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. One or more of 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 significant improvement.

Non-Performance - The introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains how and why federalism has a positive impact on the selected topic. The explanation is fully supported with scholarly sources and includes one appropriate real-world example.

Proficient - Explains how and why federalism has a positive impact on the selected topic. The explanation is supported with scholarly sources but is slightly underdeveloped or unclear, and includes one real-world example but is slightly inappropriate.

Basic - Partially explains how and why federalism has a positive impact on the selected topic. The explanation is somewhat supported with scholarly sources and is underdeveloped and/or unclear and includes one real-world example but is inappropriate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain how and why federalism has a positive impact on the selected topic; however, the explanation is not supported with scholarly sources and is significantly underdeveloped and unclear and unclear and does not include an appropriate real-world example.

Non-Performance - The explanations of how and why federalism has a positive impact on the selected topic are either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains how and why federalism has a negative impact on the selected topic. The explanation is fully supported with scholarly sources and includes one appropriate real-world example.

Proficient - Explains how and why federalism has a negative impact on the selected topic. The explanation is supported with scholarly sources but is slightly underdeveloped or unclear, and includes one real-world example but is slightly inappropriate.

Basic - Partially explains how and why federalism has a negative impact on the selected topic. The explanation is somewhat supported with scholarly sources and is underdeveloped and/or unclear and includes one real-world example but is inappropriate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain how and why federalism has a negative impact on the selected topic; however, the explanation is not supported with scholarly sources and is significantly underdeveloped and unclear and does not include an appropriate real-world example.

Non-Performance - The explanations of how and why federalism has a negative impact on the selected topic are either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains how and why civil rights are positively affected by the selected topic. The explanation is fully supported with scholarly sources and includes one appropriate real-world example.

Proficient - Explains how and why civil rights are positively affected by the selected topic. The explanation is supported with scholarly sources but is slightly underdeveloped or unclear, and includes one real-world example but is slightly inappropriate.

Basic - Partially explains how and why civil rights are positively affected by the selected topic. The explanation is somewhat supported with scholarly sources and is underdeveloped and/or unclear and includes one real-world example but is inappropriate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain how and why civil rights are positively affected by the selected topic. The explanation is not supported with scholarly sources and is significantly underdeveloped and unclear and does not include an appropriate real-world example.

Non-Performance - The explanations of how and why civil rights are positively affected by the selected topic are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains how and why civil rights are negatively affected by the selected topic. The explanation is fully supported with scholarly sources and includes one appropriate real-world example.

Proficient - Explains how and why civil rights are negatively affected by the selected topic. The explanation is supported with scholarly sources but is slightly underdeveloped or unclear, and one real-world example but is slightly inappropriate.

Basic - Partially explains how and why civil rights are negatively affected by the selected topic. The explanation is somewhat supported with scholarly sources and is underdeveloped and/or unclear and includes one real-world example but is inappropriate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain how and why civil rights are negatively affected by the selected topic. The explanation is not supported with scholarly sources and is significantly underdeveloped and unclear and does not include a real-world example.

Non-Performance - The explanations of how and why civil rights are negatively affected by the selected topic are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains how and why civil liberties are positively affected by the selected topic. The explanation is fully supported with scholarly sources and includes one appropriate real-world example.

Proficient - Explains how and why civil liberties are positively affected by the selected topic. The explanation is supported with scholarly sources but is slightly underdeveloped or unclear, and one real-world example but is slightly inappropriate.

Basic - Partially explains how and why civil liberties are positively affected by the selected topic. The explanation is somewhat supported with scholarly sources and is underdeveloped and/or unclear and includes one real-world example but is inappropriate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain how and why civil liberties are positively affected by the selected topic. The explanation is not supported with scholarly sources and is significantly underdeveloped and unclear and does not include an appropriate real-world example.

Non-Performance - The explanations of how and why civil liberties are positively affected by the selected topic are either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains how and why civil liberties are negatively affected by the selected topic. The explanation is fully supported with scholarly sources and includes one appropriate real-world example.

Proficient - (Explains how and why civil liberties are negatively affected by the selected topic. The explanation is supported with scholarly sources but is slightly underdeveloped or unclear, and one real-world example but is slightly inappropriate.

Basic - Partially explains how and why civil liberties are negatively affected by the selected topic. The explanation is somewhat supported with scholarly sources and is underdeveloped and/or unclear and includes one real-world example but is inappropriate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain how and why civil liberties are negatively affected by the selected topic. The explanation is not supported with scholarly sources and is significantly underdeveloped and unclear and does not include an appropriate real-world example.

Non-Performance - The explanations of how and why civil liberties are negatively affected by the selected topic are either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Uses appropriate, pertinent, and persuasive content to discover and develop sophisticated ideas within the context of the discipline, shaping the work as a whole.

Proficient - Uses appropriate and pertinent content to discover ideas within the context of the discipline, shaping the work as a whole.

Basic - Uses appropriate and pertinent content but does not apply it toward discovering or developing ideas. Overall, content assists in shaping the written work.

Below Expectations - Uses content, though it may be unrelated or inappropriate to the topic. Content does not contribute toward the development of the written work and may distract the reader from its purpose.

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

Distinguished - Employs persuasive and applicable information from credible sources to develop an ample analysis or synthesis of the topic. Viewpoints of experts are scrutinized thoroughly.

Proficient - Employs applicable information from credible sources to develop an analysis of the topic.

Basic - Identifies applicable information from credible sources, but may neglect the application of such information toward the analysis of the topic. 

Below Expectations - Presents information from external sources, but such information may lack credibility and/or relevance. Neglects to apply such information toward the analysis of the topic.

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 - 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.