Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly evaluates the evolution of forensic science with a focus on the types of scientific analysis conducted in crime laboratories.

Proficient - Evaluates the evolution of forensic science with a focus on the types of scientific analysis conducted in crime laboratories. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally evaluates the evolution of forensic science with a focus on the types of scientific analysis conducted in crime laboratories. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate the evolution of forensic science with a focus on the types of scientific analysis conducted in crime laboratories; however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of the evolution of forensic science with a focus on the types of scientific analysis conducted in crime laboratories is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains how the changes in science and evidence processing over the last century have impacted the criminal justice system.

Proficient - Explains how the changes in science and evidence processing over the last century have impacted the criminal justice system. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains how the changes in science and evidence processing over the last century have impacted the criminal justice system. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain how the changes in science and evidence processing over the last century have impacted the criminal justice system; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of how the changes in science and evidence processing over the last century have impacted the criminal justice system is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes at least four major types of scientific testing conducted by crime laboratories.

Proficient - Describes at least four major types of scientific testing conducted by crime laboratories. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally describes three major types of scientific testing conducted by crime laboratories. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe at least four major types of scientific testing conducted by crime laboratories; however, two or fewer major types of scientific testing conducted by crime laboratories are described, and/or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of at least four major types of scientific testing conducted by crime laboratories is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the evidentiary value of the four major testing processes identified.

Proficient - Describes the evidentiary value of the four major testing processes identified. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally describes the evidentiary value of the four major testing processes identified. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the evidentiary value of the four major testing processes identified; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the evidentiary value of the four major testing processes identified is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively analyzes the current standards for admitting scientific evidence at trial, specifically addressing the four types of scientific testing identified in the paper.

Proficient - Analyzes the current standards for admitting scientific evidence at trial, addressing the four types of scientific testing identified in the paper. The analysis is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally analyzes the current standards for admitting scientific evidence at trial, partially addressing the four types of scientific testing identified in the paper. The analysis is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to analyze the current standards for admitting scientific evidence at trial; however, does not address the four types or scientific testing identified in the paper, and/or the analysis is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The analysis of the current standards for admitting scientific evidence at trial, addressing the four types of scientific testing identifies in the paper 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.