Distinguished - Chooses a compelling topic directly related to ethics in journalism.

Basic - Chooses a topic that has little relation to ethics in journalism.

Non-Performance - The topic lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Writes a blog post in a consistent style and voice.

Basic - Writes a blog post; however, the blog post does not follow a consistent style and voice.

Non-Performance - A blog post written using a consistent style and voice is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Includes at least two images and/or pieces of multimedia to enhance the content of the blog post. The connection to the story is strong.

Proficient - Includes at least two images and/or pieces of multimedia to enhance the content of the blog post. The connection to the story is apparent.

Basic - Includes at least two images and/or pieces of multimedia to enhance the content of the blog post. The connection to the story is confusing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to include at least one image and/or piece of multimedia to enhance the content of the blog post; however, there is no connection to the story.

Non-Performance - Images and/o r pieces of multimedia to enhance the content of the blog is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides proper attributions throughout the blog post.

Basic - Provides attribution in some portions of the blog post. Some attributions were vague or missing.

Non-Performance - Proper attributions are either nonexistent or lack 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 - 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.