Distinguished - The paper is logically organized with a well-written introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion.

Proficient - The paper is logically organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. One of these requires improvement.

Basic - The paper is organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. One or more of the introduction, thesis statement, and/or conclusion require improvement.

Below Expectations - The paper is loosely organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. The introduction, thesis statement, and/or conclusion require much improvement.

Non-Performance - The introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the topic and why it is of particular interest.

Proficient - Describes the topic and why it is of particular interest. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally describes the topic and why it is of particular interest. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the topic; however, why the topic is of particular interest is not addressed in the description.  Significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the topic and why it is of particular interest is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the death-and-dying process.

Proficient - Describes the death-and-dying process. The description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally describes the death-and-dying process. The description is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the death-and-dying process; however, the description is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance -The description of the death-and-dying process is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes how to support a grieving individual, how to help someone with the issue of death, and the community resources available.

Proficient - Describes how to support a grieving individual, how to help someone with the issue of death, and the community resources available. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally describes how to support a grieving individual, how to help someone with the issue of death, and the community resources available. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe how to support a grieving individual, how to help someone with the issue of death, and the community resources available; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of how to support of grieving individual, how to help someone dealing the issue of death, and community resources available is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Examines and thoroughly discusses specific, relevant legal and/or ethical issues.

Proficient - Examines and discusses mostly relevant legal and/or ethical issues. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Briefly examines and vaguely discusses somewhat relevant legal and/or ethical issues. Several details are missing.

Below Expectations - Minimally examines and attempts to discuss legal and/or ethical issues; however, few issues are relevant and/or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The examination and discussion of specific legal and/or ethical issues are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Shares comprehensive and clear insights on personal perspectives of death and dying that best explain personal thoughts, beliefs and values using completely relevant examples.

Proficient - Shares insights on personal perspectives of death and dying that explain personal thoughts, beliefs and values using mostly relevant examples. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Shares minimal insights on personal perspectives of death and dying that partially explain personal thoughts, beliefs, and values using somewhat relevant examples. Many details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to share insights on personal perspectives of death and dying that explain personal thoughts, beliefs, and values; however, examples are not relevant and/or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - A description of personal perspectives of death and dying is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Employs persuasive information from credible sources to develop an ample analysis or synthesis of the topic. Viewpoints of experts are scrutinized thoroughly.

Proficient - Employs applicable information from credible sources to develop an analysis of the topic.

Basic - Identifies applicable information from credible sources, but may neglect the application of such information toward the analysis of the topic.

Below Expectations - Displays information from external sources, but such information may lack credibility and/or relevance. Neglects the application of such information toward the analysis of the topic.

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

Distinguished - Analyzes texts for scholarly significance and pertinence within and across the various disciplines, assessing them according to their contributions and consequences.

Proficient - Utilizes texts in the context of scholarship to expand a foundation of disciplinary knowledge and to raise and discover significant inquiries.

Basic - Employs texts with the intent and expectation of increasing knowledge.

Below Expectations - Approaches texts only within the context of assignment.

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 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 paper meets the specific page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Proficient - The paper closely meets the page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Basic - The paper meets over half of the page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Below Expectations - A fraction of the page requirement is completed.

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 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 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.