Distinguished - Comprehensively describes the mortgage securities market and how the market functions. 

Proficient - Describes the mortgage securities market and how the market functions.  The description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Describes the mortgage securities market and how the market functions, but the description is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describes the mortgage securities market and how the market functions; however, the description is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The description of the mortgage securities market and how the market functions is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly analyzes the driving forces that caused the problems experienced by the mortgage securities market since 2006. 

Proficient - Analyzes the driving forces that caused the problems experienced by the mortgage securities market since 2006. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Analyzes the driving forces that caused the problems experienced by the mortgage securities market since 2006. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to analyze the driving forces that caused the problems experienced by the mortgage securities market since 2006; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The analysis of the driving forces that caused the problems experienced by the mortgage securities market since 2006 is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a thorough examination of the reasons why so many subprime mortgages were created from 2000-2006 and how those subprime mortgages were re-sold in the secondary securities market.

Proficient - Provides an examination of the reasons why so many subprime mortgages were created from 2000-2006 and how those subprime mortgages were re-sold in the secondary market. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Provides a vague examination of the reasons why so many subprime mortgages were created from 2000-2006 and how those subprime mortgages were re-sold in the secondary market. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide an examination of the reasons why so many subprime mortgages were created from 2000-2006 and how those subprime mortgages were re-sold in the secondary market; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The examination of why so many subprime mortgages were created from 2000-2006 and how those subprime mortgages were re-sold in the secondary securities markets is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly analyzes the changes that have been instituted since 2009 to prevent a recurrence of the problems experienced in the mortgage securities market beginning in 2006, and whether the changes have been effective in preventing those problems from recurring.

Proficient - Analyzes changes that have been instituted since 2009 to prevent a recurrence of the problems experienced in the mortgage securities market beginning in 2006, and whether the changes have been effective in preventing those problems from recurring. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially analyzes the changes that have been instituted since 2009 to prevent a recurrence of the problems experienced in the mortgage securities market beginning in 2006, and whether the changes have been effective in preventing those problems from recurring. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to analyze the changes that have been instituted since 2009 to prevent a recurrence of the problems experienced in the mortgage securities market beginning in 2006, and whether those changes have been effective in preventing those problems from recurring; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The analysis of changes that have been instituted since 2009 to prevent a recurrence of the problems experienced in the mortgage securities market beginning in 2006, and whether those changes have been effective in preventing those problems from recurring is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Develops thorough recommendations that would protect against the types of problems experienced in the mortgage securities market from 2006-2009.

Proficient - Develops recommendations that would protect against the types of problems experienced in the mortgage securities market from 2006-2009. The recommendations are slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Develops limited recommendations that would protect against the types of problems experienced in the mortgage securities market from 2006-2009. The recommendations are underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to develop recommendations that would protect against the types of problems experienced in the mortgage securities market from 2006-2009; however, the recommendations are significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The recommendations that would protect against the types of problems experienced in the mortgage securities market from 2006-2009 are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - The paper is logically organized with a well-written introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion.

Proficient - The paper is logically organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. One of these requires improvement.

Basic - The paper is organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. One or more of the introduction, thesis statement, and/or conclusion require improvement.

Below Expectations - The paper is loosely organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. The introduction, thesis statement, and/or conclusion require much improvement.

Non-Performance - The introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Conclusions and related outcomes are logical and clearly reflect an informed evaluation and the ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.

Proficient - Conclusions and related outcomes are logical and reflect an informed evaluation and the ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.

Basic - Conclusions and related outcomes are identified and minimally reflect an informed evaluation and the ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.

Below Expectations - Conclusions and related outcomes are not logical or reflective of an informed evaluation and the ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.

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

Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains the issue to be considered, delivering all relevant information necessary for a full understanding.

Proficient - Clearly explains the issue to be considered, delivering enough relevant information for an adequate understanding.

Basic - Briefly explains the issue to be considered, delivering minimal information for a basic understanding.

Below Expectations - Briefly explains the issue to be considered, but may not deliver additional information necessary for a basic understanding.

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.