from more use of graphics? If so, why?