Distinguished - Thoroughly introduces readers to the topic, including a brief preview of what will be accomplished in the paper.

Proficient - Introduces readers to the topic, including a brief preview of what will be accomplished in the paper. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally introduces readers to the topic, including a brief preview of what will be accomplished in the paper. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to introduce readers to the topic, including a brief preview of what will be accomplished in the paper; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The section that introduces readers to the topic, including a brief preview of what will be accomplished in the paper is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Presents a clear, thoroughly compelling argument on one side of the issue, expressing the argument in standard form.

Proficient - Presents a clear, generally compelling argument on one side of the issue, expressing the argument in standard form. The argument is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Presents a limited, somewhat compelling argument on one side of the issue, expressing the argument in standard form. The argument is unclear or underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to present an argument on one side of the issue; however, does not express the argument in standard form, and/or the argument is significantly unclear and/or underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The presentation of the argument on one side of the issue, expressing the argument in standard form is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Fully supports the first argument with academic sources to demonstrate the truth of key premises, fully clarifying the meaning of key premises and/or thoroughly explaining how the reasoning supports the conclusion.

Proficient - Supports the first argument with academic sources to demonstrate the truth of key premises, clarifying the meaning of key premises and/or explaining how the reasoning supports the conclusion. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally supports the first argument with academic sources to demonstrate the truth of key premises, somewhat clarifying the meaning of key premises and/or partially explaining how the reasoning supports the conclusion. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to support the first argument; however, does not use academic sources to demonstrate the truth of key premises, clarifying the meaning of key premises, and/or explaining how the reasoning supports the conclusion, and/or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The support of the first argument with academic sources to demonstrate the truth of key premises, clarifying the meaning of key premises and/or explaining how the reasoning supports the conclusion is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Presents a clear, thoroughly compelling opposing argument, expressing the argument in standard form.

Proficient - Presents a clear, generally compelling opposing argument, expressing the argument in standard form. The argument is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Presents a limited, somewhat compelling opposing argument, expressing the argument in standard form. The argument is unclear and/or underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to present the opposing argument; however, does not express the argument in standard form, and/or the argument is significantly unclear and/or underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The presentation of the opposing argument, expressing the argument in standard form, is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Fully supports the opposing argument with academic sources to demonstrate the truth of key premises, fully clarifying the meaning of key premises and/or thoroughly explaining how the reasoning supports the conclusion.

Proficient - Supports the opposing argument with academic sources to demonstrate the truth of key premises, mostly clarifying the meaning of key premises and/or explaining how the reasoning supports the conclusion. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally supports the opposing argument with academic sources to demonstrate the truth of key premises, somewhat clarifying the meaning of key premises and/or partially explaining how the reasoning supports the conclusion. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to support the opposing argument; however, does not use academic sources to demonstrate the truth of key premises, clarify the meaning of key premises, and/or explain how the reasoning supports the conclusion, and/or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The support of the opposing argument with academic sources to demonstrate the truth of key premises, clarifying the meaning of key premises and/or explaining how the reasoning supports the conclusion is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly evaluates the quality of each argument, addressing whether key premises are true and whether the conclusion logically follows from them, and comprehensively analyzes arguments for any fallacies committed or biases that may influence either side, fully supporting analysis with scholarly sources.

Proficient - Evaluates the quality of each argument, addressing whether key premises are true and whether the conclusion logically follows from them, and analyzes arguments for any fallacies committed or biases that may influence either side, supporting analysis with scholarly sources. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally evaluates the quality of each argument, addressing whether key premises are true and whether the conclusion logically follows from them, and partially analyzes arguments for any fallacies committed or biases that may influence either side, somewhat supporting analysis with scholarly sources. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate the quality of each argument, addressing whether key premises are true and whether the conclusion logically follows from them, and to analyze arguments for any fallacies committed or biases that may influence either side; however, does not support analysis with scholarly sources, and/or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of the quality of each argument, addressing whether key premises are true and whether the conclusion logically follows from them and the analysis of arguments for any fallacies committed or biases that may influence either side, supporting analysis with scholarly sources are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a brief conclusion and thorough summary of the issue and how it can best be addressed.

Proficient - Provides a brief conclusion and summary of the issue and how it can best be addressed. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Provides a brief conclusion and partial summary of the issue and how it can best be addressed. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a brief conclusion and summary of the issue and how it can best be addressed; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The brief conclusion and summary of the issue and how it can best be addressed 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 at least 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 scholarly resources are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the instructions.