Distinguished - Develops a comprehensive introduction and a clear thesis statement.

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

Basic - Develops a minimal introduction and thesis statement. The introduction is underdeveloped and/or the thesis statement is unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to develop an introduction and thesis statement; however, the introduction is significantly underdeveloped and the thesis statement is significantly unclear.

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

Distinguished - Clearly identifies a recent interpersonal, group, or organizational conflict that was later resolved. 

Proficient - Identifies a recent interpersonal, group, or organizational conflict that was later resolved. The details of the conflict are slightly unclear.

Basic - Identifies a recent interpersonal, group, or organizational conflict that has yet to be resolved. The details of the conflict are unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to identify an interpersonal, group, or organizational conflict however, the conflict has yet to be resolved or the details of the conflict are significantly unclear.

Non-Performance - The identification of a recent interpersonal, group, or organizational conflict that has been resolved is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Selects five conflict topics from the list in the instructions.

Proficient - Selects four conflict topics from the list in the instructions. 

Basic - Selects three conflict topics from the list in the instructions. 

Below Expectations - Selects at least two conflict topics from the list in the instructions.

Non-Performance - The selection of five conflict topics from the list in the instructions is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly discusses how the five conflict topics apply to the chosen conflict. The discussion is fully supported with  outside sources.

Proficient - Discusses how the five conflict topics apply to the chosen conflict. The discussion is supported with outside sources but is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally discusses how the five conflict topics apply to the chosen conflict. The discussion is somewhat supported with outside sources and is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss how the five conflict topics apply to the chosen conflict; however, the discussion is not supported with outside sources to and is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The discussion of how the five conflict topics apply to the chosen conflict chosen for this paper is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly argues whether the resolution to the chosen conflict was a “Best Practices” approach. The argument demonstrates a clear understanding of a “Best Practices” approach.

Proficient - Argues whether the resolution to the chosen conflict was a “Best Practices” approach. The argument demonstrates a slightly unclear understanding of a “Best Practices” approach.

Basic - Partially argues whether the resolution to the chosen conflict was a “Best Practices” approach. The argument demonstrates a somewhat unclear understanding of a “Best Practices” approach.

Below Expectations - Attempts to argue whether the resolution to the chosen conflict was a “Best Practices” approach; however, the argument does not demonstrate a clear understanding of a “Best Practices” approach.

Non-Performance - The argument for whether the resolution to the chosen conflict was a “Best Practices” approach is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Develops a comprehensive conclusion and fully reaffirms the thesis statement.

Proficient - Develops a conclusion and reaffirms the thesis statement. The conclusion is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Develops a partial conclusion and somewhat reaffirms the thesis statement. The conclusion is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to develop a conclusion; however, does not reaffirm the thesis statement and is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The development of a conclusion and reaffirmation of the thesis statement are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Distinguishes probable implications of the text for contexts, perspectives, or issues outside the assigned task or beyond the author's explicit message.

Proficient - Uses the text and/or specific knowledge of the author’s context to draw more intricate inferences about the author’s message and approach.

Basic - Considers how textual features (e.g., sentence and paragraph structure or tone) contribute to the author’s message. Draws fundamental inferences about context and rationale of text.

Below Expectations - Inadequately captures vocabulary but makes an effort to paraphrase or summarize the information the text communicates.

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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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.