Distinguished - Accurately and thoroughly summarizes the key scientific data that supports global warming as a result of human activity.

Proficient - Thoroughly summarizes the key scientific data that supports global warming as a result of human activity. Minor details are missing or inaccurate.

Basic - Summarizes the key scientific data that supports global warming as a result of human activity. Intermediate details are missing or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Summarizes the key scientific data that supports global warming as a result of human activity. Major details are missing or inaccurate.

Non-Performance - Fails to summarize key or scientific data that supports global warming as a result of human activity.

Distinguished - Accurately and thoroughly describes the chemical composition of the Earth’s atmosphere and how life has affected this composition over the past several billion years.

Proficient - Thoroughly describes the chemical composition of the Earth’s atmosphere and how life has affected this composition over the past several billion years. Minor details are missing or inaccurate.

Basic - Describes the chemical composition of the Earth’s atmosphere and how life has affected this composition over the past several billion years. Intermediate details are missing or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Describes the chemical composition of the Earth’s atmosphere and how life has affected this composition over the past several billion years. Major details are missing or inaccurate.

Non-Performance - Fails to describe the chemical composition of the Earth’s atmosphere and how life has affected this composition over the past several billion years.

Distinguished - Accurately and thoroughly describes the greenhouse effect and details its importance to global climate.

Proficient - Thoroughly describes the greenhouse effect and details its importance to global climate. Minor details are missing or inaccurate.

Basic - Describes the greenhouse effect and details its importance to global climate. Intermediate details are missing or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Describes the greenhouse effect and details its importance to global climate. Major details are missing or inaccurate.

Non-Performance - Fails to describe the greenhouse effect and detail its importance to global climate.

Distinguished - Accurately and thoroughly describes an anthropogenic greenhouse gas and identifies the four major gases and their global warming potential.

Proficient - Thoroughly describes an anthropogenic greenhouse gas and identifies at least three of the major gases and their global warming potential. Minor details are missing or inaccurate.

Basic - Describes an anthropogenic greenhouse gas and identifies at least two of the major gases and their global warming potential. Intermediate details are missing or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Describes an anthropogenic greenhouse gas and identifies at least one of the major gases and their global warming potential. Major details are missing or inaccurate.

Non-Performance - Fails to describe an anthropogenic greenhouse gas and identify the major gases and their global warming potential.

Distinguished - Accurately identifies and describes three positive and three negative feedback cycles that might increase or decrease global warming.

Proficient - Accurately identifies and describes at least two positive and two negative feedback cycles that might increase or decrease global warming. Minor details are missing or inaccurate.

Basic - Identifies and describes at least two positive and two negative feedback cycles that might increase or decrease global warming. Intermediate details are missing or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Identifies and describes at least one positive and one negative feedback cycles that might increase or decrease global warming. Minor details may be missing or inaccurate.

Non-Performance - Fails to describe at least one positive and one negative feedback cycles that might increase or decrease global warming.

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 - 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.