Distinguished - Creates a formal outline for the Final Paper that includes complete sentences for every point. The organization of the outline is clear.

Proficient - Creates a formal outline for the Final Paper that includes complete sentences for the majority of the points. The organization of the outline is slightly unclear.

Basic - Creates a formal outline for the Final Paper, but less than half of the points are written in complete sentences. The organization of the outline is unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to create a formal outline for the Final Paper but does not contain complete sentences and the organization of the outline is significantly unclear.

Non-Performance - The creation of a formal outline for the Final Paper is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions

Distinguished - Creates at least one thorough paragraph for each of the five concepts that will be used in the Final Paper and includes appropriate supporting material for each concept in the form of a bibliography.

Proficient - Creates at least one paragraph for each of the five concepts that will be used in the Final Paper and includes supporting material for each concept in the form of a bibliography. The paragraphs are slightly underdeveloped or the supporting materials are slightly inappropriate.

Basic - Creates at least one limited paragraph for each of the five concepts that will be used in the Final Paper and includes limited supporting material for most of the concepts in the form of a bibliography. The paragraphs are underdeveloped and/or the supporting materials are inappropriate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to create at least one paragraph for each of the five concepts that will be used in the Final Paper and include supporting material for each concept; however, the paragraphs are significantly underdeveloped and the supporting materials are inappropriate and is not in the form of a bibliography.

Non-Performance - The creation of at least one paragraph for each of the five concepts that will be used in the Final Paper and supporting material for each concept in the form of a bibliography are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Develops a comprehensive introduction, and includes a thesis statement giving a clear direction and purpose of the paper.

Proficient - Develops an introduction, and includes a thesis statement that gives some direction and purpose of the paper.

Basic - Develops a limited introduction and includes a thesis statement that somewhat gives direction and purpose of the paper.

Below Expectations - Develops a significantly limited introduction and thesis statement and the direction and purpose of the paper is unclear.

Non-Performance - The development of an introduction and thesis statement for the Final Paper are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Develops a comprehensive conclusion and fully reaffirms the thesis statement.

Proficient - Develops a conclusion and reaffirms the thesis statement.

Basic - Develops a partial conclusion and somewhat reaffirms the thesis statement.

Below Expectations - Develops a conclusion but is incomplete and does not reaffirm the thesis statement.

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

Distinguished - Analyzes texts for scholarly significance and pertinence within and across various disciplines, assessing them according to their contributions and consequences.

Proficient - Utilizes texts in the context of scholarship to expand a foundation of disciplinary knowledge and to raise and discover significant inquiries.

Basic - Employs texts with the intent and expectation of increasing knowledge.

Below Expectations - Approaches texts only within the context of assignment.

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

Distinguished - Creates meaningful correlations among experiences outside of the classroom to demonstrate an understanding of the given field of study and to broaden one's own viewpoints.

Proficient - Compares life experiences and academic knowledge to distinguish differences and similarities while acknowledging perspectives other than one's own.

Basic - Recognizes correlations between life experiences, academic texts, and ideas perceived as similar and related to one's own interests.

Below Expectations - Briefly comments about the connections between one's life experiences and academic texts.

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 - 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.