Distinguished - Provides an exceptional background on the policy concern. The background contains a thorough identification of the parties, and the points at issue.

Proficient - Provides a reasonably crafted background on the policy concern. The background contains a general identification of the parties and the points at issue.

Basic - Provides little background on the policy concern. The background contains a brief identification of the parties and the points at issue.

Below Expectations - Provides an insufficient background of the policy concern. The background lacks an identification of the parties and the points at issue.

Non-Performance - The background of the policy concern, the parties, and the points at issue is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly and comprehensively analyzes how the policy process will develop regarding the public policy.

Proficient - Analyzes how the policy process will develop regarding the public policy, but the analysis lacks one or more key components.

Basic - Briefly analyzes how the policy process will develop regarding the public policy, but the analysis is missing several key components.

Below Expectations - Insufficiently analyzes how the policy process will develop regarding the public policy.

Non-Performance - The analysis of how the policy process will develop regarding the public policy is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a detailed and complete restatement of the thesis and a strong concluding paragraph.

Proficient - Provides a restatement of the thesis and a concluding paragraph, but is missing one or more key details.

Basic - Provides an abbreviated restatement of the thesis, and a limited concluding paragraph. More detail needs to be provided to be considered complete.

Below Expectations - Briefly restates the thesis and provides no concluding thoughts or recommendations in the final paragraph.

Non-Performance - Both the restatement of the thesis and the concluding paragraphare either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment 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 non-existent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Analyzes texts for scholarly significance and pertinence within and across the 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 non-existent 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.