Distinguished - Introduction and thesis are skillfully developed and thoroughly prepare the reader for the content, direction, and purpose of the paper.

Proficient - Introduction and thesis are mostly developed and adequately prepare the reader for the content, direction, and purpose of the paper.

Basic - Introduction and thesis are present and vaguely prepare the reader for the content, direction, and purpose of the paper.

Below Expectations - An introduction is present, but is somewhat incomplete. It does not prepare the reader for the content, direction, and purpose of the paper and may seem slightly unrelated to the topic of the paper.

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

Distinguished - Provides an exceptionally thorough description of the selected society, including the society’s ethnic groups, ethnic stratification, and ethnic conflict.

Proficient - Provides a sufficient description of the selected society, including the society’s ethnic groups, ethnic stratification, and ethnic conflict. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Provides a somewhat limited description of the selected society. The description needs to include more detailed information about the selected society’s ethnic groups, ethnic stratification, and ethnic conflict.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a description of the selected society; however, the description is vague and includes little information about the selected society’s ethnic groups, ethnic stratification, and ethnic conflict.

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

Distinguished - Clearly provides wholly relevant examples of ethnic problems in the selected society, including evidence of prejudice and discrimination.

Proficient - Provides examples of ethnic problems in the selected society. The examples are mostly relevant and provide a sufficiently clear picture of the prejudice and discrimination present in the selected society.

Basic - Provides at least two examples of ethnic problems in the selected society, but the examples are somewhat unclear and/or irrelevant and may not provide evidence of the prejudice or discrimination present in the selected society.

Below Expectations - Provides only one example of an ethnic problem in the selected society, or provides at least two examples that are unclear, irrelevant, and/or do not provide evidence of the prejudice and discrimination present in the selected society.

Non-Performance - The examples of ethnic problems in the selected society are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively discusses the experts’ opinions on the ethnic problems (or ethnic harmony) in the selected society. The discussion includes several specific details on the experts’ research findings in relation to the ethnic problems (or ethnic harmony).

Proficient - Discusses the experts’ opinions on the ethnic problems (or ethnic harmony) in the selected society. The discussion includes some specific details on the experts’ research findings in relation to the ethnic problems (or ethnic harmony).

Basic - Partially discusses the experts’ opinions on the ethnic problems (or ethnic harmony) in the selected society. The discussion fails to include sufficient specific details on the experts’ research findings in relation to the ethnic problems (or ethnic harmony).

Below Expectations - Minimally discusses the experts’ opinions on the ethnic problems (or ethnic harmony) in the selected society. The discussion does not reference the experts’ research findings in relation to the ethnic problems (or ethnic harmony).

Non-Performance - The discussion of the experts’ opinions on the ethnic problems (or ethnic harmony) in the selected society is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively compares the selected society to the United States in terms of the ethnic groups, ethnic stratification systems, and ethnic conflict, using several appropriate examples from relevant, scholarly sources.

Proficient - Compares the selected society to the United States in terms of the ethnic groups, ethnic stratification systems, and ethnic conflict, using examples from relevant, scholarly sources. The comparison is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Briefly compares the selected society to the United States in terms of the ethnic groups, ethnic stratification systems, and ethnic conflict. Uses some examples from scholarly sources. The comparison is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a comparison of the selected society to the United States; however, the comparison lacks one or more of the required elements, does not use examples from scholarly sources, and/or is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The comparison of the selected society to the United States is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - The conclusion clearly reaffirms the thesis statement, accurately summarizes the paper’s content, and thoughtfully reflects on ethnic groups and the societies in which we live.

Proficient - The conclusion reaffirms the thesis statement, summarizes the paper’s content, and reflects on ethnic groups and the societies in which we live.

Basic - The conclusion is present, loosely summarizes the paper’s content, and somewhat reflects on ethnic groups and the societies in which we live.

Below Expectations - The conclusion is present, although incomplete. It does not adequately summarize the paper’s content and/or recflect on ethnic groups and the societies in which we live.

Non-Performance - The conclusion 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 basic 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 paper meets the specific page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Proficient - The paper closely meets the page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Basic - The paper meets over half of the page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

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

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 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 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.