Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly assesses the purpose and function of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Proficient - Assesses the purpose and function of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally assesses the purpose and function of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to assess the purpose and function of the International Criminal Court (ICC); however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The assessment of the purpose and function of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains why the United States has not joined the ICC.

Proficient - Explains why the United States has not joined the ICC. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains why the United States has not joined the ICC. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain why the United States has not joined the ICC; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of why the United States has not joined the ICC) is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly, clearly, and accurately examines the pros and cons for the United States to be a member of the ICC.

Proficient - Examines the pros and cons for the United States to be a member of the ICC. Minor details are missing, slightly unclear, or inaccurate.

Basic - Minimally examines the pros and cons for the United States to be a member of the ICC. Relevant details are missing, unclear, and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to examine the pros and cons for the United States to be a member of the ICC; however, significant details are missing, unclear, and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The examination of the pros and cons for the United States to be a member of the ICC is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively and clearly constructs an argument proposing why the United States should join or continue to not be a part of the ICC, and clearly provides sound reasoning for the opinions.

Proficient - Constructs an argument proposing why the United States should join or continue to not be a part of the ICC, and provides sound reasoning for the opinions. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Partially constructs an argument proposing why the United States should join or continue to not be a part of the ICC, and minimally provides sound reasoning for the opinions. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to construct an argument proposing why the United States should join or continue to not be a part of the ICC; however, does not provide sound reasoning for the opinions, and/or significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The argument proposing why the United States should join or continue to not be a part of the ICC and sound reasoning for the opinions are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains the ramifications of the opinion advanced to the United States and the international community.

Proficient - Explains the ramifications of the opinion advanced to the United States and the international community. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains the ramifications of the opinion advanced to the United States and the international community. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the ramifications of the opinion advanced to the United States and the international community; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the ramifications of the opinion advanced to the United States and the international community 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 words.

Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of words.

Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of words.

Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of words.   

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.