Distinguished - Accurately and thoroughly explains the concept of social security as originally envisioned by President Roosevelt.

Proficient - Accurately explains the concept of social security as originally envisioned by President Roosevelt. Minor details are missing. 

Basic - Explains the concept of social security as originally envisioned by President Roosevelt. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the concept of social security as originally envisioned by President Roosevelt; however, significant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the concept of social security as originally envisioned by President Roosevelt is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately and thoroughly evaluates the viability of Social Security within the next 20-30 years.

Proficient - Accurately evaluates the viability of Social Security within the next 20-30 years. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Evaluates the viability of Social Security within the next 20-30 years. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate the viability of Social Security within the next 20-30 years; however, significant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of the viability of Social Security within the next 20-30 years is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides two or three detailed and relevant recommendations that would improve the viability of Social Security for the next generation. 

Proficient - Provides two or three relevant recommendations that would improve the viability of Social Security for the next generation. Minor details are missing. 

Basic - Provides at least two recommendations that would improve the viability of Social Security for the next generation. Relevant details are missing and/or one recommendation is irrelevant. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide at least two recommendations that would improve the viability of Social Security for the next generation; however, significant details are missing and/or the recommendations are irrelevant.

Non-Performance - The recommendations that would improve the viability of Social Security for the next generation are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately and thoroughly evaluates how these recommendations can best be implemented within the highly political environment that exists with this issue (including factors such as the implementation itself, communication, education, support, etc.).  

Proficient - Accurately evaluates how these recommendations can best be implemented within the highly political environment that exists with this issue (including factors such as the implementation itself, communication, education, support, etc.).  Minor details are missing. 

Basic - Evaluates how these recommendations can best be implemented within the highly political environment that exists with this issue (including factors such as the implementation itself, communication, education, support, etc.).  Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate how these recommendations can best be implemented within the highly political environment that exists with this issue (including factors such as the implementation itself, communication, education, support, etc.); however, significant details are missing and/or inaccurate. 

Non-Performance - The evaluation of how these recommendations can best be implemented within the highly political environment that exists with this issue (including factors such as the implementation itself, communication, education, support, etc.)  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.