Distinguished - Provides an excellent introduction to the topic of theories of personality that clearly explains what will be covered and the direction of the paper.

Proficient - Provides a strong introduction to the topic of theories of personality that explains what will be covered and the direction of the paper.

Basic - Provides a basic introduction to the topic of theories of personality that somewhat explains what will be covered and the direction of the paper.

Below Expectations - Provides a very vague introduction to the topic of theories of personality that attempts to explain what will be covered and the direction of the paper.

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

Distinguished - Includes two major concepts from the seven models of Personality studied in the course that will be included in the final paper, including identification of the model, originating theory, and theorist. Each concept is formatted in a distinct subheading.

Proficient - Includes two major concepts from six of the seven models of Personality studied in the course that will be included in the final paper, including identification of the originating theory and theorist. Each concept is formatted in a distinct subheading but minor details are missing, inaccurate, or unclear.

Basic - Includes two major concepts from five of the seven models of Personality studied in the course that will be included in the final paper, including identification of the originating theory and theorist. Each concept is not formatted in a distinct subheading and/or relevant details are missing, inaccurate, and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Includes one major concept from three of the seven models of Personality studied in the course that will be included in the final paper; however, does not include identification of the originating theory and theories and significant details are missing inaccurate, and unclear.

Non-Performance - The discussion of two of the major concepts from each of the seven models is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively compares and contrasts the concepts chosen in the theory of personality development with the one chosen to be excluded.

Proficient - Compares and contrasts the concepts chosen in the theory of personality development with the one chosen to be excluded. The comparison is slightly unbalanced.

Basic - Minimally compares and contrasts the concepts chosen in the theory of personality development with the one chosen to be excluded. The comparison is unbalanced.

Below Expectations - Attempts to compare and contrast the concepts chosen in the theory of personality development with the one chosen to be excluded; however, the comparison is significantly unbalanced. 

Non-Performance - The comparison of the included and excluded concepts is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Selects one of the excluded concepts and provides an appropriate rational for the excluded concept thoroughly explaining the various aspects that make it unsuitable for use.

Proficient - Selects one of the excluded concepts and provides a rational for the excluded concept explaining the various aspects that make it unsuitable for use. Minor details are missing. 

Basic - Selects one of the excluded concepts and provides a somewhat appropriate rational for the excluded concept minimally explaining the various aspects that make it unsuitable for use. Relevant details are missing. 

Below Expectations - Selects one of the excluded concepts and attempts to provide a rational for the excluded concept and explain the various aspects that make it unsuitable for use; however, the rationale is not appropriate and significant details are missing. 

Non-Performance - The discussion of three specific concepts excluded from the theory is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides comprehensive description of how the two selected concepts explain the development of healthy and unhealthy personality traits. 

Proficient -Provides a description of how the two selected concepts explain the development of healthy and unhealthy personality traits.  The analysis is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic -Provides a limited description of how the two selected concepts explain the development of healthy and unhealthy personality traits.    The analysis is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide   a description of how the two selected concepts explain the development of healthy and unhealthy personality traits; however, the analysis is significantly underdeveloped. 

Non-Performance - The description of how the two selected concepts describe healthy and unhealthy personality traits is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of heredity and environment, including f the role of epigenetics on the development of personality.

Proficient - Provides an analysis of the role of heredity and environment, including the role of epigenetics on the development of personality. The analysis is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Provides a limited analysis of the role of heredity and environment, minimally including the role of epigenetics on the development of personality.  The analysis is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide an analysis of the role of heredity and environment; however, does not include the role of epigenetics on the development of personality  and the analysis is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The analysis of the role of heredity and environment, including a discussion of epigenetics is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a thorough discussion of the role of heredity and environment in the development of personality disorders.

Proficient - Provides a discussion of the role of heredity and environment in the development of personality disorders. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Provides a limited discussion of the role of heredity and environment in the development of personality disorders. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a discussion of the role of heredity and environment in the development of personality disorders. ; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The discussion of the role of heredity and environment on the development of personality disorders is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides an insightful and thoughtful description of how and in what views have changed since the week one assignment.

Proficient - Provides a thoughtful description of how and in what views have changed since the week one assignment. Minor details are missing,

Basic - Provides a limited description of how and in what views have changed since the week one assignment. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a description of how and in what views have changed since the week one assignment ; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of ways in which views have changed since the week one assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explores the ideas, thoughts, and elements of the topic and provides relevant evidence and information that demonstrates all of the following as applicable to the discussion prompt: clarity, relevance, depth, breadth, use of information resources, and logic.

Proficient - Explores the ideas, thoughts, and elements of the topic and provides relevant evidence and information that demonstrates most of the following as applicable to the discussion prompt: clarity, relevance, depth, breadth, use of information resources, and logic.

Basic - Explores the ideas, thoughts, and elements of the topic and provides relevant evidence and information that demonstrates some of the following as applicable to the discussion prompt: clarity, relevance, depth, breadth, and use of information, and logic.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explore the ideas, thoughts, and elements of the topic and provide relevant evidence and information, but demonstrates few of the following as applicable to the discussion prompt: clarity, relevance, depth, breadth, use of information resources, and logic.

Non-Performance - There is no attempt to explore the ideas, thoughts, and elements of the topic and provide relevant evidence and information in either the original post or subsequent response posts within the discussion, or no post is present.

Distinguished - Assesses changes in one's own learning over time, recognizing varied contextual factors (e.g., works with ambiguity and risk, deals with frustration, considers ethical frameworks).

Proficient - Effectively assesses strengths and challenges within specific performances or events to increase effectiveness in different contexts (through increased self-awareness).

Basic - Assesses one's own performances with general descriptions of success and failure.

Below Expectations - Unsuccessfully assesses one's own performances with general descriptors of success and failure.

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 - 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.