Distinguished - Contains five clear and accurate paragraphs in the essay.

Proficient - N/A

Basic - N/A

Below Expectations - Attempts to contain five paragraphs in the essay; however, less than five paragraphs are provided and/or significant details are unclear and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The five paragraph essay is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly introduces the topic in the introduction paragraph.

Proficient - Introduces the topic in the introduction paragraph. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Vaguely introduces the topic in the introduction paragraph. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to introduce the topic in the introduction paragraph; however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The introduction of the topic in the introduction paragraph is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains how information literacy skills support future academic, personal, or professional success in the conclusion paragraph.

Proficient - Explains how information literacy skills support future academic, personal, or professional success in the conclusion paragraph. Minor details are missing, or the explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains how information literacy skills support future academic, personal, or professional success in the conclusion paragraph. Relevant details are missing, and/or the explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to write a concluding paragraph that explains how information literacy skills support future academic, personal, or professional success; however, significant details are missing, and explanation is underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The conclusion paragraph is nonexistent or does not address how information literacy skills support further academic, personal, or professional success.

Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly addresses the stated research question/subtopic in the first body paragraph.

Proficient - Addresses the stated research question/subtopic in first body paragraph. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally addresses the stated research question/subtopic in first body paragraph. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to address the stated research question/subtopic in first body paragraph; however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The address of the stated research question/subtopic in first body paragraph is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly includes in-text citations in the first body paragraph.

Proficient - Includes in-text citations in the first body paragraph. Minor details are slightly unclear.

Basic - Vaguely includes in-text citations in the first body paragraph. Relevant details are unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to include in-text citations in the first body paragraph; however, significant details are unclear.

Non-Performance - The in-text citations in the first body paragraph are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly writes at least five sentences in the first body paragraph.

Proficient - Clearly writes at least five sentences in the first body paragraph. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally writes at least four sentences in the first body paragraph. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to write at least five sentences in the first body paragraph; however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The five sentences in the first body paragraph are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly addresses the stated research question/subtopic in the second body paragraph.

Proficient - Addresses the stated research question/subtopic in the second body paragraph. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally addresses the stated research question/subtopic in the second body paragraph. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to address the stated research question/subtopic in the second body paragraph; however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The address of the stated research question/subtopic in the second body paragraph is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly includes in-text citations in the second body paragraph.

Proficient - Includes in-text citations in the second body paragraph. Minor details are slightly unclear.

Basic - Vaguely includes in-text citations in the second body paragraph. Relevant details are unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to include in-text citations in the second body paragraph; however, significant details are unclear.

Non-Performance - The in-text citations in the second body paragraph are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly writes at least five sentences in the second body paragraph.

Proficient - Clearly writes at least five sentences in the second body paragraph. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally writes at least four sentences in the second body paragraph. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to write at least five sentences in the second body paragraph; however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The five sentences in the second body paragraph are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly addresses the stated research question/subtopic in the third body paragraph.

Proficient - Addresses the stated research question/subtopic in the third body paragraph. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally addresses the stated research question/subtopic in the third body paragraph. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to address the stated research question/subtopic in the third body paragraph; however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The address of the stated research question/subtopic in the third body paragraph is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly includes in-text citations in the third body paragraph.

Proficient - Includes in-text citations in the third body paragraph. Minor details are slightly unclear.

Basic - Vaguely includes in-text citations in the third body paragraph. Relevant details are unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to include in-text citations in the third body paragraph; however, significant details are unclear.

Non-Performance - The in-text citations in the third body paragraph are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly writes at least five sentences in the third body paragraph.

Proficient - Clearly writes at least five sentences in the third body paragraph. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally writes at least four sentences in the third body paragraph. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to write at least five sentences in the third body paragraph; however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The five sentences in the third body paragraph are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately includes at least one or two scholarly sources.

Proficient - N/A

Basic - Includes at least one scholarly source. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - N/A

Non-Performance - The one or two scholarly sources are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately includes at least one or two popular sources.

Proficient - N/A

Basic - Includes at least one popular source. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - N/A

Non-Performance - The one or two popular sources are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Includes accurately APA formatted in-text citations.

Proficient - Includes APA formatted in-text citations. Minor details are slightly inaccurate.

Basic - Includes partially APA formatted in-text citations. Relevant details are inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to include APA formatted in-text citations; however, significant details are inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The APA formatted in-text citations are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and accurately lists APA formatted references.

Proficient - Lists APA formatted references. Minor details are slightly unclear or inaccurate.

Basic - Vaguely lists APA formatted references. Relevant details are unclear and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to list APA formatted references; however, significant details are unclear and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The APA formatted references are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Writes an essay with four or fewer grammatical or mechanical errors.

Proficient - Writes an essay with five grammatical or mechanical errors.

Basic - Writes an essay with six grammatical or mechanical errors.

Below Expectations - Writes an essay with seven grammatical or mechanical errors.

Non-Performance - The essay with four or fewer grammatical or mechanical errors is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.