Distinguished - Clearly, accurately, and thoroughly identifies the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) goal and issue.

Proficient - Identifies the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) goal and issue. Minor details are missing, slightly unclear, or inaccurate.

Basic - Partially identifies the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) goal and issue. Relevant details are missing, unclear and/or, inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to identify the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) goal and issue; however, significant details are missing, unclear and, inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The identification of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) goal and issue is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively, clearly, and accurately summarizes the various points of view that frame the Homeland Security issue, threat, or hazard that leads to a vulnerability. 

Proficient - Summarizes the various points of view that frame the Homeland Security issue, threat, or hazard that leads to a vulnerability. Minor details are missing, slightly unclear, or inaccurate.

Basic - Minimally summarizes the various points of view that frame the Homeland Security issue, threat, or hazard that leads to a vulnerability. Relevant details are missing, unclear, and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to summarize the various points of view that frame the Homeland Security issue, threat, or hazard that leads to a vulnerability; however, significant details are missing, unclear, and inaccurate. 

Non-Performance - The summary of the various points of view that frame the Homeland Security issue, threat, or hazard that leads to a vulnerability is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the various roles and responsibilities of the various levels of government in respect to the issue under review.

Proficient - Describes the various roles and responsibilities of the various levels of government in respect to the issue under review. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally describes the various roles and responsibilities of the various levels of government in respect to the issue under review. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the various roles and responsibilities of the various levels of government in respect to the issue under review; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the various roles and responsibilities of the various levels of government in respect to the issue under review is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains one’s personal position on how the Department of Homeland Security should address vulnerability using mitigation, prevention, and preparedness techniques.

Proficient - Explains one’s personal position on how the Department of Homeland Security should address vulnerability using mitigation, prevention, and preparedness techniques. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains one’s personal position on how the Department of Homeland Security should address vulnerability using mitigation, prevention, and preparedness techniques. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain one’s personal position on how the Department of Homeland Security should address vulnerability using mitigation, prevention, and preparedness techniques; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of one’s personal position on how the Department of Homeland Security should address vulnerability using mitigation, prevention, and preparedness techniques 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 - 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 - 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.