Distinguished - Comprehensively explains what happens with the defendant and the case after an acquittal.

Proficient - Explains what happens with the defendant and the case after an acquittal. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains what happens with the defendant and the case after an acquittal. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain what happens with the defendant and the case after an acquittal; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of what happens with the defendant and the case after an acquittal is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly details the sentencing process after conviction, comprehensively evaluating the defendant’s right of allocation.

Proficient - Details the sentencing process after conviction, evaluating the defendant’s right of allocation. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally details the sentencing process after conviction, partially evaluating the defendant’s right of allocation. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to detail the sentencing process after conviction and evaluate the defendant’s right of allocation; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The detail of the sentencing process after conviction and evaluation of the defendant’s right of allocation are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively discusses victims’ rights at sentencing.

Proficient - Discusses victims’ rights at sentencing. The discussion is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally discusses victims’ rights at sentencing. The discussion is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss victims’ rights at sentencing; however, the discussion is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The discussion of victims’ rights at sentencing is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains when an appeal is available for either the defense or prosecution.

Proficient - Explains when an appeal is available for either the defense or prosecution. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains when an appeal is available for either the defense or prosecution. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain when an appeal is available for either the defense or prosecution; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of when an appeal is available for either the defense or prosecution is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a comprehensive road map for a court case to reach the U.S. Supreme Court from a trial court.

Proficient - Provides a road map for a court case to reach the U.S. Supreme Court from a trial court. Minor details are missing, slightly unclear, or inaccurate.

Basic - Provides a limited road map for a court case to reach the U.S. Supreme Court from a trial court. Relevant details are missing, unclear, and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a road map for a court case to reach the U.S. Supreme Court from a trial court; however, significant details are missing, unclear, and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The road map for a court case to reach the U.S. Supreme Court from a trial court 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.