Distinguished -Identifies an appropriate and breaking news story and two appropriate media sources in which the story appeared

Proficient - Identifies a breaking news story and two appropriate media sources in which the story appeared. The news story is slightly out of date or inappropriate

Basic - Identifies a news story and two appropriate media sources in which the story appeared.  The news story is  no longer relevant as breaking news and/or inappropriate.

Below Expectations -Identifies a news story; however, the two media sources are not appropriate and the news story  is no longer relevant as breaking news and is inappropriate.

Non-Performance - The identification of a breaking news story and two media sources that the story appeared in are either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively discusses a set of ethical codes used in the analysis of the breaking news story.

Proficient - Discusses a set of ethical codes used in the analysis of the breaking news story. Minor details are missing

Basic - Minimally discusses a set of ethical codes used in the analysis of the breaking news story. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss a set of ethical codes used in the analysis of the breaking news story; however, significant  details are missing.

Non-Performance - The discussion of a set of ethical codes used in the analysis of the breaking news story is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively discusses any issues with objectivity, perspective, and bias that were present in the reports.

Proficient - Discusses any issues with objectivity, perspective, and bias that were present in the reports. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally discusses any issues with objectivity, perspective, and bias that were present in the reports. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations -Attempts to discuss any issues with objectivity, perspective, and bias that were present in the reports; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance -The the discussion of any issues with objectivity, perspective, and bias that were present in the reports is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively discusses how the chosen ethical codes were adhered to in the reporting of the story.

Proficient - Discusses how the chosen ethical codes were adhered to in the reporting of the story. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally discusses how the chosen ethical codes were adhered to in the reporting of the story. Relevant  details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss how the chosen ethical codes were adhered to in the reporting of the story; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The the discussion of how the chosen ethical codes were adhered to in the reporting of the story is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively discusses how the chosen ethical codes were violated in the reporting of the story.

Proficient - Discusses the how  the chosen ethical codes were violated in the reporting of the story. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally discusses how the chosen ethical codes were violated in the reporting of the story. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss how the chosen ethical codes were violated in the reporting of the story; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance -The discussion of how the chosen ethical codes were violated in the reporting of the story 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.