Distinguished - Provides a thesis statement that effectively addresses the main topic to be researched in the Final Project and clearly chooses one of the four specific groups for the Final Project. 

Proficient - Provides a thesis that addresses the main topic to be researched in the Final Project and chooses one of the four specific groups for the Final Project. The thesis or topic is slightly unclear.

Basic - Provides a limited thesis that addresses the topic to be researched in the Final Project and/or chooses more than one of the specific groups for the Final Project. The thesis and/or the topic choice is unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a thesis that addresses the topic to be researched in the Final Project; however, chooses more than one group or does not choose from the specific groups. The thesis and topic choice are significantly unclear. 

Non-Performance - The thesis and choice of topic are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Chooses and comprehensively describes four events to be used in the Final Project, two from 1877 to 1945 and two from 1945 to the present, that are clearly relevant to the chosen group and fully demonstrate change over time. Provides all required information and shows a thorough understanding of the events.

Proficient - Chooses and describes four events to be used in the Final Project, two from 1877 to 1945 and two from 1945 to the present that are relevant to the chosen group and demonstrate change over time. Provides all required information and shows an understanding of the events. The description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Chooses and partially describes four events to be used in the Final Project, two from 1877 to 1945 and two from 1945 to the present that are somewhat relevant to the group chosen and vaguely demonstrates change over time. Provides most of the required information but shows a limited understanding of the events. The description is underdeveloped. 

Below Expectations - Chooses and describes fewer than four events to be used in the Final Project that are irrelevant to the group chosen and may not demonstrate change over time. Provides less than the required information and does not show an understanding of the events, and the description is significantly underdeveloped. 

Non-Performance - The four events to be used in the Final Project are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - The source annotations provide a detailed generalization of the academic source materials and clearly addresses the manner in which they will contribute to the Final Project.

Proficient - The source annotations provide reasonable generalizations of the academic source materials and addresses the manner in which they will contribute to the Final Project. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - The source annotations provide limited generalizations of the academic source materials and addresses the manner in which they will contribute to the Final Project. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide source annotations; however, does not address the manner in which the sources will contribute to the Final Project, and significant details are missing and severely unclear.

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

Distinguished - The totality of the academic source materials utilized is of the highest quality, university-level standards and are fully relevant to the thesis.

Proficient - The totality of the academic source materials utilized meets university-level standards. A minority of academic sources may not be relevant to the thesis.

Basic - The majority of the academic source materials utilized meet university-level standards. Some of the sources utilized are either commercial websites of dubious academic merit or sources are not relevant to the thesis.

Below Expectations - A minimal number of academic sources utilized are of university-level standards. The majority of sources utilized are  commercial websites of dubious academic merit. A majority of sources are significantly irrelevant to the thesis.

Non-Performance - The academic source materials are either nonexistent or the quality of the source materials lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Fills in the worksheet clearly, completely addresses all parts and provides comprehensive explanations throughout.

Proficient - Fills in the worksheet, addresses all parts and provides explanations throughout. Few parts are slightly unclear. 

Basic - Fills in the worksheet, addresses some parts and provides limited explanations throught. Several parts are unclear.

Below Expectations - Fills in the worksheet, does not not address most of the parts, and does not provide exlanations throughout. Most of the worksheet is significantly unclear. 

Non-Performance - Does not use the worksheet 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.