Distinguished - Provides a clear and focused introduction and thesis statement with claim that defines the issue or problem, addresses the importance of the topic, and thoroughly explains its relation to one’s field of study. The thesis statement is declarative and proposes an appropriate and feasible solution to the problem or issue. 

Proficient - Provides a clear and focused introduction paragraph and thesis statement with claim that defines the issue or problem, addresses the importance of the topic, and explains its relation to one’s field of study. The thesis statement is declarative and proposes a solution to the problem or issue. Minor details are missing or the solution is slightly inappropriate or not feasible.

Basic - Provides a vague introduction paragraph and a thesis statement with claim that minimally defines the issue or problem, partially addresses the importance of the topic, and partially explains its relation to one’s field of study. The thesis statement is somewhat declarative and proposes a solution to the problem or issue. Relevant details are missing and/or the solution is inappropriate and/or not feasible.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide an introduction paragraph and a thesis statement with claim; however, the thesis statement is not declarative, the solution to the problem or issue is entirely inappropriate and not feasible, and significant details are missing.

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

Distinguished - Creates a complete argument, including claims and evidence without obvious logical fallacies that fully addresses one’s major field of study, what the perspective is, and how it informs one’s view of the topic.

Proficient - Creates an argument including claims and evidence without obvious logical fallacies that addresses one’s major field of study, what the perspective is, and how it informs one’s view of the topic. The argument is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Creates a partial argument, including some claims and evidence that vaguely addresses one’s major field of study, what the perspective is, and how it informs one’s view of the topic. The argument is underdeveloped and/or logical fallacies are present.

Below Expectations - Attempts to create an argument; however, does not include claims and evidence to address one’s major field of study, what the perspective is, and how it informs one’s view of the topic. The argument is significantly underdeveloped and many logical fallacies are present.

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

Distinguished - Comprehensively and effectively evaluates the ethical outcomes that result from the position taken on the issue and thoroughly explains how the outcomes influence society and culture.

Proficient - Evaluates the ethical outcomes that result from the position taken on the issue and explains how the outcomes influence society and culture. The evaluation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Vaguely evaluates the ethical outcomes that result from the position taken on the issue and partially explains how the outcomes influence society and culture. The evaluation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate the ethical outcomes that result from the position taken on the issue and explain how the outcomes influence society and culture; however, the evaluation is significantly underdeveloped. 

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

Distinguished - Provides an exceptionally clear, focused, and accurate interpretation of statistical evidence/data from at least two scholarly articles on the selected topic.

Proficient - Provides a clear and focused interpretation of statistical evidence/data from at least two scholarly articles on the selected topic. The interpretation is slightly underdeveloped or inaccurate.

Basic - Provides a somewhat clear and focused interpretation of statistical evidence/data from at least two scholarly articles on the selected topic. The interpretation is underdeveloped and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide an interpretation of statistical evidence/data from at two scholarly articles on the selected topic; however, the interpretation is severely underdeveloped and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The interpretation of statistical evidence/data from at least two scholarly articles is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively evaluates evidence using the following standards: validity, strength, authority, and bias related to the chosen topic. Accurately identifies strengths and weaknesses. 

Proficient - Evaluates evidence using the following standards: validity, strength, authority, and bias related to the chosen topic. Accurately identifies most of the strengths and weaknesses. The evaluation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially evaluates evidence using some of the following standards: validity, strength, authority, and bias related to the chosen topic. Identifies some of the strengths and weaknesses. The evaluation is underdeveloped and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate evidence using the following standards: validity, strength, authority, and bias related to the chosen topic; however, identifies few of the strengths and weaknesses, and the evaluation is significantly underdeveloped and inaccurate. 

Non-Performance - The evaluation of evidence using critical thinking skills 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 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.

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.