Distinguished - Fills in the table that accurately ranks order preferences for all theories and learning approaches.

Proficient - Fills in the table that ranks order preferences for theories and learning approaches. Few theories or learning approaches are missing or inaccurately ranked.

Basic - Fills tables that ranks order preferences for theories and learning approaches. Some theories or learning approaches are missing or inaccurately ranked.

Below Expectations - Attempts to fill in the table that ranks order preferences for theories and learning approaches; however, many theories or learning approaches are missing and/or inaccurately ranked.

Non-Performance - The theory and learning approaches table is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly summarizes the underlying principles or ideas for each of the top two theories and for each of the top two approaches. The summary is well-supported by scholarly sources.

Proficient - Summarizes the underlying principles or ideas for the top two theories and for the top two approaches. The summary is supported by scholarly sources but it is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially summarizes the underlying principles or ideas for most of the top two theories and the top two approaches. The summary is minimally supported by scholarly sources and/or it is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to summarize the underlying principles or ideas for each of the top two theories and for each of the top two approaches; however, the summary is not supported by scholarly sources and it is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The summary of the underlying principles or ideas for each of the top two theories and for each of the top two approaches is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains why the top two theories and top two approaches are important to understand and how they will benefit work with children. The explanation is well-supported by scholarly sources.

Proficient - Explains why the top two theories and top two approaches are important to understand and how they will benefit work with children. The explanation is supported by scholarly sources but it is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially explains why the top two theories and top two approaches are important to understand and how they will benefit work with children. The explanation is minimally supported by scholarly sources and/or it is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain why the top two theories and top two approaches are important to understand and how they will benefit work with children; however, the explanation is not supported by scholarly sources and it is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the importance of the top two theories and top two approaches are either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively discusses how the top two theories and top two approaches will help in becoming an effective teacher. The discussion is well-supported by scholarly sources.

Proficient - Discusses how the top two theories and top two approaches will help in becoming an effective teacher. The discussion is supported by scholarly sources but it is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially discusses how the top two theories and top two approaches will help in becoming an effective teacher. The discussion is minimally supported by scholarly sources and/or it is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss how the top two theories and top two approaches will help in becoming an effective teacher; however, the discussion is not supported by scholarly sources and it is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The discussion of how theory or approach will help in becoming an effective teacher is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly summarizes the similarities between the top ranked theorist and model. The summary is well-supported by scholarly sources.

Proficient - Summarizes the similarities between the top ranked theorist and model. The summary is supported by scholarly sources but it is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially summarizes the similarities between the top ranked theorist and model. The summary is minimally supported by scholarly sources and/or it is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to summarize the similarities between the top ranked theorist and model; however, the summary is not supported by scholarly sources and it is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The summary of the top ranked theory and model 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 - Demonstrates methodical application of organization and presentation of content. The purpose of the writing is evident and easy to understand. Summaries, quotes, and/or paraphrases fit naturally into the sentences and paragraphs. Paper flows smoothly.

Proficient - Demonstrates sufficient application of organization and presentation of content. The purpose of the writing is, for the most part, clear and easy to understand. There are some problems with the blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper flows somewhat smoothly.

Basic - Demonstrates a limited understanding of organization and presentation of content in written work. The purpose of the writing is somewhat evident but may not be integrated throughout the assignment. There are many problems with the blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper does not flow smoothly in all sections.

Below Expectations - Organization and presentation of content are extremely limited. The purpose of the writing is unclear. There is little or no blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper does not flow smoothly when read.

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 - Demonstrates consistent use of reliable, appropriate sources and/or evidence to support ideas that are situated within the discipline and genre of the writing.

Proficient - Demonstrates mostly consistent use of reliable sources that are appropriate to the discipline and genre of the writing. Sources offer some support to the ideas in the writing. 

Basic - Demonstrates somewhat inconsistent use of sources that are mostly reliable to the discipline and genre of the writing. Sources offer little support to the ideas in the writing.

Below Expectations - Inconsistently utilizes sources and/or evidence that may be unrelated and offer little support to the ideas in the writing. 

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.