Distinguished - Clearly emphasizes neuroscience topics such as etiology, risk factors, development and pathology, treatment options, diagnostic approaches and research technologies. Thoroughly utilizes appropriate terminology from scholarly sources that are related to the biological and physiological aspects of the selected topic that were published within the last five years.

Proficient - Emphasizes neuroscience topics such as etiology, risk factors, development and pathology, treatment options, diagnostic approaches and research technologies. Utilizes mostly appropriate terminology from scholarly sources that are related to the biological and physiological aspects of the selected topic that were published within the last five years. The emphasis on these topics is slightly unclear.

Basic - Vaguely emphasizes neuroscience topics such as etiology, risk factors, development and pathology, treatment options, diagnostic approaches and research technologies. Minimally utilizes appropriate terminology from scholarly sources that are somewhat related to the biological and physiological aspects of the selected topic that were published within the last five years. The emphasis on these topics is unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to emphasize neuroscience topics such as etiology, risk factors, development and pathology , treatment options, diagnostic approaches and research technologies; however, does not utilize appropriate terminology from scholarly sources that are related to the biological and physiological aspects of the selected topic that were published within the last five years or the emphasis on these topics is significantly unclear.

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

Distinguished - Provides a thorough introduction, including a thesis statement that fully informs the reader about the topic. Comprehensively describes the physical and psychological signs and symptoms of the disorder and discusses, in detail, the reason for the topic choice.

Proficient - Provides mostly complete introduction, including a thesis statement that informs the reader about the topic. Describes the physical and psychological signs and symptoms of the disorder and discusses the reason for the topic choice. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Provides a somewhat complete introduction, including a thesis statement that vaguely informs the reader about the topic, Minimally describes the psychological and physical signs and symptoms of the disorder and partially discusses the reason for the topic choice. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide an introduction, including a thesis statement that informs the reader about the topic; however, the thesis statement is not informative, the physical and psychological signs and symptoms of the disorder are not described and the reason for the choice is not discussed, or significant details are missing.

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

Distinguished - Provides a one to two sentence description of each of the components of the discussion section, fully expanding upon the main aspects of the disorder and details relating to the disorder and its management, including all of the following: epidemiology, risk factors, natural history of the condition, diagnostic methods, treatment options, nervous system structures and neural pathways, and neurotransmitter/receptor systems relating to the disorder.

Proficient - Provides a one to two sentence description of each of the components of the discussion section, expanding upon the main aspects of the disorder and details relating to the disorder and its management, including most of the following: epidemiology, risk factors, natural history of the condition, diagnostic methods, treatment options, nervous system structures and neural pathways, and neurotransmitter/receptor systems relating to the disorder. One or more of the descriptions may be slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Provides a one to two sentence description of the components of the discussion section, minimally expanding upon the main aspects of the disorder and details relating to the disorder and its management, including some of the following: epidemiology, risk factors, natural history, diagnostic methods, treatment options, nervous system structures and neural pathways, and neurotransmitter/receptor systems. One or more of the descriptions are underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a one to two sentence description of the components of the discussion section; however, the epidemiology, risk factors, natural history of the condition, diagnostic methods, treatment options, nervous system structures and neural pathways, and neurotransmitter/receptor systems relating to the disorder are not elaborated upon or the descriptions are significantly underdeveloped.

Non- Performance - The descriptions are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly summarizes the findings, content, direction, and purpose of the paper.

Proficient - Summarizes the findings, content, direction, and purpose of the paper. The summary is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially summarizes the findings, content, direction, and purpose of the paper. The summary is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to summarize the findings, content, direction, and purpose of the paper; however, the summary is underdeveloped.

Non- Performance - The conclusion is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment 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 - Uses appropriate, pertinent, and persuasive content to discover and develop sophisticated ideas within the context of the discipline, shaping the work as a whole.

Proficient - Uses appropriate and pertinent content to discover ideas within the context of the discipline, shaping the work as a whole.

Basic - Uses appropriate and pertinent content, but does not apply it toward discovering or developing ideas. Overall, content assists in shaping the written work.

Below Expectations - Uses content, though it may be unrelated or inappropriate to the topic. Content does not contribute toward the development of the written work, and may distract the reader from its purpose.

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.