Distinguished - Clearly emphasizes neuroscience topics such as etiology, pathology, 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, pathology, 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 may be slightly unclear.

Basic - Vaguely emphasizes neuroscience topics such as etiology, pathology, 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, pathology, 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 succinct thesis statement that fully informs the reader about the topic and the scope of the Final Paper. Comprehensively describes the epidemiology, 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 succinct thesis statement that informs the reader about the topic. Describes the epidemiology, 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 epidemiology, 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 and introduction including a thesis statement that informs the reader about the topic; however, the thesis statement is not informative, the epidemiology, 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 comprehensive 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: a detailed description and natural history of the disorder; epidemiology, diagnosis, and management; risk factors, etiology, and treatment options.

Proficient - Provides a 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: a description and natural history of the disorder; epidemiology, diagnosis, and management; risk factors, etiology, and treatment options. One or more of the descriptions may be slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Provides partial 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: a description and natural history of the disorder; epidemiology, diagnosis, and management; risk factors, etiology, and treatment options. One or more of the descriptions are underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a description of the components of the discussion section; however, a description and natural history of the disorder; epidemiology, diagnosis, and management; risk factors, etiology, and treatment options is not included or is significantly underdeveloped.

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

Distinguished - Provides a comprehensive description 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: the nervous system structures and neural pathways, neurotransmitter/ receptor systems relating to the disorder, and future areas of research.

Proficient - Provides a description 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: the nervous system structures and neural pathways, neurotransmitter/ receptor systems relating to the disorder, and future areas of research. One or more of the descriptions may be slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Provides partial 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: the nervous system structures and neural pathways, neurotransmitter/ receptor systems relating to the disorder, and future areas of research. One or more of the descriptions is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a description of the components of the discussion section; however, a description of the nervous system structures and neural pathways, and neurotransmitter/ receptor systems relating to the disorder, and future areas of research is not included or is significantly underdeveloped.

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

Distinguished - Provides a conclusion that accurately reaffirms the thesis and includes one or more paragraphs that thoroughly summarizes the material discussed in the Final Paper to support the validity of the synthesis and elaborate upon the theme of the paper.

Proficient - Provides a conclusion that reaffirms the thesis and includes at least one paragraph that summarizes the material discussed in the Final Paper to support the validity of the synthesis and elaborate upon the theme of the paper. The conclusion is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Provides a conclusion that vaguely reaffirms the thesis and includes one paragraph minimally summarizes the material discussed in the Final Paper to support the validity of the synthesis and elaborate upon the theme of the paper. The conclusion is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Provides a conclusion that attempts to reaffirms the thesis; however, it does not include at least one paragraph that summarizes the material discussed in the Final Paper to support the validity of the synthesis and elaborate upon the theme of the paper or is significantly 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 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 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.