Distinguished - Provides a thorough explanation of how the issue influenced higher education during the Colonial era as well as how it influences higher education today.

Proficient - Provides an explanation of how the issue influenced higher education during the Colonial era as well as how it influences higher education today. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Provides a partial explanation of how the issue influenced higher education during the Colonial era as well as how it influences higher education today. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide an explanation of how the issue influenced higher education during the Colonial era as well as how it influences higher education today; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The explanation of how the issue influenced higher education during the Colonial era as well as how it influences higher education today is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a thorough description of the most important factors and the complexities of the issue during the Colonial era as well as today.

Proficient - Provides a description of the most important factors and the complexities of the issue during the Colonial era as well as today. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Provides a limited description of the most important factors and the complexities of the issue during the Colonial era as well as today. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a description of the most important factors and the complexities of the issue during the Colonial era as well as today; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the most important factors and the complexities of the issue during the Colonial era as well as today is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a thorough evaluation of some of the challenges of the issue that still need to be addressed today and comprehensively explains why.

Proficient - Provides an evaluation of some of the challenges of the issue that still need to be addressed today and explains why. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Provides an evaluation of some of the challenges of the issue that still need to be addressed today and partially explains why. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide an evaluation of some of the challenges of the issue that still need to be addressed today; however, does not explain why and/or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of some of the challenges of the issue that still need to be addressed today and the explanation why are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Demonstrates methodical application of organization and presentation of content. The purpose of the writing is evident and easy to understand. Summaries, quotes, and/or paraphrases fit naturally into the sentences and paragraphs. Paper flows smoothly.

Proficient - Demonstrates sufficient application of organization and presentation of content. The purpose of the writing is, for the most part, clear and easy to understand. There are some problems with the blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper flows somewhat smoothly.

Basic - Demonstrates a limited understanding of organization and presentation of content in written work. The purpose of the writing is somewhat evident but may not be integrated throughout the assignment. There are many problems with the blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper does not flow smoothly in all sections.

Below Expectations - Organization and presentation of content are extremely limited. The purpose of the writing is unclear. There is little or no blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper does not flow smoothly when read.

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

Distinguished - Demonstrates consistent use of reliable, appropriate sources and/or evidence to support ideas that are situated within the discipline and genre of the writing.

Proficient - Demonstrates mostly consistent use of reliable sources that are appropriate to the discipline and genre of the writing. Sources offer some support to the ideas in the writing. 

Basic - Demonstrates somewhat inconsistent use of sources that are mostly reliable to the discipline and genre of the writing. Sources offer little support to the ideas in the writing.

Below Expectations - Inconsistently utilizes sources and/or evidence that may be unrelated and offer little support to the ideas in the writing. 

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent 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 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 - The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of correctly formatted pages.   

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.