Distinguished - Correctly creates a full title citation of the article in APA format according to the standards established by the Ashford Writing Center.

Proficient - Creates a full title citation of the article in APA format according to the standards established by the Ashford Writing Center. Minor details are incorrect.

Basic - Creates a title citation of the article in APA format according to the standards established by the Ashford Writing Center. Relevant details are incorrect or missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to create a full title citation of the article in APA format according to the standards established by the Ashford Writing Center; however, significant details are incorrect and/or missing.

Non-Performance - The creation of a full title citation of the article in APA format according to the standards established by the Ashford Writing Center is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Creates a thorough annotation containing at least four full sentences describing the contents of the article and how it relates to the chosen agency's organizational budget plan.

Proficient - Creates an annotation containing at least four sentences describing the contents of the article and how it relates to the chosen agency's organizational budget plan. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Creates a partial annotation containing at least three sentences describing the contents of the article and how it relates to the chosen agency's organizational budget plan. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to create an annotation containing at least four full sentences describing the contents of the article and how it relates to the chosen agency's organizational budget plan; however, there are fewer than three sentences and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The creation of an annotation containing at least four full sentences describing the contents of the article and how it relates to the chosen agency's organizational budget plan is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains the basics of budget management and/or preparation described in the article(s), including the author’s name, area or level of expertise, purpose of the research, methodology used, results, and contribution of the work to the field.

Proficient - Explains the basics of budget management and/or preparation described in the article(s), including the author’s name, area or level of expertise, purpose of the research, methodology used, results, and contribution of the work to the field. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially explains the basics of budget management and/or preparation described in the article(s), including the author’s name, area or level of expertise, purpose of the research, methodology used, results, and contribution of the work to the field. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the basics of budget management and/or preparation described in the article(s), including the author’s name, area or level of expertise, purpose of the research, methodology used, results, and contribution of the work to the field; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the basics of budget management and/or preparation described in the article(s), including the author’s name, area or level of expertise, purpose of the research, methodology used, results, and contribution of the work to the field 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.