Distinguished - Includes a title page, a letter of transmittal, and a well-constructed abstract that presents a clear and comprehensive overview of a problem and solution relating to the larger Recommendation Report.

Proficient - Includes a title page, a letter of transmittal, and an abstract that presents an overview of a problem and solution relating to the larger Recommendation Report, although some aspects of the problem are slightly unclear. 

Basic - Includes a title page, a letter of transmittal, and an abstract that presents a limited overview of a problem and solution relating to the larger Recommendation Report, but the aspects of the problem are either unclear or underdeveloped. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to include a title page, a letter of transmittal, and an abstract; however, the abstract does not provide an overview of a problem and solution relating to the larger Recommendation Report and the aspects of the problem are significantly unclear and underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The title page, letter of transmittal, and abstract are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Includes two distinct tables that clearly delineate the order of information. The tables closely correlate with subheadings, and figures in the body of the Recommendation Report.  

Proficient - Includes two distinct tables that delineate the order of information. The tables mostly correlate with subheadings, and figures in the body of the Recommendation Report. 

Basic - Includes two distinct tables that provide some organization of information. The tables somewhat correlate with subheadings, and figures in the body of the Recommendation Report.

Below Expectations - Includes less than two tables for the organization of information in the Recommendation Report. The tables do not correlate with subheadings, and figures in the body of the Recommendation Report.

Non-Performance - The table of contents and table of graphics/illustrations are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Includes a well-written one-page executive summary that carefully follows the models from the textbook.   

Proficient - Includes a one-page executive summary that follows the models from the textbook.   

Basic - Includes a partial executive summary of about one-page that may not abide by the models from the textbook.   

Below Expectations - Includes part of an executive summary; however, is less than one-page and does not follow the models from the textbook.   

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

Distinguished - Effectively uses the instructor’s feedback on introduction and body paragraphs. Includes a well-written introduction that includes the problem, solution, background, data sources, scope and limitation, and ends with a clear thesis statement or initiative to solve the identified problem. Includes fully-developed body paragraphs that include: methods, results, conclusions, and recommendations.

Proficient - Adequately uses the instructor’s feedback on introduction and body paragraphs. Includes an introduction that includes the problem, solution, background, data sources, scope and limitation, and ends with a thesis statement or initiative to solve the identified problem.  Includes body paragraphs that include: methods, results, conclusions, and recommendations. At least one or two of these areas require improvement.

Basic - Uses some of the instructor’s feedback on introduction and body paragraphs. Includes a limited introduction that includes the problem, solution, background, data sources, scope and limitation, and ends with a thesis statement or initiative that partially solves the identified problem. Includes partially developed body paragraphs that include: methods, results, conclusions, and recommendations. Three or four of these areas require improvement.

Below Expectations - Attempts to use feedback from the instructor on introduction and body paragraphs; however, many of the same concerns identified in the rough draft still exists.  Includes an introduction that attempts to include the problem, solution, background, data sources, scope and limitation; however, thesis statement or initiative to solve the identified problem is unclear or nonexistent and attempts to include body paragraphs that include: methods, results, conclusions, and recommendations; however, more than half of these areas require significant improvement.

Non-Performance - The introduction and body paragraphs are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Effectively uses the instructor’s feedback to include a fully-developed conclusion that restates the main points. 

Proficient - Adequately uses the instructor’s feedback to include a conclusion that restates the main points. The conclusion is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally uses the instructor’s feedback to include a conclusion that restates the main points. The conclusion is underdeveloped.  

Below Expectations - Attempts to use feedback from the instructor to include a conclusion that restates the main points; however, the conclusion is significantly underdeveloped.  

Non-Performance - The use of instructor feedback to include a conclusion that restates the main points is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Properly employs all existing conventions for the specific type of assignment (e.g., lab report, academic paper, personal essay, etc.) and the specific academic field (e.g., science, business, English, etc.). 

Proficient - Properly employs most of the existing conventions for the specific type of assignment and the specific academic field.

Basic - Employs some existing conventions for the specific type of assignment and the specific type of academic field.

Below Expectations - Employs very few of the existing conventions for the specific type of assignment and the specific type of academic field.

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

Distinguished - Develops a logical, consistent plan to solve a problem. Identifies consequences of the solution and clearly communicates the reason for choosing the solution.

Proficient - Carefully chooses among alternatives and develops a logical, consistent approach to problem solving.

Basic - Takes into account and eliminates less acceptable approaches to problem solving.

Below Expectations - Takes into account a single approach and uses the approach to problem solve.

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.