Distinguished - Thoroughly explains a key issue in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and develops a supporting research question.

Proficient - Explains a key issue in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and develops a supporting research question. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally explains a key issue in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and develops a supporting research question. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain a key issue in Homeland Security and Emergency Management and develop a supporting research question; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The explanation of a key issue in Homeland Security and Emergency Management and a supporting research question is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Constructs two thorough and detailed research hypotheses that are fully supported by research and demonstrates a thorough understanding of the selected research question.

Proficient - Constructs two detailed research hypotheses that are supported by research and demonstrates understanding of the selected research question. One of the research hypotheses is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Constructs two limited research hypotheses that are somewhat supported by research and demonstrates partial understanding of the selected research question. One of the research hypotheses is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to construct two research hypotheses; however, the hypotheses are underdeveloped, they are not supported by research, and does not demonstrate an understanding of the selected research.

Non-Performance - The two research hypotheses that are supported by research and demonstrates understanding of the selected research question are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Identifies research variables to be used to evaluate the hypotheses and clearly shows how they will be measured.

Proficient - Identifies research to be used to evaluate the hypotheses and shows how they will be measured. Minor details are missing or unclear.

Basic - Identifies research variables to be used to evaluate the hypotheses and vaguely shows how they will be measured. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear

Below Expectations - Identifies research variables to be used to evaluate the hypotheses; doesn’t show how they will will be measured and significant details are missing and unclear.

Non-Performance - The research variables to be used to evaluate the hypotheses and how they will be measured are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Conducts a comprehensive literature review and thoroughly discusses findings related to the identified homeland security research question and hypotheses.

Proficient - Conducts a literature review and discusses findings related to the identified homeland security research question and hypotheses. The literature review is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Conducts a limited literature review and partially discusses findings related to the identified homeland security research question and hypotheses. The literature review is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to conduct a literature review and discuss findings related to the identified homeland security research question and hypotheses; however, the literature review is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The literature review and findings related to the identified homeland security research question and hypotheses are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the research method used to evaluate the research question.

Proficient - Describes the research method used to evaluate the research question. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally describes the research method used to evaluate the research question. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the research method used to evaluate the research question; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the research method used to evaluate the research question is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the greatest challenge in conducting research and analysis on the homeland security topic.

Proficient - Describes the greatest challenge in conducting research and analysis on the homeland security topic. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally describes the greatest challenge in conducting research and analysis on the homeland security topic. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the greatest challenge in conducting research and analysis on the homeland security topic; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the greatest challenge in conducting research and analysis on the homeland security topic 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 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.