Distinguished - Adheres fully to the Newspaper Feature Template and Associated Press (AP) Style. 

Proficient - Adheres to the Newspaper Feature Template and Associated Press (AP) Style. Minor errors are present.

Basic - Partially adheres to the Newspaper Feature Template and Associated Press (AP) Style. Relevant errors are present.

Below Expectations - Attempts to adhere to the Newspaper Feature Template and Associated Press (AP) Style; however, significant errors are present.

Non-Performance - The adherence to the Newspaper Feature Template and Associated Press (AP) Style is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Adheres fully to the Broadcast Story Script Template.

Proficient - Adheres to the Broadcast Story Script Template. Minor errors are present.

Basic - Partially adheres to the Broadcast Story Script Template.Relevant errors are present.

Below Expectations - Attempts to adhere to the Broadcast Story Script Template; however, significant errors are present.

Non-Performance - The adherence to the Broadcast Story Script Template is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly summarizes accurate facts and/or statistics that are highly relevant to the story. 

Proficient - Summarizes mostly accurate facts and/or statistics that are relevant to the story. The summary is slightly underdeveloped. 

Basic - Minimally summarizes somewhat accurate facts and/or statistics that are somewhat relevant to the story. The summary is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to summarize facts and/or statistics; however, they are not accurate or relevant to the story, and the summary is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The summary of facts and/or statistics that are relevant to the story is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively compares two opposing opinions about the topic derived from CQ Researcher. 

Proficient - Compares two opposing opinions about the topic derived from CQ Researcher. Minor details are missing, or the comparison is slightly unbalanced.

Basic - Minimally compares two opposing opinions about the topic derived from CQ Researcher. Relevant details are missing, or the comparison is unbalanced.

Below Expectations - Attempts to compare two opposing opinions about the topic derived from CQ Researcher; however, significant details are missing, and the comparison is significantly unbalanced.

Non-Performance - The comparison of two opposing opinions about the topic derived from CQ Researcher is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides proper and comprehensive attribution of all sources of information included.

Proficient - Provides proper attribution of all sources of information included. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Provides proper attribution of some sources of information included. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Provides incomplete attribution of all sources of information included. Significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - Proper attribution of all sources of information included is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Incorporates a highly relevant visual element that fully enhances the story.

Proficient - Incorporates a visual element that enhances the story. The visual element is mostly relevant.

Basic - Incorporates a visual element that minimally enhances the story. The visual element is somewhat relevant.

Below Expectations - Attempts to incorporate a visual element; however, the visual element is not entirely relevant and does not fully enhance the story.

Non-Performance - The use of a graphic image that enhances the story 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 - 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.