Distinguished - Includes complete contact information and a proper greeting.

Proficient - Includes contact information and a proper greeting. Minor elements of the contact information are missing.

Basic - Includes incomplete contact information and/or a greeting that is missing relevant details. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to include contact information and a proper greeting; however, substantial elements of the contact information and/or greeting are missing.

Non-Performance - The contact information and a proper greeting are nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Creates a strong lead-in paragraph that is informative and compelling.

Proficient - Creates a lead-in paragraph that is mostly informative and compelling. The lead-in paragraph is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Creates a partial lead-in paragraph that is somewhat informative and compelling. The lead-in paragraph is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to create a lead-in paragraph; however, it is not entirely informative and/or compelling. The lead-in paragraph is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The creation of a strong lead-in paragraph that is informative and compelling is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Develops a strong and clear supporting paragraph. 

Proficient - Develops a clear supporting paragraph. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Develops a supporting paragraph. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to develop a supporting paragraph; however, substantial details are missing and unclear.

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

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains the unique selling points and how the story fits into a particular portion of the print publication or the broadcast program.

Proficient - Explains the unique selling points and how the story fits into a particular portion of the print publication or the broadcast program. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally explains the unique selling points and how the story fits into a particular portion of the print publication or the broadcast program. Relevant details are missing. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the unique selling points and how the story fits into a particular portion of the print publication or the broadcast program; however, substantial details are missing.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the unique selling points and how the story fits into a particular portion of the print publication or the broadcast program is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Includes highly relevant previous work or areas of interest on the topic to demonstrate expertise and credibility. 

Proficient - Includes relevant previous work or areas of interest on the topic to demonstrate expertise and credibility. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Includes previous work or areas of interest on the topic that only minimally demonstrates expertise and credibility. The work included is only somewhat relevant and/or relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to include previous work or areas of interest on the topic; however, the work included is not entirely relevant, it does not demonstrate expertise and credibility, and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The inclusion of previous work or areas of interest on the topic that demonstrates expertise and credibility is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Creates a strong concluding paragraph that effectively summarizes the topic.

Proficient - Creates a concluding paragraph that summarizes the topic. Minor points are missing.

Basic - Creates a limited concluding paragraph that somewhat summarizes the topic. Relevant points are missing.

Below Expectations - Creates a concluding paragraph that attempts to summarize the topic; however, substantial points are missing.

Non-Performance - The creation of a concluding paragraph that summarizes the topic 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 - 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.