Distinguished - Clearly and accurately states the title of the essay on the title page.

Proficient - N/A

Basic - Partially states the title of the essay on the title page. Relevant details are unclear and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - N/A

Non-Performance - The title of the essay on the title page is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly writes an introductory paragraph that is five sentences.

Proficient - Clearly writes an introductory paragraph that is five sentences. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally writes an introductory paragraph that is at least four sentences. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to write an introductory paragraph; however, the paragraph is three or fewer sentences and/or significant details are missing and unclear.

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

Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly creates a paragraph about research question/subtopic 1 that is at least five sentences.

Proficient - Creates a paragraph about research question/subtopic 1 that is at least five sentences. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally creates a paragraph about research question/subtopic 1 that is at least four sentences. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to create a paragraph about research question/subtopic 1; however, the paragraph is three or fewer sentences and/or significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The paragraph about research question/subtopic 1 with at least five sentences is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly creates a paragraph about research question/subtopic 2 that is at least five sentences.

Proficient - Creates a paragraph about research question/subtopic 2 that is at least five sentences. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally creates a paragraph about research question/subtopic 2 that is at least four sentences. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to create a paragraph about research question/subtopic 2; however, the paragraph is three or fewer sentences and/or significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The paragraph about research question/subtopic 2 with at least five sentences is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly creates a paragraph about research question/subtopic 3 that is at least five sentences.

Proficient - Creates a paragraph about research question/subtopic 3 that is at least five sentences. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally creates a paragraph about research question/subtopic 3 that is at least four sentences. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to create a paragraph about research question/subtopic 3; however, the paragraph is three or fewer sentences and/or significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The paragraph about research question/subtopic 3 with at least five sentences 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. The paragraph is at least five sentences.

Proficient - Clearly explains how information literacy skills support future academic, personal or professional success. The paragraph is at least five sentences. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally explains how information literacy skills support future academic, personal or professional success. The paragraph is at least four sentences. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to write a conclusion paragraph that explains how information literacy skills support future academic, personal or professional success; however, the paragraph is three or fewer sentences and/or significant details are missing and unclear.

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

Distinguished - Clearly and accurately lists at least three APA formatted references.

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

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

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

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

Distinguished - Comprehensively, clearly, and accurately supports the research questions/subtopics with the selected research.

Proficient - Supports the research questions/subtopics with the selected research. Minor details are missing, slightly unclear, or inaccurate.

Basic - Partially supports the research questions/subtopics with the selected research. Relevant details are missing, unclear, and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to support the research questions/subtopics with the selected research; however, significant details are missing, unclear, and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The support of the research questions/subtopics with the selected research is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately includes at least one popular and at least one scholarly source.

Proficient - N/A

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

Below Expectations - N/A

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

Distinguished - Includes at least one accurate APA formatted citation for the first body paragraph.

Proficient - Includes at least one APA formatted citation for the first body paragraph. Minor details are slightly inaccurate.

Basic - Includes a partial APA formatted citation for the first body paragraph. Relevant details are inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to include one APA formatted citation for the first body paragraph; however, significant details are inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The APA formatted citation for the first body paragraph is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Includes at least one accurate APA formatted citation for the second body paragraph.

Proficient - Includes at least one APA formatted citation for the second body paragraph. Minor details are slightly inaccurate.

Basic - Includes a partial APA formatted citation for the second body paragraph. Relevant details are inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to include one APA formatted citation for the second body paragraph; however, significant details are inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The APA formatted citation for the second body paragraph is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Includes at least one accurate APA formatted citation for the third body paragraph.

Proficient - Includes at least one APA formatted citation for the third body paragraph. Minor details are slightly inaccurate.

Basic - Includes a partial APA formatted citation for the third body paragraph. Relevant details are inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to include one APA formatted citation for the third body paragraph; however, significant details are inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The APA formatted citation for the third body paragraph is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

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

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

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

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

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