Distinguished - Develops a thorough introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion.

Proficient - Develops an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Develops a partial introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to develops an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion; however, significant details are missing.

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

Distinguished - Thoroughly, clearly, and accurately identifies processes, procedures, products, people, or structures in need of change based on events that are or were happening in the current or past business environment.

Proficient - Identifies processes, procedures, products, people, or structures in need of change based on events that are or were happening in the current or past business environment. Minor details are missing, slightly unclear, or inaccurate.

Basic - Vaguely identifies processes, procedures, products, people, or structures in need of change based on events that are or were happening in the current or past business environment. Relevant details are missing, unclear, and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to identify processes, procedures, products, people, or structures in need of change based on events that are or were happening in the current or past business environment; however, significant details are missing, entirely unclear, and inaccurate.

Non-Performance – The identification of processes, procedures, products, people, or structures in need of change based on events that are or were happening in the current or past business environment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly organizes the information using appropriate headings based on the context of the recommended change initiative.

Proficient - Organizes the information using appropriate headings based on the context of the recommended change initiative. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially organizes the information using appropriate headings based on the context of the recommended change initiative. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to organize the information using appropriate headings based on the context of the recommended change initiative; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The organization of the information using appropriate headings based on the context of the recommended change initiative is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a thorough argument to persuade management to initiate a change.

Proficient - Provides an argument to persuade management to initiate a change. The argument is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Provides a minimal argument to persuade management to initiate a change. The argument is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide an argument to persuade management to initiate a change; however, the argument is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The argument to persuade management to initiate a change 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 - 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 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.