Distinguished - Clearly and accurately identifies at least three literary elements in the poem, and provides a complex and thorough explanation why they were particularly interesting or engaging.

Proficient - Accurately identifies at least three literary elements in the poem, and provides a thorough explanation of why they were particularly interesting or engaging.

Basic - Identifies at least two literary elements in the poem, and provides a mostly thorough description of why they were particularly interesting or engaging.

Below Expectations - Identifies fewer than three literary elements in the poem.  Student may neglect to include an explanation for selecting the element(s).

Non-Performance - The paper is either non-existent or does not identify any literary elements.

Distinguished - Offers an intricate assessment of the identified literary elements, and skillfully draws clear and strong connections between these elements and own personal response to the poem.

Proficient - Offers a basic assessment of the identified literary elements, and draws mostly clear and strong connections between these elements and own personal response to the poem.

Basic - Offers an assessment of the identified literary elements, although this assessment is somewhat weak. Student draws connections between these elements and own personal response to the poem.

Below Expectations - Discusses the connections between the identified elements and own personal response to the poem, although these connections are primarily weak and/or vague.

Non-Performance - The paper is either non-existent or does not discuss the connections between literary elements and personal response.

Distinguished - Appraises tactics for relating ideas, text structure, or other textual features in order to gain knowledge or insight within and across texts and disciplines.

Proficient - Recognizes connections among ideas, text structure, or other textual features, to analyze how they support a sophisticated understanding of the text as a whole.

Basic - Recognizes the connections among portions of a text in considering how these contribute to a fundamental understanding of the text as a whole.

Below Expectations - Makes an effort to recognize portions of a text as needed to respond to inquiries posed in the assignment.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Properly employs all existing conventions for the specific type of assignment (e.g., lab report, academic paper, personal essay, etc.), as well as for the specific academic field (e.g., Science, Business, English, etc.).

Proficient - Properly employs most of the existing conventions for the specific type of assignment, as well as for the specific academic field.

Basic - Employs some existing conventions for the specific type of assignment, as well as for the specific type of academic field.

Below Expectations - Employs very few of the existing conventions for the specific type of assignment, as well as for the specific type of academic field.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Conclusions and related outcomes are logical and clearly reflect student’s informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.

Proficient - Conclusions and related outcomes are logical and reflect student’s informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.

Basic - Conclusions and related outcomes are identified and minimally reflect student’s informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.

Below Expectations - Conclusions and related outcomes are not logical or reflective of student’s informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.)

Non-Performance - The assignment is either non-existent 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 or syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors, which distract the reader.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title and reference page.

Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper, however, layout contains a few minor errors.

Basic - Exhibits basic knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper.  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 non-existent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - The paper meets the specific page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Proficient - The paper closely meets the page requirements predetermined in the assignment description.

Basic - The paper meets over half of the page requirement.

Below Expectations - A fraction of the page requirement is completed.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Provides ample resources and uses the correct amount of sources from the specified search agent.

Proficient - Provides the approximate number of sources, while using some of the correct search agents specified in the assignment instructions.

Basic - Provides over half of the  sources required in the assignment instructions.

Below Expectations - Barely provides adequate resources and unable to include sources from specified search agent.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the instructions.