Distinguished - Develops a strong thesis statement that clearly establishes the policy, thoroughly explains why the policy is important, and fully addresses how it is connected to American national government.

Proficient - Develops a thesis statement that establishes the policy, explains why the policy is important, and addresses how it is connected to American national government. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Develops a thesis statement that partially establishes the policy, minimally explains why the policy is important, and somewhat addresses how it is connected to American national government. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to develop a thesis statement that establishes the policy, explains why the policy is important, and addresses how it is connected to American national government; however, significant details are missing and entirely unclear.

Non-Performance - The development a strong thesis statement that establishes the policy, explains why the policy is important, and addresses how it is connected to American national government is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Develops a comprehensive outline of all of the elements of the introduction and conclusion of the Final Paper.

Proficient - Develops an outline of the elements of most of the introduction and conclusion of the Final Paper. The introduction or conclusion is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Develops a partial outline of some of the elements of the introduction and conclusion of the Final Paper. The introduction and/or conclusion are underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempted to develop an outline of the elements of the introduction and conclusion of the Final Paper; however, the introduction and conclusion are significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The outline of the elements of the introduction and conclusion of the Final Paper is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly outlines a description of the historical and Constitutional basis of American Government’s structure and how this relates to the policy.

Proficient - Outlines a description of the historical and Constitutional basis of American Government’s structure and how this relates to the policy. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially outlines a description of the historical and Constitutional basis of American Government’s structure and how this relates to the policy. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to outline a description of the historical and Constitutional basis of American Government’s structure and how this relates to the policy; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The outline of a description of the historical and Constitutional basis of American Government’s structure and how this relates to the policy is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly outlines an explanation of how the policy is involved within the process of checks and balances.

Proficient - Outlines an explanation of how the policy is involved within the process of checks and balances. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially outlines an explanation of how the policy is involved within the process of checks and balances. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to outline an explanation of how the policy is involved within the process of checks and balances; however, significant are missing.

Non-Performance - The outline of an explanation of how the policy is involved within the process of checks and balances is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly outlines a description of how the policy relates to public policy and elections and how the policy is portrayed by the media.

Proficient - Outlines a description of how the policy relates to public policy and elections and how the policy is portrayed by the media. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially outlines a description of how the policy relates to public policy and elections and how the policy is portrayed by the media. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to outline a description of how the policy relates to public policy and elections and how the policy is portrayed by the media; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The outline of a description of how the policy relates to public policy and elections and how the policy is portrayed by the media is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly outlines an explanation of how the policy impacts voting and the election process.

Proficient - Outlines an explanation of how the policy impacts voting and the election process. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially outlines an explanation of how the policy impacts voting and the election process. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to outline an explanation of how the policy impacts voting and the election process; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The outline of an explanation of how the policy impacts voting and the election process is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment 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 - 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.