Distinguished - Thoroughly explains psychological concepts in the patient’s presentation using professional terminology, and clearly identifies symptoms and behaviors exhibited by the patient in the chosen case study.

Proficient - Explains psychological concepts in the patient’s presentation using professional terminology, and identifies symptoms and behaviors exhibited by the patient in the chosen case study. Minor details are missing or unclear.

Basic - Minimally explains psychological concepts in the patient’s presentation using professional terminology, and vaguely identifies symptoms and behaviors exhibited by the patient in the chosen case study. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain psychological concepts in the patient’s presentation using professional terminology, and identify symptoms and behaviors exhibited by the patient in the chosen case study; however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The explanation of psychological concepts in the patient’s presentation using professional terminology. Identifies symptoms and behaviors exhibited by the patient in the chosen case study is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately matches the identified symptoms to potential disorders in a diagnostic manual.

Proficient - Matches the identified symptoms to potential disorders in a diagnostic manual. Minor details are inaccurate.

Basic - Matches some the identified symptoms to potential disorders in a diagnostic manual. Relevant details are inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Matches few of the identified symptoms to potential disorders in a diagnostic manual. Significant details are inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The matching of the identified symptoms to potential disorders in a diagnostic manual is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Proposes an accurate diagnosis based on the patient’s symptoms and the criteria listed for the disorder(s) in the diagnostic manual.

Proficient - N/A

Basic - Proposes a diagnosis based on the patient’s symptoms and the criteria listed for the disorder(s) in the diagnostic manual. The diagnosis may be inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Proposes a diagnosis based on the patient’s symptoms and the criteria listed for the disorder(s) in the diagnostic manual. The diagnosis is inaccurate

Non-Performance - The proposal of a diagnosis based on the patient’s symptoms and the criteria listed for the disorder(s) in the diagnostic manual is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly analyzes how the patient meets criteria for the disorder(s) according to the patient’s symptoms and the criteria outlined in the diagnostic manual.

Proficient - Analyzes how the patient meets criteria for the disorder(s) according to the patient’s symptoms and the criteria outlined in the diagnostic manual. The analysis is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally analyzes how the patient meets criteria for the disorder(s) according to the patient’s symptoms and the criteria outlined in the diagnostic manual. The analysis is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to analyze how the patient meets criteria for the disorder(s) according to the patient’s symptoms and the criteria outlined in the diagnostic manual; however, the analysis is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The analysis and explanation of how the patient meets criteria for the disorder(s) according to the patient’s symptoms and the criteria outlined in the diagnostic manual is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly justifies the use of the chosen diagnostic manual.

Proficient - Justifies the use of the chosen diagnostic manual. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally justifies the use of the chosen diagnostic manual. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to justify the use of the chosen diagnostic manual; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The justification of the use of the chosen diagnostic manual is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly summarizes general views of the diagnosis from multiple theoretical orientations and historical perspectives, and includes a comprehensive discussion on comorbidity if the diagnosis includes more than one disorder.

Proficient - Summarizes general views of the diagnosis from multiple theoretical orientations and historical perspectives, and includes a discussion on comorbidity if the diagnosis includes more than one disorder. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially summarizes general views of the diagnosis from multiple theoretical orientations and historical perspectives, and includes a limited discussion on comorbidity if the diagnosis includes more than one disorder. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to summarize general views of the diagnosis from multiple theoretical orientations and historical perspectives; however, does not include a discussion on comorbidity if the diagnosis includes more than one disorder, or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The summary of general views of the diagnosis from multiple theoretical orientations and historical perspectives. Includes a discussion on comorbidity if the diagnosis includes more than one disorder is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively evaluates symptoms within the context of an appropriate theoretical orientation for this diagnosis.

Proficient - Evaluates symptoms within the context of an appropriate theoretical orientation for this diagnosis. The evaluation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally evaluates symptoms within the context of an appropriate theoretical orientation for this diagnosis. The evaluation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate symptoms within the context of an appropriate theoretical orientation for this diagnosis; however, the evaluation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of symptoms within the context of an appropriate theoretical orientation for this diagnosis is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Uses at least two peer-reviewed articles to fully assess the validity of this diagnosis, and thoroughly describes who is most likely to have the diagnosis with regard to age, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. Provides a brief evaluation of the scientific merit of these peer-reviewed resources in the validity assessment.

