A persuasive research paper attempts to convince the reader of the truth of a proposition by way of facts strung together with logical arguments. One fertile ground for such a paper about war is the study of the various theories on the origins of war, and why some combatants are victorious while others are not. The recognized giants of this field are relatively few. Carl von Clausewitz is one such theorist whom many consider to have shed great light on the nature and conduct of armed conflict. Another such theorist is J.C.Wylie, while a better known one is J.F.C. Fuller. Try reading the works of these authors, as well as some analysis on their theories, and writing a paper that attempts to persuade the reader of the correctness of one of these thinkers.
Using primary sources as much as possible, as well as the most reputable modern analysis available, try to convince the reader that a war or battle might have had a substantially different outcome if the leaders involved had made a decision different from the one they did at a particular point. What might have resulted if, instead of attempting to achieve decisive battlefield victories against the Union in the U.S. Civil War, the Confederacy had instead opted for a scorched earth guerrilla campaign against invading northern armies? Would the political, logistic, and military realities have allowed them to make that decision? Let your imagination fly with regards to the time period and decision you pick, but always remember to tie your arguments to the facts on the ground. Might some wars have not even happened if different decisions had been made?
Research the current threads in thought on the future of armed conflict in the age of information technology, globalization, and increasingly available biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. Write a paper that supports one of these views, or come up with your own vision of the future of war. Remember to defend it with facts and logical argument.
Research competing points of view on an element of tactics in a war of the past or present. Write a persuasive paper that argues that one of the points of view is correct while the others are wrong. Was it right to continue using Napoleonic tactics until the end of the 19th century? What roadblocks would have prevented different tactical systems from being implemented? Why were the Germans so quick to develop effective tactics for the trenches of the First World War and why were the allies so slow? Research all the threads that lead to the element under study, from the logistical and technological to the political.