Distinguished - Provides a thorough and comprehensive introduction with a thesis statement, and all concepts are defined as they pertain to the chosen topic.

Proficient - Provides a detailed introduction with a thesis statement, and many concepts are defined as they pertain to the chosen topic. One or two concepts may be missing or unclear.

Basic - Provides a limited introduction with a thesis statement, and some concepts are defined as they pertain to the chosen topic. Some relevant concepts are missing or unclear.

Below Expectations - Provides an introduction and thesis statement; however, the concepts are not defied as they pertain to the chosen topic, and many relevant concepts are missing or unclear.

Non-Performance - The introduction is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately examines at least one theory of human development, including a thorough description of relevant terminology and clearly addressing how the theory assists in the understanding of the issues involved in the topic.

Proficient - Examines at least one theory of human development, including a description of relevant terminology addressing how the theory assists in the understanding of the issues involved in the topic. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Examines one theory of human development, including a partial description of some relevant terminology minimally addressing how the theory assists in the understanding of the issues involved in the topic. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to examine one theory of human development; however, a description of relevant terminology and how the theory assists with the understanding of the issues involved with the topic is not included, or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The examination of the theories is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Identifies and thoroughly describes at least two domains of human development clearly addressing how the chosen domains of human development are impacted or influenced by the topic using fully relevant terminology.

Proficient - Identifies and describes at least two domains of human development addressing how the chosen domains of human development are impacted or influenced by the topic by using mostly relevant terminology Minor details are missing.

Basic - Identifies and partially describes at least two domains of human development, vaguely addressing how the domains of human development are impacted or influenced by the topic by using somewhat relevant terminology. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Identifies and attempts to describe at least two domains of human development; however, how the domains of human development are impacted or influenced by the topic is not addressed, relevant terminology is not used, or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The identification and description of the domains of human development is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Identifies and thoroughly describes the stages of development and clearly addressing how each of those stages is affected by the chosen topic.

Proficient - Identifies and describes the stages of development, addressing how each of those stages is affected by the chosen topic. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Identifies and partially describes the stages of development, minimally addressing how they are affected by the chosen topic. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Identifies and attempts to describe the stages of development; however, how the domain is affected by the chosen topic is not addressed or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The identification and description of the stages of development and how they are affected by the topic is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the cultural and historical perspectives on the chosen topic, demonstrating a complete understanding of how the topic has been perceived over time and by other cultures. Provides several relevant examples that clearly illustrate and support this description.

Proficient - Describes the cultural and historical perspectives on the chosen topic, demonstrating an understanding of how the topic has been perceived over time and by other cultures. Provides mostly relevant examples that illustrate and support this description.

Basic - Partially describes the cultural or historical perspectives on the chosen topic, demonstrating a minimal understanding of how the topic has been perceived over time and by other cultures. Provides somewhat relevant examples that vaguely illustrate and support this description.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a description of the cultural or historical perspectives of the chosen topic; however the description does not demonstrate an understanding of how the topic had been perceived over time and by other cultures and relevant examples are not provided.

Non-Performance - The description of the cultural and historical perspectives on the chosen topic is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the cultural and historical perspectives on the chosen topic, demonstrating an understanding of how the topic has been perceived over time and by other cultures. Provides several relevant examples to clearly illustrate and support this application.

Proficient -Describes the cultural and historical perspectives on the chosen topic, demonstrating an understanding of how the topic has been perceived over time and by other cultures. Provides one or two relevant examples which illustrate and support this application, but the description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially describes the cultural or historical perspectives on the chosen topic, demonstrating a minimal understanding of how the topic has been perceived over time and by other cultures. May not provide examples, and description is under-developed.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the cultural or historical perspectives of the chosen topic; however, does not provide examples and the description is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The description of the cultural and historical perspectives on the chosen topic is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a thorough conclusion that clearly answers the selected question in the topic, including a complete analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the available evidence or suggests future research directions which would enable researchers to answer the question.

Proficient - Provides a conclusion that answers the selected question in the topic, including an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the available evidence, or suggests future research directions which would enable researchers to answer the question.

Basic - Provides a brief conclusion that minimally answers the selected question in the topic, including a partial analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the available evidence, or vaguely suggests future research directions that would enable researchers to answer the question.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a conclusion; however, the conclusion does not answer the selected question in the topic, analyze the strength and weaknesses of the available evidence, or suggest future research directions that would enable researchers to answer the question.

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

Distinguished - Creates an annotated bibliography that thoroughly summarizes each article, including the purpose of the investigation, its methodology, and results, using at least five scholarly sources from the Ashford University Library or Google Scholar.

Proficient - Creates an annotated bibliography that summarizes each article, including the purpose of the investigation, its methodology, and results, using five scholarly sources from the Ashford University Library or Google Scholar. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Creates an annotated bibliography that partially summarizes each article, including the purpose of the investigation, its methodology, and results, using five sources. The sources may not be scholarly, or come from the Ashford University Library or Google Scholar,  and relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Creates an annotated bibliography that attempts to summarize each article, including the purpose of the investigation, its methodology, and results; however, the sources are not scholarly and do not come from the Ashford Unversity Library or Google Scholar, or significant details are missing.

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

Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains in detail the issue to be considered, delivering all relevant information necessary for a full understanding.

Proficient - Clearly explains in detail the issue to be considered, delivering enough relevant information for an adequate understanding.

Basic - Briefly recognizes the issue to be considered, delivering minimal information for a basic understanding.

Below Expectations - Briefly recognizes the issue to be considered, but may not deliver additional information necessary for a basic understanding.

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 - Demonstrates methodical application of organization and presentation of content. The purpose of the writing is evident and easy to understand. Summaries, quotes, and/or paraphrases fit naturally into the sentences and paragraphs. Paper flows smoothly.

Proficient - Demonstrates sufficient application of organization and presentation of content. The purpose of the writing is, for the most part, clear and easy to understand. There are some problems with the blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper flows somewhat smoothly.

Basic - Demonstrates a limited understanding of organization and presentation of content in written work. The purpose of the writing is somewhat evident, but may not be integrated throughout the assignment. There are many problems with the blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper does not flow smoothly in all sections.

Below Expectations - Organization and presentation of content is extremely limited. The purpose of the writing is unclear. There is little or no blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper does not flow smoothly when read.

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.