Distinguished - Comprehensively describes the relationship between nature vs. nurture.

Proficient - Describes the relationship between nature vs. nurture. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially describes the relationship between nature vs. nurture. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the relationship between nature vs. nurture; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the relationship between nature vs. nurture is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains the biological, environmental, societal, and cultural influences on child development in relation to nature vs. nurture.

Proficient - Explains the biological, environmental, societal, and cultural influences on child development in relation to nature vs. nurture. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially explains the biological, environmental, societal, and cultural influences on child development in relation to nature vs. nurture. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the biological, environmental, societal, and cultural influences on child development in relation to nature vs. nurture; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The explanation of biological, environmental, societal, and cultural influences on child development in relation to nature vs. nurture is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly discusses which factor is more influential than the others, with strong research justification including content support and factual evidence based on research. Uses a scholarly article as well as the textbook to fully support the position.

Proficient - Discusses which factor is more influential than the others, with some research justification to support the content and ideas. Uses a scholarly article as well as the textbook to support the position. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally discusses which factor is more influential than the others, with limited research justification to support the content and ideas. Uses a scholarly article as well as the textbook to somewhat support the position. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss which factor is more influential than the others; however, the discussion is vague and/or lacks research justification to support the content and ideas. Does not use a scholarly article as well as the textbook to support the position and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The discussion of which factor is more influential than the others is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment 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.