Distinguished - Develops a formal outline for the Final Paper that includes complete sentences for every point. The organization of the outline is clear.

Proficient - Develops a formal outline for the Final Paper that includes complete sentences for the majority of the points. The organization of the outline is slightly unclear.

Basic - Develops a formal outline for the Final Paper, but less than half of the points are written in complete sentences. The organization of the outline is unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to develop a formal outline for the Final Paper but does not provide complete sentences and the organization of the outline is significantly unclear.

Non-Performance - The development of a formal outline for the Final Paper is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Develops a comprehensive introduction and clear thesis statement for the Final Paper. 

Proficient - Develops an introduction and thesis statement for the Final Paper. The introduction or thesis statement is slightly unclear or underdeveloped.

Basic - Develops a partial introduction and thesis statement for the Final Paper. The introduction and/or thesis statement are unclear and/or underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to develop an introduction and thesis statement for the Final Paper; however, the introduction and thesis statement are significantly unclear and underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The development of an introduction and thesis statement for the Final Paper is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Develops a comprehensive body section that identifies five conflict topics and includes relevant supporting material for each topic. 

Proficient - Develops a body section that identifies at least four conflict topics and includes supporting materials for each topic. Minor details are missing or the supporting materials are slightly irrelevant.  

Basic - Develops a minimal body section that identifies at least three conflict topics and includes limited supporting materials for each topic. Relevant details are missing and/or the supporting materials are irrelevant.  

Below Expectations - Attempts to develop a body section; however,   identifies only one or two conflict topics, does not contain relevant supporting materials, and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The development of a body section  that identifies five conflict topics including  supporting material for each topic is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Develops a comprehensive conclusion for the Final Paper that fully reinforces the thesis statement. 

Proficient -  Develops a conclusion for the Final Paper that reinforces the thesis statement. The conclusion is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic -Develops a limited conclusion for the Final Paper that somewhat reinforces the thesis statement. Theconclusion is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to develop a conclusion for the Final Paper; however, the thesis statement not reinforced and the conclusion  is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The development of a conclusion for the Final Paper is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Analyzes texts for scholarly significance and pertinence within and across 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 - Creates meaningful correlations among experiences outside of the classroom to demonstrate an understanding of the given field of study and to broaden one's own viewpoints.

Proficient - Compares life experiences and academic knowledge to distinguish differences and similarities while acknowledging perspectives other than one's own.

Basic - Recognizes correlations between life experiences, academic texts, and ideas perceived as similar and related to one's own interests.

Below Expectations - Briefly comments about the connections between one's life experiences and academic texts.

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 - 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 - 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.

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.