Distinguished - Thoroughly and skillfully describes the theme of the short story, sufficiently supporting this description with references to the text.

Proficient - Thoroughly describes the theme of the short story, sufficiently supporting this description with references to the text.

Basic - Briefly describes the theme of the short story, sufficiently supporting this description with references to the text.

Below Expectations - Incompletely or inaccurately describes the theme of the short story.  Student does not sufficiently support this description with references to the text.

Non-Performance - The paper is either non-existent or contains no description of any theme in the short story.

Distinguished - Clearly identifies at least two literary elements in the short story that contribute to the stated theme, while clearly and thoroughly describing an example of each element.

Proficient - Clearly identifies at least two literary elements in the short story that contribute to the stated theme, while briefly describing an example of each element.

Basic - Identifies at least two literary elements in the short story that contribute to the stated theme, and lists an example for each element.

Below Expectations - Identifies one literary element in the short story that contributes to the stated theme.  Student may neglect to include an example for this element.

Non-Performance - The paper is either non-existent or does not identify any literary elements that contribute to the stated theme.

Distinguished - Thoroughly and skillfully evaluates how the selected literary elements contribute to the overall theme.

Proficient - Thoroughly explains how the selected literary elements contribute to the overall theme.

Basic - Briefly explains how the selected literary elements contribute to the overall theme.

Below Expectations - Briefly identifies how the selected literary elements contribute to the overall theme, but does not support this statement with any explanation.

Non-Performance - The paper is either non-existent or fails to address how the selected literary elements contribute to the overall theme.

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, general background understanding, 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 and makes an effort to paraphrase or summarize the information the text communicates.

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 or 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.