Total Possible Score: 25.00
Introduction, Thesis Statement, and Claim
Total: 3.50
Distinguished – Provides a clear and focused introduction and thesis statement with claim that defines the
issue or problem, addresses the importance of the topic, and thoroughly explains its relation to one’s field
of study. The thesis statement is declarative and proposes an appropriate and feasible solution to the
problem or issue.
Proficient – Provides a clear and focused introduction paragraph and thesis statement with claim that
defines the issue or problem, addresses the importance of the topic, and explains its relation to one’s field
of study. The thesis statement is declarative and proposes a solution to the problem or issue. Minor details
are missing or the solution is slightly inappropriate or not feasible.
Basic – Provides a vague introduction paragraph and a thesis statement with claim that minimally defines
the issue or problem, partially addresses the importance of the topic, and partially explains its relation to
one’s field of study. The thesis statement is somewhat declarative and proposes a solution to the problem
or issue. Relevant details are missing and/or the solution is inappropriate and/or not feasible.
Below Expectations – Attempts to provide an introduction paragraph and a thesis statement with claim;
however, the thesis statement is not declarative, the solution to the problem or issue is entirely
inappropriate and not feasible and significant details are missing.
Non-Performance – The introduction, thesis statement and claim are either nonexistent or lack the
components described in the assignment instructions. Creates an Argument
Total: 7.00
Distinguished – Creates a complete argument, including claims and evidence without obvious logical
fallacies that fully addresses one’s major field of study, what the perspective is, and how it informs one’s
view of the topic.
Proficient – Creates an argument including claims and evidence without obvious logical fallacies that
addresses one’s major field of study, what the perspective is, and how it informs one’s view of the topic.
The argument is slightly underdeveloped.
Basic – Creates a partial argument, including some claims and evidence that vaguely addresses one’s
major field of study, what the perspective is, and how it informs one’s view of the topic. The argument is
underdeveloped and/or logical fallacies are present. Below Expectations – Attempts to create an argument; however, does not include claims and evidence to
address one’s major field of study, what the perspective is, and how it informs one’s view of the topic.
The argument is significantly underdeveloped and many logical fallacies are present.
Non-Performance – The creation of an argument is either nonexistent or lacks the components described
in the assignment instructions. Evaluates Ethical Outcomes
Total: 4.00
Distinguished – Comprehensively and effectively evaluates the ethical outcomes that result from the
position taken on the issue and thoroughly explains how the outcomes influence society and culture.
Proficient – Evaluates the ethical outcomes that result from the position taken on the issue and explains
how the outcomes influence society and culture. The evaluation is slightly underdeveloped.
Basic – Vaguely evaluates the ethical outcomes that result from the position taken on the issue and
partially explains how the outcomes influence society and culture. The evaluation is underdeveloped.
Below Expectations – Attempts to evaluate the ethical outcomes that result from the position taken on the
issue and explain how the outcomes influence society and culture; however, the evaluation is significantly
underdeveloped.
Non-Performance – The evaluation of ethical outcomes is either nonexistent or lacks the components
described in the assignment instructions. Interprets Statistical Evidence
Total: 3.00
Distinguished – Provides an exceptionally clear, focused, and accurate interpretation of statistical
evidence/data from at least two scholarly articles on the selected topic.
Proficient – Provides a clear and focused interpretation of statistical evidence/data from at least two
scholarly articles on the selected topic. The interpretation is slightly underdeveloped or inaccurate.
Basic – Provides a somewhat clear and focused interpretation of statistical evidence/data from at least two
scholarly articles on the selected topic. The interpretation is underdeveloped and/or inaccurate.
Below Expectations – Attempts to provide an interpretation of statistical evidence/data from at two
scholarly articles on the selected topic; however, the interpretation is severely underdeveloped and
inaccurate. Non-Performance – The interpretation of statistical evidence/data from at least two scholarly articles is
either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions. Evaluates Evidence Using Critical Thinking Skills
Total: 3.50
Distinguished – Comprehensively evaluates evidence using the following standards: validity, strength,
authority, and bias related to the chosen topic. Accurately identifies strengths and weaknesses.
Proficient – Evaluates evidence using the following standards: validity, strength, authority, and bias
related to the chosen topic. Accurately identifies most of the strengths and weaknesses. The evaluation is
slightly underdeveloped.
Basic – Partially evaluates evidence using some of the following standards: validity, strength, authority,
and bias related to the chosen topic. Identifies some of the strengths and weaknesses. The evaluation is
underdeveloped and/or inaccurate.
Below Expectations – Attempts to evaluate evidence using the following standards: validity, strength,
authority, and bias related to the chosen topic; however, identifies few of the strengths and weaknesses,
and the evaluation is significantly underdeveloped and inaccurate.
Non-Performance – The evaluation of evidence using critical thinking skills is either nonexistent or lacks
the components described in the assignment instructions. Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics
Total: 1.00
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. Written Communication: APA Formatting
Total: 1.00
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. Written Communication: Word Requirement
Total: 1.00
Distinguished – The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of words.
Proficient – The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of words.
Basic – The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of words.
Below Expectations – The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of
words.
Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the
instructions. Written Communication: Resource Requirement
Total: 1.00
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.
