Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly evaluates the evolution of forensic science.

Proficient - Evaluates the evolution of forensic science. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally evaluates the evolution of forensic science. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate the evolution of forensic science; however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of the evolution of forensic science is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and accurately identifies examples of scientific methods that have been disproven.

Proficient - Identifies examples of scientific methods that have been disproven. Minor details are slightly unclear or inaccurate.

Basic - Vaguely identifies examples of scientific methods that have been disproven. Relevant details are unclear and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to identify examples of scientific methods that have been disproven; however, significant details are entirely unclear and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The identification of examples of scientific methods that have been disproven is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains the peer review process.

Proficient - Explains the peer review process. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains the peer review process. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the peer review process; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the peer review process is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly compares and contrasts common perceptions to the realities of forensic science.

Proficient - Compares and contrasts common perceptions to the realities of forensic science. Minor details are missing, or the comparison and contrast is unbalanced.

Basic - Minimally compares and contrasts common perceptions to the realities of forensic science. Relevant details are missing, and/or the comparison and contrast is unbalanced.

Below Expectations - Attempts to compare and contrast common perceptions to the realities of forensic science; however, significant details are missing, and the comparison and contrast is significantly unbalanced.

Non-Performance - The comparison and contrast of common perceptions to the realities of forensic science is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains the CSI effect.

Proficient - Explains the CSI effect. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains the CSI effect. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the CSI effect; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the CSI effect is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly evaluates what impact the CSI effect has or does not have on the forensic field and the criminal justice system.

Proficient - Evaluates what impact the CSI effect has or does not have on the forensic field and the criminal justice system. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally evaluates what impact the CSI effect has or does not have on the forensic field and the criminal justice system. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate what impact the CSI effect has or does not have on the forensic field and the criminal justice system; however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of what impact the CSI effect has or does not have on the forensic field and the criminal justice system is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly evaluates the junk science, real or perceived, on forensic field and criminal justice.

Proficient - Evaluates the junk science, real or perceived, on forensic field and criminal justice. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally evaluates the junk science, real or perceived, on forensic field and criminal justice. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate the junk science, real or perceived, on forensic field and criminal justice; however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of the junk science, real or perceived, on forensic field and criminal justice is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors and is very easy to understand.

Proficient - Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors and is mostly easy to understand.

Basic - Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors which may slightly distract the reader.

Below Expectations - Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors which distract the reader.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.

Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors. 

Basic - Exhibits limited knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements. 

Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of words.

Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of words.

Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of words.

Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of words.   

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Proficient - Uses the required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Basic - Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.

Below Expectations - Uses an inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.