Distinguished - Thoroughly explains the topic and clearly and accurately states the specific question addressed.

Proficient - Explains the topic and states the specific question addressed. Minor details are missing, slightly unclear, or inaccurate.

Basic - Minimally explains the topic and vaguely states the specific question addressed. Relevant details are missing, unclear, and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the topic and state the specific question addressed; however, significant details are missing, unclear, and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the topic and statement of the specific question addressed are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the scholarly source on one side of the issue.

Proficient - Describes the scholarly source on one side of the issue. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally describes the scholarly source on one side of the issue. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the scholarly source on one side of the issue; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the scholarly source on one side of the issue is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and accurately presents the main argument from the scholarly source in standard form.

Proficient - Presents the main argument from the scholarly source in standard form. Minor details are slightly unclear or inaccurate.

Basic - Vaguely presents the main argument from the scholarly source in standard form. Relevant details are unclear and/or inaccurate or there are errors in the use of standard form.

Below Expectations - Attempts to present the main argument from the scholarly source; however, significant details are unclear and inaccurate or the argument is not in standard form.

Non-Performance - The main argument from the scholarly source in standard form is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively evaluates the quality of the reasoning of the source.

Proficient - Evaluates the quality of the reasoning of the source. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally evaluates the quality of the reasoning of the source. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate the quality of the reasoning of the source; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of the quality of the reasoning of the source is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the scholarly source on the other side of the issue.

Proficient - Describes the scholarly source on the other side of the issue. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally describes the scholarly source on the other side of the issue. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the scholarly source on the other side of the issue; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the scholarly source on the other side of the issue is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and accurately presents the main argument of the scholarly source in standard form.

Proficient - Presents the main argument of the scholarly source in standard form. Minor details are slightly unclear or inaccurate.

Basic - Vaguely presents the main argument of the scholarly source in standard form. Relevant details are unclear and/or inaccurate or there are errors in the use of standard form.

Below Expectations - Attempts to present the main argument of the scholarly source; however, significant details are unclear and inaccurate, or the argument is not in standard form.

Non-Performance - The main argument of the scholarly source in standard form is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively evaluates the quality of the reasoning of the source.

Proficient - Evaluates the quality of the reasoning of the source. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally evaluates the quality of the reasoning of the source. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate the quality of the reasoning of the source; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of the quality of the reasoning of the source is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively evaluates the quality of arguments in scholarly sources contrasted with non-scholarly sources.

Proficient - Evaluates the quality of arguments in scholarly sources contrasted with non-scholarly sources. Minor details are slightly unclear or missing.

Basic - Minimally evaluates the quality of arguments in scholarly sources contrasted with non-scholarly sources. Relevant details are unclear and/or missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate the quality of arguments in scholarly sources contrasted with non-scholarly sources; however, significant details are unclear and missing.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of the quality of arguments in scholarly sources contrasted with non-scholarly sources is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly reflects on the activity in the conclusion.

Proficient - Reflects on the activity in the conclusion. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally reflects on the activity in the conclusion. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to reflect on the activity in the conclusion; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The reflection on the activity in the conclusion 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 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.