Proficient - Uses at least two peer-reviewed articles to assess the validity of this diagnosis, and describes who is most likely to have the diagnosis with regard to age, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. Provides an evaluation of the scientific merit of these peer-reviewed resources in the validity assessment. Minor details are missing or unclear.

Basic - Uses two peer-reviewed articles to minimally assess the validity of this diagnosis, and partially describes who is most likely to have the diagnosis with regard to age, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. Provides a brief evaluation of the scientific merit of these peer-reviewed resources in the validity assessment. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to use at least two peer-reviewed articles to assess the validity of this diagnosis, and describe who is most likely to have the diagnosis with regard to age, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and ethnicity, and provides an evaluation of the scientific merit of these peer-reviewed resources in the validity assessment; however, only one article is used and significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The use of at least two peer-reviewed articles to assess the validity of this diagnosis, and describes who is most likely to have the diagnosis with regard to age, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. Provides a brief evaluation of the scientific merit of these peer-reviewed resources in the validity assessment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly summarizes the risk factors (biological, psychological, and/or social) for the diagnosis, and fully addresses those categories that are not relevant within the summary.

Proficient - Summarizes the risk factors (biological, psychological, and/or social) for the diagnosis, and addresses those categories that are not relevant within the summary. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially summarizes the risk factors (biological, psychological, and/or social) for the diagnosis, and minimally addresses those categories that are not relevant within the summary. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to summarize the risk factors (biological, psychological, and/or social) for the diagnosis; however, does not addresses those categories that are not relevant within the summary, or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The summary of the risk factors (biological, psychological, and/or social) for the diagnosis. Also addresses those categories that are not relevant within the summary is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly compares evidence-based and non-evidence-based treatment options for the diagnosis.

Proficient - Compares evidence-based and non-evidence-based treatment options for the diagnosis. The comparison is slightly unbalanced or minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally compares evidence-based and non-evidence-based treatment options for the diagnosis. The comparison is unbalanced and/or relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to compare evidence-based and non-evidence-based treatment options for the diagnosis; however, the comparison is significantly unbalanced or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The comparison of evidence-based and non-evidence-based treatment options for the diagnosis is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively evaluates well established treatments for the diagnosis, and thoroughly describes the likelihood of success or possible outcomes for each treatment.

Proficient - Evaluates well established treatments for the diagnosis, and describes the likelihood of success or possible outcomes for each treatment. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally evaluates well established treatments for the diagnosis, and partially describes the likelihood of success or possible outcomes for each treatment. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate well established treatments for the diagnosis; however, does not describe the likelihood of success or possible outcomes for each treatment, or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of well-established treatments for the diagnosis, and describes the likelihood of success or possible outcomes for each treatment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Creates an annotated bibliography of at least five peer-reviewed references published within the last ten years to inform the diagnosis and treatment recommendation, and includes a two- to three-sentence evaluation of the scientific merit of each of the references.

Proficient - Creates an annotated bibliography of at least five peer-reviewed references published within the last ten years to inform the diagnosis and treatment recommendations, and includes a two- to three-sentence evaluation of the scientific merit of each of the references. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Creates an annotated bibliography of at least four peer-reviewed references published within the last ten years to inform the diagnosis and treatment recommendations, and includes a two- to three-sentence evaluation of the scientific merit of most of the references. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Creates an annotated bibliography of three or fewer peer-reviewed references published within the last ten years to inform the diagnosis and treatment recommendations; however, does not includes a two- to three-sentence evaluation of the scientific merit of each of the references, or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The annotated bibliography of five peer-reviewed references published within the last ten years to inform the diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Includes a two- to three-sentence evaluation of the scientific merit of each of the references is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains the issue to be considered, delivering all relevant information necessary for a full understanding.

Proficient - Clearly explains the issue to be considered, delivering enough relevant information for an adequate understanding.

Basic - Briefly explains the issue to be considered, delivering minimal information for a basic understanding.

Below Expectations - Briefly explains the issue to be considered, but may not deliver additional information necessary for a basic understanding.

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