Distinguished - (a) Thoroughly discusses a focused, concrete ethical question or problem, including a concise preview of the ethically significant issues that is (b) effectively organized with a brief description of the primary reasons supporting the position in the introduction, and (c) provides a precise, clear, and well-constructed thesis.

Proficient - One of the following is the case: (a) Discusses a focused and concrete ethical question or problem including a preview of the ethically significant issues, but may remain too broad and/or vague; (b) the introduction is organized with some description of the primary reasons in supporting the position; or (c) there is a thesis but it is not well-constructed or is slightly unclear.

Basic - Two or more of the following is the case: (a) Partially discusses a significantly too broad and/or vague ethical question or problem that does not include a preview of the ethically significant issues; (b) there is an introduction but does not include a description of the primary reasons supporting the position; and/or (c) there is a thesis but it is not well-constructed and is unclear. Alternatively, it could be the case that one of the following is missing: (a) a defined ethical problem or question; (b) an introduction; (c) a thesis statement.

Below Expectations - Two or more of the following is missing: (a) A ethical problem or question with a preview of the ethically significant issues; (b) an introduction with a description of the primary reasons supporting the position; (c) a thesis statement.

Non-Performance - A focused topic, introduction, and thesis statement are either nonexistent or lack the basic components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains the core principles of two of the ethical theories covered during the course, effectively applies each of those to the chosen problem, and clearly identifies the specific moral conclusion that results from that application. Demonstrates a thorough understanding of each of the theories based on the relevant required resources.

Proficient - Explains the core principles of two of the ethical theories covered during the course, applies each of those to the chosen problem, and identifies the specific moral conclusion that results from the application. Demonstrates an understanding of each of the theories based on the relevant required sources. The explanation or application of one or both of the theories displays some ambiguity, is slightly underdeveloped, or unclear.

Basic - Partially explains the core principles of two of the ethical theories covered during the course, generally applies one of those to the chosen problem, and identifies the specific moral conclusion that results from the application. Demonstrates a limited understanding of the theory based on the relevant required resources. The explanation and/or application of one or both of theories display ambiguity and/or lack development, and are unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the core principles of two of the ethical theories covered during the course, apply each to the chosen problem, and identify the specific moral conclusion that results from the application; however, does not demonstrate an understanding of each of the theories based on the required sources. The explanation and application displays severe ambiguity, lacks development, and is significantly unclear.

Non-Performance - The explanation and application of ethical theories are either nonexistent or lack the basic components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Effectively and clearly explains which theory presents the most persuasive moral argument and why, raises a relevant objection to this argument, and provides a strong response to the objection.

Proficient - Explains which theory presents the most persuasive moral argument and why, raises an objection to this argument, and provides a response to the objection. One element is weak or somewhat unclear.

Basic - Explains which theory presents the most persuasive moral argument but does not raise a relevant objection to the argument, or raises an objection and provides a response to the objection but does not explain which theory presents the most persuasive argument. Two elements are weak and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain which theory presents the most persuasive moral argument, raise a relevant objection, and provide a response to the objection; however, most or all the elements are weak and severely unclear, or the response to the objection is missing.

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

Distinguished - Provides a well-developed and clear conclusion that concisely summarizes the paper and presents a rephrased statement of the thesis.

Proficient - Provides a conclusion that summarizes the paper and presents a rephrased statement of the thesis, but one of these is slightly unclear or underdeveloped.

Basic - Provides a conclusion that partially summarizes the paper and presents a limited rephrased statement of the thesis. One of these is unclear and/or underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a conclusion; however, does not provide a summary of the paper and does not present a rephrased statement of the thesis. Both are significantly unclear and underdeveloped.

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

Distinguished - Cites at least one of the primary readings for each of the two theories, and two more scholarly items from either the required or recommended material or the Ashford University Library. The sources are pertinent and effectively used.

Proficient - Cites at least one of the primary readings for each of the two theories, and two more scholarly items from either the required or recommended material or the Ashford University Library. A majority of the sources are related to the topic but there is some question as to how they are used or their direct linkage to the positions in the paper.

Basic - Cites at least one of the primary readings for each of the two theories, and one scholarly item from either the required or recommended material or the Ashford University Library. The resources are not explicitly related to the topics in question and/or are not used to effectively support the positions in the paper.

Below Expectations - Includes sources, but fulfills one or none of the resource requirements. Resources are not scholarly or representative of those required by the instructions and/or the resources are not used to properly support the positions in the paper.

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

Distinguished - The paper displays coherent organization.

Proficient - The paper is mostly well-organized but has some minor problem areas, such as unnecessary tangents, lack of transitions between a few paragraphs, or a slightly incoherent structure.

Basic - The paper is somewhat well-organized but has one or two significant problem areas, such as unnecessary tangents of substantial length, disjointed paragraphs, or a very incoherent structure.

Below Expectations - The paper is largely disorganized, and has many problem areas such as unnecessary tangents of substantial length, disjointed paragraphs, and a very incoherent structure.

Non-Performance - The paper does not show any signs of having been thoughtfully crafted, and lacks the basic elements of a coherent essay.

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 words.

Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of words.

Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of words.

Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of words.   

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