Distinguished - Clearly and thoroughly critiques a criminological theory that fully explains why homicides occur.

Proficient - Critiques a criminological theory that explains why homicides occur. Minor details are missing or unclear.

Basic - Vaguely critiques a criminological theory that minimally explains why homicides occur. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to critique a criminological theory that explains why homicides occur; however, the critique is significantly unclear. 

Non-Performance - The critique of a criminological theory that explains why homicides occur is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly discusses ways to decrease and control homicides in the United States.

Proficient - Discusses ways to decrease and control homicides in the United States. The discussion is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally discusses ways to decrease and control homicides in the United States. The discussion is underdeveloped. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss ways to decrease and control homicides in the United States; however, the discussion is significantly underdeveloped. 

Non-Performance - The discussion on ways to decrease and control homicides in the United States is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly discusses some of the factors of focus of the various sociological schools of crime causation that explain why murder occurs.

Proficient - Discusses some of the factors of focus of the various sociological schools of crime causation that explain why murder occurs. The discussion is slightly underdeveloped. 

Basic - Minimally discusses some of the factors of focus of the various sociological schools of crime causation that explain why murder occurs. The discussion is underdeveloped. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss some of the factors of focus of the various sociological schools of crime causation that explain why murder occurs; however, the discussion is significantly underdeveloped. 

Non-Performance - The discussion of some of the factors of focus of the various sociological schools of crime causation that explain why murder occurs 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 - 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.