Distinguished - Thoroughly describes an experience that significantly shaped one's life and informed one's personal ethos.

Proficient - Describes an experience that significantly shaped one's life and informed one's personal ethos. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally describes an experience that significantly shaped one's life and informed one's personal ethos. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe an experience that significantly shaped one's life and informed one's personal ethos; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of an experience that significantly shaped one's life and informed one's personal ethos is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly interprets the events that led to one's choice of major or career path.  

Proficient - Interprets the events that led to one's choice of major or career path. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally interprets the events that led to one's choice of major or career path. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to interpret the events that led to one's choice of major or career path; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The interpretation of the events that led to one's choice of major or career path is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a thorough example of one of the major challenges to achieving one's goal.

Proficient - Provides an example of one of the major challenges to achieving one's goal. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Provides a limited example of one of the major challenges to achieving one's goal.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide an example of one of the major challenges to achieving one's goal; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The example of one of the major challenges to achieving one's goal is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly analyzes how the personal ethos prepares one to overcome the above challenge(s). 

Proficient - Analyzes how the personal ethos prepares one to overcome the above challenge(s). The analysis is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally analyzes how the personal ethos prepares one to overcome the above challenge(s). The analysis is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to analyze how the personal ethos prepares one to overcome the above challenge(s); however, the analysis is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The analysis of how the personal ethos prepares one to overcome the above challenge(s) is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - The paper is logically organized with a well-written introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion.

Proficient - The paper is logically organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. One of these requires improvement.

Basic - The paper is organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. The introduction, thesis statement, and/or conclusion require improvement.

Below Expectations - The paper is loosely organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. The introduction, thesis statement, and/or conclusion require much improvement.

Non-Performance - The introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion are either nonexistent or lack 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 correctly formatted pages. 

Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

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

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

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.