Distinguished - Develops a captivating summary lead that is concise, engaging, and answers at least three of the five W’s. 

Proficient - Develops a summary lead that is concise, engaging, and answers at least three of the five W’s.

Basic - Develops a summary lead that answers at least three of the five W’s but is too wordy and/or does not pull the audience in. 

Below Expectations - Develops a summary lead that answers less than three of the five W’s, is not concise and does not engage the audience.

Non-Performance - The development of a summary lead that is concise, engaging, and answers at least three of the five W’s is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly differentiates various opinions about the benefits, challenges, and future of online education.

Proficient - Differentiates various opinions about the benefits, challenges, and future of online education. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally differentiates various opinions about the benefits, challenges, and future of online education. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to differentiate various opinions about the benefits, challenges, and future of online education; however, substantial details are missing.

Non-Performance - The differentiation of various opinions about the benefits, challenges, and future of online education is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Concludes with a strong and compelling self- opinion about online education that is fully supported with the facts. 

Proficient - Concludes with a reasonable self-opinion about online education that is supported with facts. The conclusion is slightly underdeveloped. 

Basic - Concludes with a self-opinion about online education that is only partially supported with facts. The conclusion is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Concludes with a self-opinion about online education that is not supported with facts. The conclusion is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The conclusion with a strong self-opinion about online education 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 - 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.

Distinguished - Accurately uses AP formatting consistently throughout the paper.

Proficient - Exhibits AP formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors.

Basic - Exhibits limited knowledge of AP formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all AP requirements.

Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of AP formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as AP.

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