Distinguished - Provides an in-depth and comprehensive discussion on a major civil rights initiative. Expansively analyzes its impact on both current and future public policies.

Proficient - Provides an adequate discussion on a major civil rights initiative. Provides some analysis of its impact on both current and future public policies, but requires a little more detail.

Basic - Provides a discussion of a major civil rights initiative, but lacks a comprehensive analysis of its impact on current or future public policies.

Below Expectations - Fails to provide a sufficient discussion of a major civil rights initiative. A sufficient analysis of its impact on current and future public policies is missing.

Non-Performance - The discussion of a major civil rights initiative and its impact on current and future public policies is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively assesses how the chosen civil rights initiative affected or affects the average American citizen in a thoughtful and sophisticated analysis, and provides current and relevant specifics to support the argument.

Proficient - Adequately assesses how the chosen civil rights initiative affected or affects the average American citizen in a general analysis, and provides some relevant details to support the argument.

Basic - Briefly assesses how the chosen civil rights initiative affected or affects the average American citizen in a cursory analysis. Few specific details to support the argument are provided.

Below Expectations - Fails to clearly assess how the chosen civil rights initiative affected or affects the average American citizen. The analysis lacks any specific details to support the argument.

Non-Performance - The assessment of how the chosen civil rights initiative affected or affects the average American citizen is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains in detail the issue to be considered, delivering all relevant information necessary for full understanding.

Proficient - Clearly explains in detail the issue to be considered, delivering enough relevant information for an adequate understanding.

Basic -Briefly recognizes the issue to be considered, delivering minimal information for a basic understanding.

Below Expectations - Barely recognizes the issue to be considered, but may not deliver additional information necessary for a basic understanding.

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

Distinguished - Creates new knowledge derived from a novel or unique idea, question, format or product.

Proficient - Constructs an original  idea, question, format, or product.

Basic - Attempts to construct an original or unique idea, question, format, or product.

Below Expectations - Student reinvents available ideas.

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 non-existent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title and reference page.

Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper; however, layout contains a few minor errors.

Basic - Exhibits basic knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper.  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 non-existent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - The paper meets the specific page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Proficient - The paper closely meets the page requirements predetermined in the assignment description.

Basic - The paper meets over half of the page requirement.

Below Expectations - A fraction of the page requirement is completed.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Provides ample resources and uses the correct amount of sources from the specified search agent.

Proficient - Provides the approximate number of sources, while using some of the correct search agents specified in the assignment instructions.

Basic - Provides over half of the  sources required in the assignment instructions.

Below Expectations - Barely provides adequate resources and unable to include sources from specified search agent.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the instructions.