Distinguished - Introduces a focused, concrete ethical question or problem, provides a concise preview of the ethically significant issues and the direction of the paper. Concludes with a a precise, clear, and well-constructed statement of the thesis and the primary reasons supporting it.

Proficient - Introduces a focused, concrete ethical question or problem that may be slightly broad or vague; provides a preview of the ethically significant issues and the direction of the paper. Concludes with a a thesis that is slightly unclear, or vaguely states the primary reasons supporting it.

Basic - Introduces a vague, broad, or unfocused ethical question or problem, that somewhat indicates the direction of the paper, provides a limited preview of the ethically significant issues to be considered. Concludes with a thesis that is not well-constructed, is unclear, or does not include any of the supporting reasons.

Below Expectations - Provides an introduction, but the topic is very vague, broad, or unfocused, does not provide a preview of the direction of the paper or the ethically significant issues to be considered. Does not conclude with an obvious thesis statement.

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

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains the core principles of two of the ethical theories covered during the course, effectively applies each of those to the chosen problem, and clearly demonstrates how a specific moral conclusion results from that application. Displays a comprehensive understanding of each of the theories based on the relevant required resources.

Proficient - Explains the core principles of two of the ethical theories covered during the course, applies each of those to the chosen problem, and demonstrates how a specific moral conclusion results from the application. The explanation or application of one or both of the theories displays some ambiguity, is slightly underdeveloped or unclear. Displays an understanding of each of the theories based on the relevant required resources.

Basic - Explains the core principles of two of the ethical theories covered during the course, applies each of those to the chosen problem, and demonstrates how a specific moral conclusion results from the application. The explanation or application of one or both of the theories displays ambiguity, is underdeveloped or is unclear. Displays a limited understanding of at least one of the theories based on the relevant required resources.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the core principles of one of the ethical theories covered during the course, apply it to the chosen problem, and demonstrate how a specific moral conclusion results from the application; however, the explanation and application of the selected theory displays a high level of ambiguity, is severely underdeveloped and unclear. Alternatively, demonstrates a strong grasp of ethical reasoning, but only minimally or implicitly refers to the ethical theories and arguments that have been considered during the course.

Non-Performance - The explanation and application of ethical theories are either nonexistent or lack the basic components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Effectively and clearly explains which theory presents the most persuasive moral argument and why, raises a relevant objection to this argument, and provides a strong response to the objection.

Proficient - Explains which theory presents the most persuasive moral argument and why, raises an objection to this argument, and provides a response to the objection. One element is weak or somewhat unclear.

Basic - Explains which theory presents the most persuasive moral argument but does not raise a relevant objection to the argument, or raises an objection and provides a response to the objection but does not explain which theory presents the most persuasive argument. Two elements are weak and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain which theory presents the most persuasive moral argument and/or raise a relevant objection; however, one element may be missing, and all the elements are very weak and unclear.

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

Distinguished - Provides a well-developed and clear conclusion that concisely summarizes the paper and presents a rephrased statement of the thesis.

Proficient - Provides a conclusion that summarizes the paper and presents a rephrased statement of the thesis, but one of these is slightly unclear or underdeveloped.

Basic - Provides a conclusion that partially summarizes the paper and presents a limited rephrased statement of the thesis. One of these is unclear and/or underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a conclusion; however, does not provide a summary of the paper and does not present a rephrased statement of the thesis. Both are significantly unclear and underdeveloped.

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

Distinguished - Cites at least two of the readings from the list of resources, one for each of the two theories, and two more scholarly items from either the required or recommended material or the Ashford University Library. The sources are pertinent and effectively used.

Proficient - Cites at least one of the readings from the list of resources, and three more scholarly items from either the required or recommended material or the Ashford University Library. One or two of the sources may be only somewhat pertinent and effectively used.

Basic - Cites at least one of the readings from the list of resources, and one or two scholarly items from either the required or recommended material or the Ashford University Library. Or cites at least four sources, but does not include one of the readings from the list of acceptable resources.

Below Expectations - Includes sources, but fulfills one or none of the resource requirements. Resources are not scholarly or representative of those required by the instructions and/or the resources are not used to properly support the positions in the paper.

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

Distinguished - The paper displays coherent organization.

Proficient - The paper is mostly well-organized but has some minor problem areas, such as unnecessary tangents, lack of transitions between a few paragraphs, or a slightly incoherent structure.

Basic - The paper is somewhat well-organized but has one or two significant problem areas, such as unnecessary tangents of substantial length, disjointed paragraphs, or a very incoherent structure.

Below Expectations - The paper is largely disorganized, and has many problem areas such as unnecessary tangents of substantial length, disjointed paragraphs, and a very incoherent structure.

Non-Performance - The paper does not show any signs of having been thoughtfully crafted, and lacks the basic elements of a coherent essay.

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 words.

Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of words.

Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of words.

Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of words.   

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