Distinguished - In no more than two to three sentences, effectively describes with sufficient detail the purpose of the study, beginning with a statement that says, “The purpose of this study is to…”

Proficient - In no more than two to three sentences, adequately describes the purpose of the study, beginning with a statement that says, “The purpose of this study is to…” Minor details are missing.

Basic - In no more than two to three sentences, minimally describes the purpose of the study beginning, with a statement that says, “The purpose of this study is to…” Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Ineffectively describes the purpose of the study. The description may be in less than two or more than three sentences and/or does not begin with a statement that says, “The purpose of this study is to…” Significant details are missing.

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

Distinguished - Effectively describes in substantial detail the observations that led to the interest in the action research project. The description is half of a page in length.

Proficient - Adequately describes the observations that led to the interest in the action research project. The description is half of a page in length. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally describes the observations that led to the interest in the action research project. The description is half of a page in length. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Ineffectively describes the observations that led to the interest in the action research project in either less than half of a page or more than half of a page in length. Significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the observations that led to the interest in the action research project is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Effectively explains in substantial detail the background or history of the situation in the classroom/school context or workplace. The explanation is one page in length.

Proficient - Adequately explains the background or history of the situation in the classroom/school context or workplace. The explanation is one page in length. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally explains the background or history of the situation in the classroom/school context or workplace. The explanation is one page in length. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Ineffectively explains the background or history of the situation in the classroom/school context or workplace. The description may be less than one page or more than one page in length. Significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the background or history of the situation in the classroom/school context or workplace is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Effectively explains in substantial detail what has been tried personally or by others in relation to the problem and what has worked or not worked. The explanation is one page in length.

Proficient - Adequately explains what has been tried personally or by others in relation to the problem and what has worked or not worked. The explanation is one page in length. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally explains what has been tried personally or by others in relation to the problem and what has worked or not worked. The explanation is one page in length. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Ineffectively explains what has been tried personally or by others in relation to the problem and what has worked or not worked. The explanation may be less than one page or more than one page in length. Significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The explanation of what has been tried personally or by others in relation to the problem and what has worked or not worked is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Effectively describes in relevant detail each participant selected for the study. The description is no more than one page in length.

Proficient - Adequately describes each participant selected for the study. The description is no more than one page in length. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally describes each participant selected for the study. The description is no more than one page in length. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Ineffectively describes each participant selected for the study. The description may be less one page or more than one page in length. Significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of each participant selected for the study is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Effectively justifies with substantial details the choice of the participants in the study. The justification is no more than one page in length.

Proficient - Adequately justifies the choice of the participants in the study. The justification is no more than one page in length. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally justifies the choice of the participants in the study. The justification is no more than one page in length. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Ineffectively justifies the choice of the participants in the study. The justification may be more than one page in length. Significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The justification of the choice of the participants in the study is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Effectively lists two- to three-research questions that are answerable and, if applicable, includes a definition following the list for any technical terminology used in the questions.

Proficient - Adequately lists two- to three-research questions that are answerable and, if applicable, includes a definition following the list for any technical terminology used in the questions. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Lists two- to three-research questions that are answerable. If applicable, includes a definition following the list for any technical terminology used in the questions. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Ineffectively lists either less than two research questions or more than three research questions. One or more questions may not be answerable. If applicable, does not include a definition following the list for any technical terminology used in the questions, or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The list of two- to three-research questions is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly evaluates in substantial detail whether the idea is an issue that involves teaching and learning. The evaluation is more than one paragraph in length. Fully relevant literature is used to support the evaluation.

Proficient - Evaluates whether the idea is an issue that involves teaching and learning. The evaluation is at least one paragraph in length. Relevant literature is used to support the evaluation. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally evaluates whether the idea is an issue that involves teaching and learning in at least. The evaluation is one paragraph in length. Somewhat relevant literature is used to support the evaluation. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate whether the idea is an issue that involves teaching and learning; however, the evaluation may be less than one paragraph in length, irrelevant literature is used to support the evaluation and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of whether the idea is an issue that involves teaching and learning is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly evaluates in substantial detail whether the idea is within the locus of control. The evaluation is more than one paragraph in length.

Proficient - Evaluates whether the idea is within the locus of control. The evaluation is at least one paragraph in length. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally evaluates whether the idea is within the locus of control. The evaluation is one paragraph in length. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate whether the idea is within the locus of control; however, the evaluation may be less than one paragraph in length, and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of whether the idea is within the locus of control is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes in substantial detail whether the idea is full of passion and from where this passion originates. The description is more than one paragraph in length.

Proficient - Describes whether the idea is full of passion and from where this passion originates from. The description is at least one paragraph in length. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally describes whether the idea is full of passion and from where this passion originates. The description is one paragraph in length. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe whether the idea is full of passion and from where this passion originates; however, the description may be less than one paragraph in length, and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of whether the idea is full of passion and where this passion originates from is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes in substantial detail how the idea inspires the change or improvement. The description is more than one paragraph in length.

Proficient - Describes how the idea inspires the change or improvement. The description is at least one paragraph in length. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally describes how the idea inspires the change or improvement. The description is one paragraph in length. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe how the idea inspires the change or improvement; however, the description may be less than one paragraph in length, and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the idea that inspires the change or improvement 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 basic 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.