Distinguished - Drafts a clear and thorough introduction and thesis for the final paper.

Proficient - Drafts an introduction and thesis for the final paper. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Drafts a limited introduction and thesis for the final paper. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to draft an introduction and thesis for the final paper; however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The introduction and thesis for the final paper are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Selects one of the Department of Homeland Security goals to examine in the final paper.

Proficient - N/A

Basic - N/A

Below Expectations - N/A

Non-Performance - The selection of one of the Department of Homeland Security goals to examine in the final paper is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains a current issue, threat, or hazard that leads to a Homeland Security vulnerability, and provides a detailed paragraph discussion of why this issue or topic was selected.

Proficient - Explains a current issue, threat, or hazard that leads to a Homeland Security vulnerability, and provides a paragraph discussion of why this issue or topic was selected. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally explains a current issue, threat, or hazard that leads to a Homeland Security vulnerability, and provides a limited paragraph discussion of why this issue or topic was selected. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain a current issue, threat, or hazard that leads to a Homeland Security vulnerability and provide a paragraph discussion of why this issue or topic was selected; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The explanation of a current issue, threat, or hazard that leads to a Homeland Security vulnerability and a paragraph discussion of why this issue or topic was selected are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains other associated issues, threats, or hazards that must be addressed to resolve this Homeland Security vulnerability.

Proficient - Explains other associated issues, threats, or hazards that must be addressed to resolve this Homeland Security vulnerability. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains other associated issues, threats, or hazards that must be addressed to resolve this Homeland Security vulnerability. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain other associated issues, threats, or hazards that must be addressed to resolve this Homeland Security vulnerability; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of other associated issues, threats, or hazards that must be addressed to resolve this Homeland Security vulnerability is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and accurately identifies three other questions to research prior to writing the final research paper, and provides a detailed paragraph of further amplification on why it is important to answer this question.

Proficient - Identifies three other questions to research prior to writing the final research paper, and provides a paragraph of further amplification on why it is important to answer this question. Minor details are missing, slightly unclear, or inaccurate.

Basic - Identifies three other questions to research prior to writing the final research paper, and provides a limited paragraph of further amplification on why it is important to answer this question. Relevant details are missing, unclear, and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to identify three other questions to research prior to writing the final research paper and provide a paragraph of further amplification on why it is important to answer this question; however, significant details are missing, unclear, and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The identification of three other questions to research prior to writing the final research paper and paragraph of further amplification on why it is important to answer this question 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.