Distinguished - Clearly and accurately explains what conflict is.

Proficient - Explains what conflict is. Minor details are slightly unclear or inaccurate. 

Basic - Vaguely explains what conflict is. Relevant details are unclear and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain what conflict is; however, significant details are unclear and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The explanation of what conflict is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and accurately describes an example of conflict, including how it meets the criteria for what counts as conflict.

Proficient - Describes an example of conflict, including how it meets the criteria for what counts as conflict. Minor details are slightly unclear or inaccurate.

Basic - Vaguely describes an example of conflict, including how it meets the criteria for what counts as conflict. Relevant details are unclear and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe an example of conflict, including how it meets the criteria for what counts as conflict; however, significant details are unclear and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The description of an example of conflict, including how it meets the criteria for what counts as conflict, is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Cleary and comprehensively explains all five of the themes and uses them to analyze the conflict, including a rationale for the selection.

Proficient - Explains the five themes used to analyze the conflict, including a good rationale for each of the selection. One or more of the themes is not given sufficient attention.  Minor details are slightly unclear or missing.

Basic - Minimally explains the three to four themes used to analyze the conflict, including a good rationale for the selection. One or more of the themes is not given sufficient attention Relevant details are unclear and/or missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the two to four themes used to analyze the conflict, including a rationale for the selection; however, significant details are unclear and missing for many of the themes.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the five themes used to analyze the conflict, including a rationale for the selection, is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains all five of the themes and uses them to analyze the conflict, including a rationale for the selection.

Proficient - Explains the five themes used to analyze the conflict, including a good rationale for each of the selection. One or more of the themes is not given sufficient attention.  Minor details are slightly unclear or missing.

Basic - Minimally explains the three to four themes used to analyze the conflict, including a good rationale for the selection. One or more of the themes is not given sufficient attention Relevant details are unclear and/or missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the two to four themes used to analyze the conflict, including a rationale for the selection; however, significant details are unclear and missing for many of the themes.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the five themes used to analyze the conflict, including a rationale for the selection, is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly analyzes the chosen conflict through one of the five themes, including a consideration of race and/or ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality as applicable to the conflict.

Proficient - Analyzes the chosen conflict through one of the five themes, including a consideration of race and/or ethnicity, class, gender as applicable to the conflict, and sexuality. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally analyzes the chosen conflict through one of the five themes, including a consideration of race and/or ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality as applicable to the conflict. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to analyze the chosen conflict through one of the five themes, including a consideration of race and/or ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality as applicable to the conflict; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The analysis of the chosen conflict through one of the five hemes, including a consideration of race and/or ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality as applicable to the conflict, is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and accurately describes the communication techniques used in the conflict.

Proficient - Describes the communication techniques used in the conflict. Minor details are slightly unclear or inaccurate.

Basic - Vaguely describes the communication techniques used in the conflict. Relevant details are unclear and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the communication techniques used in the conflict; however, significant details are unclear and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The description of the communication techniques used in the conflict is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly assesses what communication techniques could have been used toward a better outcome, including any ideals that were used.

Proficient - Assesses what communication techniques could have been used toward a better outcome, including any ideals that were used. Minor details are slightly unclear.

Basic - Vaguely assesses what communication techniques could have been used toward a better outcome, including any ideals that were used. Relevant details are unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to assess what communication techniques could have been used toward a better outcome, including any ideals that were used; however, significant details are unclear.

Non-Performance - The assessment of what communication techniques could have been used toward a better outcome, including any ideals that were used, is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment 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 - 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 - 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.

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 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.