Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the characteristics of the specific social networking community. Effectively applies the concepts and vocabulary from the text.

Proficient - Describes the characteristics of the specific social networking community. Sufficiently applies the concepts and vocabulary from the text. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially describes the characteristics of the specific social networking community. Minimally applies the concepts and vocabulary from the text. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a description of the characteristics of the specific social networking community; however, the description does not apply specific concepts and vocabulary from the text and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the characteristics of the specific social networking community is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a comprehensive description of how community participants benefit from interactions. The description is supported with scholarly sources.

Proficient - Provides a description of how community participants benefit from interactions. The description is supported with scholarly sources. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Provides a limited description of how community participants benefit from interactions. The description is somewhat supported with scholarly sources. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a description of how community participants benefit from interactions; however, the description is not supported with scholarly sources and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of how community participants benefit from interactions is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a comprehensive description of why participants are motivated to join. The description is supported with scholarly sources.

Proficient - Provides a description of why participants are motivated to join. The description is supported with scholarly sources. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Provides a limited description of why participants are motivated to join. The description is somewhat supported with scholarly sources. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a description of why participants are motivated to join; however, the description is not supported with scholarly sources and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of why participants are motivated to join is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly discusses why the selected social networking site has been successful in creating a community. The discussion is fully supported by relevant examples.

Proficient - Discusses why the selected social networking site has been successful in creating a community. The discussion is supported by examples but is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Briefly discusses why the selected social networking site has been successful in creating a community. The discussion is somewhat supported by examples and is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss why the selected social networking site has been successful in creating a community; however, the discussion is not supported by relevant examples and is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The discussion of why the selected social networking site has been successful in creating a community is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

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

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

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

Below Expectations - Briefly recognizes 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 - Employs persuasive information from credible sources to develop an ample analysis or synthesis of the topic. Viewpoints of experts are scrutinized thoroughly.

Proficient - Employs applicable information from credible sources to develop an analysis of the topic.

Basic - Identifies applicable information from credible sources, but may neglect the application of such information toward the analysis of the topic.

Below Expectations - Displays information from external sources, but such information may lack credibility and/or relevance. Neglects the application of such information toward the analysis of the topic.

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

Distinguished - Creates meaningful correlations among experiences outside of the classroom to deepen understanding of field of study and to broaden own viewpoints.

Proficient - Compares life experiences and academic knowledge to distinguish differences and similarities while acknowledging perspectives other than own.

Basic - Recognizes correlation between life experiences, academic texts, and ideas perceived as similar and related to own interests.

Below Expectations - Briefly comments about connections between life experiences and academic texts.

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

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 connections 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 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 basic 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 paper meets the specific page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Proficient - The paper closely meets the page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Basic - The paper meets over half of the page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

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

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 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 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.