Distinguished - Selected topic is current, controversial, and of national or international importance.

Proficient - Selected topic is somewhat current, controversial, and of national or international importance.

Basic - Selected topic is at least two of the following: current, controversial, and/or of national or international importance.

Below Expectations - Selected topic has at least one of the following characteristics: current, controversial, or of national or international importance.

Non-Performance - The topic selection is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Writes 350-400 word print story that fully adheres to the Print News Publication Templates including at least two visual elements and provides proper attributions tailored to a local audience.

Proficient - Writes 350-400 word print story that mostly adheres to the Print News Publication Templates including at least two visual elements and provides proper attributions tailored to a local audience. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Writes 350-400 word print story that somewhat adheres to the Print News Publication Templates including at least two visual elements and provides proper attributions tailored to a local audience. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to write a 350-400 word print story that fully adheres to the Print News Publication Templates including at least two visual elements and provides proper attributions tailored to a local audience; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance -The print story including at least two visual elements and proper attributions is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Writes a 350-400 word news story that fully adheres to the Digital Media Publication Template including at least two visual elements and provides proper attributions tailored to a local audience.

Proficient - Writes a 350-400 word news story that mostly adheres to the Digital Media Publication Template including at least two visual elements and provides proper attributions tailored to a local audience. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Writes a 350-400 word news story that adheres to the Digital Media Publication Template including at least two visual elements and provides proper attributions tailored to a local audience. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to write a 350-400 word news story that adheres to the Digital Media Publication Template including at least two visual elements and provides proper attributions tailored to a local audience; however, significant details may be missing.

Non-Performance - The digital media story including at least two visual elements and proper attributions is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Writes two-minute broadcast scripts that fully adheres to the Broadcast Script Template including at least two statistical or factual pieces of information, at least two varying opinions, and explanation of visual or audio elements.

Proficient - Writes two-minute broadcast script that mostly adheres to the Broadcast Script Template including at least two statistical or factual pieces of information, at least two varying opinions, and explanation of visual or audio elements. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Writes two-minute broadcast script that somewhat adheres to the Broadcast Script Template including at least two statistical or factual pieces of information, at least two varying opinions, and explanation of visual or audio elements. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to write two-minute broadcast scripts that adheres to the Broadcast Script Template including at least two statistical or factual pieces of information, at least two varying opinions, and explanation of visual or audio elements; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The assignment 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 AP formatting consistently throughout the paper.

Proficient - Exhibits AP formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors.

Basic - Exhibits limited knowledge of AP formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all AP requirements.

Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of AP formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as AP.

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.