Distinguished - Paper is logically organized with a well-written introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion.

Proficient - Paper is logically organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. One of these requires improvement.

Basic - Paper is organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. One or more of the introduction, thesis statement, and/or conclusion require improvement.

Below Expectations - Paper is loosely organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. The introduction, thesis statement, and/or conclusion require much improvement.

Non-Performance - The introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a comprehensive overview of the leader, thoroughly addressing each component listed in the assignment instructions.

Proficient - Provides an overview of the leader, addressing each component listed in the assignment instructions. The overview is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Provides an overview of the leader, somewhat addressing each component listed in the assignment instructions. The overview is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide an overview of the leader; however, does not address each component listed in the assignment instructions and/or the overview is significantly underdeveloped. 

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

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes, assesses, and analyzes the leader’s style using specific examples.

Proficient - Describes, assesses, and analyzes the leader’s style using specific examples. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially describes, assesses, and analyzes the leader’s style using somewhat specific examples. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe, assess, and analyze the leaders’ style; however, does not use examples and/or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description, assessment, and analysis of the leader’s style using specific examples are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately identifies and comprehensively describes three significant challenges the leader faced. Effectively incorporates many relevant examples.

Proficient - Accurately identifies and describes three significant challenges the leader faced. Incorporates relevant examples but minor details are missing. 

Basic - Identifies and describes three significant challenges the leader faced. Incorporates examples but relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Identifies and attempts to describe three significant challenges the leader faced; however, does not incorporate examples and/or significant details are missing and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The identification and description of three significant challenges the leader faced are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately identifies and thoroughly describes the leader’s greatest achievement. Effectively incorporates many relevant examples.

Proficient - Accurately identifies and describes the leader’s greatest achievement. Incorporates relevant examples but minor details are missing. 

Basic - Identifies and describes the leader’s greatest achievement. Incorporates few examples and relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Identifies and attempts to describe the leader’s greatest achievement; however, does not incorporate examples and/or significant details are missing and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The description of the leader’s greatest achievement is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately applies three leadership concepts. Effectively incorporates many relevant examples and integrates material from the text and other sources.

Proficient - Applies three leadership concepts. Incorporates relevant examples and integrates material from the text and other sources. 

Basic - Applies three leadership concepts. Incorporates few examples and somewhat integrates material from the text or other sources.

Below Expectations - Attempts to apply three leadership concepts; however, does not incorporate examples and/or material from the text or other sources.

Non-Performance - The application of three leadership concepts is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively describes the leader’s style and assesses the effectiveness of it using the course concepts.

Proficient - Describes the leader’s style and assesses the effectiveness of it using the course concepts. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially describes the leader’s style or assesses the effectiveness of it somewhat using the course concepts. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the leaders style; however, does not determine the effectiveness of it, does not use course concepts, and/or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the leaders style and assessment of the effectiveness of it are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly reflects on what was learned about leadership and the implication for personal leadership style.

Proficient - Reflects on what was learned about leadership and the implication for personal leadership style. The reflection is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially reflects on what was learned about leadership and the implication for personal leadership style. The reflection is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to reflect on what was learned about leadership and the implication for personal leadership style; however, the reflection is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The reflection on what was learned about leadership and the implication for personal leadership style is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Employs persuasive and applicable 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 - Presents information from external sources, but such information may lack credibility and/or relevance. Neglects to apply 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 demonstrate an understanding of the given field of study and to broaden one's own viewpoints.

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

Basic - Recognizes correlations between life experiences, academic texts, and ideas perceived as similar and related to one's own interests.

Below Expectations - Briefly comments about the connections between one's life experiences and academic texts.

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.