Distinguished - Comprehensively explains the principles of and barriers to effective interpersonal communication using course materials, with full citations, to fully support all claims.

Proficient - Explains key principles of and barriers to effective interpersonal communication using course materials, with full citations, to support most claims. The explanation of key terms/themes is slightly underdeveloped, or some details are unclear.

Basic - Partially explains some key principles of and barriers to effective interpersonal communication using course materials, though not always with full citations, to support some claims. The explanation of key terms/themes is underdeveloped, and/or relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain some key principles of and barriers to effective interpersonal communication; however, does not use course materials, with full citations, to support claims, and the explanation of key terms/themes is significantly underdeveloped, and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the principles of and barriers to effective interpersonal communications is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively analyzes the role of communication in developing and maintaining one’s self-concept, self-image, and self-esteem using course materials, with full citations, to fully support all claims.

Proficient - Adequately analyzes the role of communication in developing and maintaining one’s self-concept, self-image, and self-esteem using course materials, with full citations, to support most claims. The analysis is slightly unclear or underdeveloped. 

Basic - Minimally analyzes the role of communication in developing and maintaining one’s self-concept, self-image, and self-esteem using course materials, with full citations, to support some claims.  The analysis is unclear and/or underdeveloped. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to analyze the role of communication in developing and maintaining self-concept, self-image, and self-esteem; however, does not use course materials, with full citations, sufficiently to support claims, and the analysis is significantly unclear or underdeveloped. 

Non-Performance - The analysis of the role of communication in developing and maintaining one’s self-concept, self-image, and self-esteem is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.  

Distinguished - Clearly differentiates when and how one should disclose personal information, considering factors such as appropriateness, effectiveness and context, and thoroughly examines the importance of emotional intelligence in all relationships and ties to self-disclosure, using course materials, with full citations, to fully support all claims.

Proficient - Adequately differentiates when and how one should disclose personal information, considering factors such as appropriateness, effectiveness and context, and examines the importance of emotional intelligence in all relationships and ties to self-disclosure, using course materials, with full citations, to support most claims. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Somewhat differentiates when and how one should disclose personal information, considering factors such as appropriateness, effectiveness and context, and partially examines the importance of emotional intelligence in all relationships and ties to self-disclosure, using course materials, with full citations, to support some claims. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to differentiate when and how one should disclose personal information, considering factors such as appropriateness, effectiveness and context, and examine the importance of emotional intelligence in all relationships and ties to self-disclosure; however, does not use course materials, with full citations, sufficiently to support claims, and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The differentiation of when and how one should disclose personal information, considering factors such as appropriateness, effectiveness and context and examination of the importance of emotional intelligence in all relationships and ties to self-disclosure are either non-existent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly two strategies for using communication techniques to resolve conflict, using course materials, with full citations, to fully support all claims.

Proficient - Adequately describes at least two strategies for using communication techniques to resolve conflict, using course materials, with full citations, to support most claims. The description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally describes two strategies for using communication techniques to resolve conflict using course materials, with full citations, to support some claims. The description is underdeveloped.  

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe one to two strategies for using communication techniques to resolve conflict; however, does not use course materials, with full citations, to support claims, and the description is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of strategies for using communication techniques to resolve conflict is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly analyzes the impact of gender and culture on interpersonal communications using course materials, with full citations, to fully support all claims.

Proficient - Adequately analyzes the impact of gender and culture on interpersonal communication using course materials, with full citations, to support most claims. The analysis is slightly underdeveloped.  

Basic - Partially analyzes the impact of gender and culture on interpersonal communication using course materials, with full citations, to support some claims. The analysis is underdeveloped.       

Below Expectations - Attempts to analyze the impact of gender and culture on interpersonal communication; however, does not use course materials, with full citations, to support claims, and the analysis is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The analysis of the  impact of gender and culture on interpersonal communication is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.  

Distinguished - Provides exceptional advice in the letter based on research and course concepts.

Proficient - Provides sufficient advice in the letter based on research and course concepts. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Briefly provides advice, based on research and course concepts. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide advice, based on research and course concepts; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The advice based on research and course concepts is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly uses personal experiences to illustrate key points and offer advice.

Proficient - Adequately uses personal experiences to illustrate key points and offer advice.

Basic - Somewhat uses personal experiences to illustrate key points and offer advice. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to use personal experiences to illustrate key points and offer advice.

Non-Performance - The use of personal experiences to illustrate key points and offer advice is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Paragraphs are well-developed with each making a single point that directly relates back to the thesis statement.

Proficient - Paragraphs are adequately developed with each making a single point that directly relates back to the thesis statement.

Basic - Paragraphs are partially developed with each making a single point that directly relates back to the thesis statement.

Below Expectations - Paragraphs are not adequately developed with each making a single point that directly relates back to the thesis statement.

Non-Performance - The paragraph development is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Paper is logically organized with a well-written introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion.

Proficient - Paper is logically organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. One of these requires improvement.

Basic - Paper is organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. One or more of the introduction, thesis statement, and/or conclusion require improvement.

Below Expectations - 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.

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.