Distinguished - Paper is logically organized with a well-written introduction that explains and restates the problem from the chosen case study.

Proficient -Paper is logically organized with an introduction that explains and restates the problem from the chosen case study. Minor details may be missing.

Basic - Paper is organized with an introduction that restates the problem from the chosen case study. The introduction requires improvement.

Below Expectations - Paper is loosely organized with an introduction that restates the problem from the chosen case study. The introduction requires much improvement.

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

Distinguished - Thesis statement/professional opinion is stated clearly in the paper introduction. Professional recommendation is feasible and logically follows the problem presented in the case scenario.

Proficient - Thesis statement/professional opinion is stated clearly in the paper introduction. Professional recommendation is mostly feasible. Relevant details may be missing.

Basic - Thesis statement/professional recommendation is included in the paper introduction. The thesis statement requires improvement.

Below Expectations - Thesis statement/professional recommendation is not clearly stated and/or the recommendation may not be feasible.

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

Distinguished - Provides a clear and comprehensive explanation of the theories and/or studies that support the professional opinion/recommendation.

Proficient - Provides an explanation of the theories and/or studies that support the professional opinion/recommendation. Minor details may be missing.

Basic - Provides an adequate explanation of the theories and/or studies that support the professional opinion/recommendation. Many relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Offers a limited explanation of the theories and/or studies that support the professional opinion/recommendation. This portion of the paper is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the theories and studies that led to the professional recommendation is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively evaluates each article. Thoroughly addresses each assignment question. No direct quotations from the source are used.

Proficient - Evaluates each article and addresses each assignment question. No direct quotations from the source are used. Minor details may be missing.

Basic -Evaluates the main points of each article. Addresses most of the assignment questions. No direct quotations from the source are used. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate each article; however, verbatim wording from the source is used instead of an original paraphrase and/or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The article evaluations are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a thorough and complete discussion of the literature that opposes the thesis statement/professional recommendation.

Proficient - Discusses the literature that opposes the thesis statement/professional recommendation. Minor details may be missing.

Basic - Discusses the literature that opposes the thesis statement/professional recommendation. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations -Attempts to discuss the literature that opposes the thesis statement/professional recommendation; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - A discussion of the opposing side to the professional recommendation is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a thorough discussion of the limitations and/or gaps in the existing literature. Explains why the gaps/limitations may exist and discusses their significance.

Proficient - Discusses limitations and/or gaps in the existing literature. Explains why the gaps/limitations may exist and discusses their significance. Relevant details may be missing.

Basic - Partially discusses limitations and/or gaps in the existing literature. Minimally explains why the gaps/limitations may exist and discusses their significance. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss limitations and/or gaps in the existing literature. Minimally explains why the gaps/limitations may exist and discusses their significance; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The discussion of the gaps/limitations in the scholarly literature is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Restates professional recommendation clearly. Includes a concise concluding paragraph that ties together the evidence in the paper that supports the overall professional opinion.

Proficient - Restates professional recommendation in a concluding paragraph. Connection is made to the evidence in the paper that supports the overall professional opinion. Minor details may be missing.

Basic - Restates professional recommendation in a concluding paragraph. The concluding paragraph lacks depth and clarity. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to restate professional recommendation in a concluding paragraph. The concluding paragraph lacks depth and clarity. Significant details are be missing.

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

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

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

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

Below Expectations - Briefly explains 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 - 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.