Distinguished - Thoroughly explains the impact of the Fourteenth Amendment on religion and public education.

Proficient - Explains the impact of the Fourteenth Amendment on religion and public education. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally explains the impact of the Fourteenth Amendment on religion and public education. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the impact of the Fourteenth Amendment on religion and public education; however, significant details are missing. 

Non-Performance - The explanation of the impact of the Fourteenth Amendment on religion and public education is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains the challenges some school districts face to find the proper balance for holiday activities. 

Proficient - Explains the challenges some school districts face to find the proper balance for holiday activities. Minor details are missing. 

Basic - Minimally explains the challenges some school districts face to find the proper balance for holiday activities. Relevant details are missing. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the challenges some school districts face to find the proper balance for holiday activities; however, significant details are missing. 

Non-Performance - The explanation of the challenges some school districts face to find the proper balance for holiday activities is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished – Clearly and fully identifies some areas other than religion that intertwine public education in the culture wars.

Proficient - Identifies some areas other than religion that intertwine public education in the culture wars. Minor details are slightly unclear or missing. 

Basic - Partially identifies some areas other than religion that intertwine public education in the culture wars. Relevant details are unclear and/or missing. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to identify some areas other than religion that intertwine public education in the culture wars; however, significant details are unclear and missing. 

Non-Performance - The identification of some areas other than religion that intertwine public education in the culture wars is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Plans a comprehensive response to potential dilemmas surrounding religious expression thoroughly highlighting basic guidelines that influence one’s own thinking.

Proficient - Plans a response to potential dilemmas surrounding religious expression highlighting basic guidelines that influence one’s own thinking.  The plan is slightly underdeveloped. 

Basic - Plans a limited response to potential dilemmas surrounding religious expression partially highlighting basic guidelines that influence one’s own thinking. The plan is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to plan a response to potential dilemmas surrounding religious expression highlighting basic guidelines that influence one’s own thinking; however, the plan is significantly underdeveloped. 

Non-Performance - The plan for responding to potential dilemmas surrounding religious expression 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 - Develops a logical, consistent plan to solve a problem. Identifies consequences of the solution and clearly communicates the reason for choosing the solution.

Proficient - Carefully chooses among alternatives and develops a logical, consistent approach to problem solving.

Basic - Takes into account and eliminates less acceptable approaches to problem solving.

Below Expectations - Takes into account a single approach and uses the approach to problem solve.

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.