Distinguished - Thoroughly describes how the human relationship to nature will be different from what it is at present.

Proficient - Describes how the human relationship to nature will be different from what it is at present. The description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally describes how the human relationship to nature will be different from what it is at present. The description is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe how the human relationship to nature will be different from what it is at present; however, the description is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The description of how the human relationship to nature will be different from what it is at present is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly examines how humans will cope differently with the ways that natural phenomena affect our lives.

Proficient - Examines how humans will cope differently with the ways that natural phenomena affect lives. The examination is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially examines how humans will cope differently with the ways that natural phenomena affect lives. The examination is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to examine how humans will cope differently with the ways that natural phenomena affect lives; however, the examination is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The examination of how humans will cope differently with the ways that natural phenomena affect lives is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes what Earth’s biodiversity and ecosystems will look like in a sustainable future.

Proficient - Describes what Earth’s biodiversity and ecosystems will look like in a sustainable future. The description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally describes what Earth’s biodiversity and ecosystems will look like in a sustainable future. The description is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe what Earth’s biodiversity and ecosystems will look like in a sustainable future; however, the description is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The description of what Earth’s biodiversity and ecosystems will look like in a sustainable future is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains what humans have done differently to enable biodiversity and ecosystems to function sustainably.

Proficient - Explains what humans have done differently to enable biodiversity and ecosystems to function sustainably. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains what humans have done differently to enable biodiversity and ecosystems to function sustainably. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain what humans have done differently to enable biodiversity and ecosystems to function sustainably; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of what humans have done differently to enable biodiversity and ecosystems to function sustainably is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly examines how agricultural production will be different in a sustainable future.

Proficient - Examines how agricultural production will be different in a sustainable future. The examination is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially examines how agricultural production will be different in a sustainable future. The examination is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to examine how agricultural production will be different in a sustainable future; however, the examination is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The examination of how agricultural production will be different in a sustainable future is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly and accurately differentiates between how humans will manage water resources in the sustainable future compared to how it is done now.

Proficient - Differentiates between how humans will manage water resources in the sustainable future compared to how it is done now. Minor details are missing or slightly inaccurate.

Basic - Partially differentiates between how humans will manage water resources in the sustainable future compared to how it is done now. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to differentiate between how humans will manage water resources in the sustainable future compared to how it is done now; however, significant details are missing and entirely inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The differentiation between how humans will manage water resources in the sustainable future compared to how it is done now is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly examines how humans will meet their energy needs in the future in a way that will enable maintenance of a sustainable, habitable atmosphere and climate.

Proficient - Examines how humans will meet their energy needs in the future in a way that will enable maintenance of a sustainable, habitable atmosphere and climate. The examination is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally examines how humans will meet their energy needs in the future in a way that will enable maintenance of a sustainable, habitable atmosphere and climate. The examination is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to examine how humans will meet their energy needs in the future in a way that will enable maintenance of a sustainable, habitable atmosphere and climate; however, the examination is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The examination of how humans will meet their energy needs in the future in a way that will enable maintenance of a sustainable, habitable atmosphere and climate is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and thoroughly indicates the changes that humans have made that are enabling them to maintain a healthy atmosphere and climate for all.

Proficient - Indicates the changes that humans have made that are enabling them to maintain a healthy atmosphere and climate for all. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Vaguely indicates the changes that humans have made that are enabling them to maintain a healthy atmosphere and climate for all. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to indicate the changes that humans have made that are enabling them to maintain a healthy atmosphere and climate for all; however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The changes that humans have made that are enabling them to maintain a healthy atmosphere and climate for all is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes how waste management will be different in a sustainable future.

Proficient - Describes how waste management will be different in a sustainable future. The description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially describes how waste management will be different in a sustainable future. The description is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe how waste management will be different in a sustainable future; however, the description is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The description of how waste management will be different in a sustainable future is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and thoroughly indicates changes that have been made to how humans think about and treat what is currently called “waste.”

Proficient - Indicates the changes that have been made to how humans think about and treat what is currently called “waste.” Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Vaguely indicates minimal changes that have been made to how humans think about and treat what is currently called “waste.” Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to indicate the changes that have been made to how humans think about and treat what is currently called “waste;” however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The changes that have been made to how humans think about and treat what is currently called “waste” are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly summarizes the major social, economic, political, and ecological choices and tradeoffs that will need to be overcome for this sustainable future to arrive.

Proficient - Summarizes the major social, economic, political, and ecological choices and tradeoffs that will need to be overcome for this sustainable future to arrive. The summary is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially summarizes the major social, economic, political, and ecological choices and tradeoffs that will need to be overcome for this sustainable future to arrive. The summary is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to summarize the major social, economic, political, and ecological choices and tradeoffs that will need to be overcome for this sustainable future to arrive; however, the summary is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The summary of the major social, economic, political, and ecological choices and tradeoffs that will need to be overcome for this sustainable future to arrive is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Fully supports ideas with detailed examples.

Proficient - Supports ideas with examples. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Somewhat supports ideas with limited examples. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to supports ideas with examples; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The support of ideas with examples is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Uses all four terms in describing the future society.

Proficient - Uses three terms in describing the future society.

Basic - Uses two terms in describing the future society.

Below Expectations - Uses one term in describing the future society.

Non-Performance - The four terms in describing the future society 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 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.