Distinguished - Selects three topics that are clearly relative to the Final Paper and can be used to support personal ideas.  The topics are factors that could support the topics listed.   

Proficient - Selects three topics that are relative to the Final Paper and can be used to support personal ideas.  The topics selected were slightly unclear or missing minor details.    

Basic - Selects two topics that are relative to the Final Paper and can be used to support personal ideas.   The topics selected are unclear and/or missing relevant details.   

Below Expectations - Selects one topic that is relative to the Final Paper and could be used to support personal ideas.  The topic selected is entirely unclear and missing relevant details.

Non-Performance - The selection of three topics that are relative to the Final Paper and can be used to support personal ideas is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Develops a thorough thesis statement that will become the point or perspective that will be argued or proved in the paper.  The thesis statement is clear and provides a direction for the research of the paper.  

Proficient - Develops a thesis statement that will become the point or perspective that will be argued or proved in the paper. The thesis statement was slightly unclear and/or missing minor details.  

Basic - Develops a vague thesis statement that will become the point or perspective that will be argued or proved in the paper. The thesis statement was unclear and/or missing relevant details.  

Below Expectations - Attempts to develop a thesis statement that will become the point or perspective that will argue or proved in the paper; however, the thesis statement was entirely unclear and missing significant details.        

Non-Performance - The development of the thesis statement that will become the point or perspective that will be argued or proved in the paper is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively summarizes each of the five selected scholarly sources.  

Proficient - Summarizes each of the five selected scholarly sources. Minor details are missing. 

Basic - Minimally summarizes each of the selected sources; however there are fewer than five sources, they might not all be scholarly and/or relevant details are missing. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to summarize each of the selected sources; however, there are fewer than four sources and not all are considered scholarly and significant details are missing.        

Non-Performance - The summaries of each of the five selected sources are 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.