Distinguished - Clearly identifies career goals, and explicitly defends why these goals are important including a thorough explanation of the impact they will have in the field of early childhood education.

Proficient - Identifies career goals, and defends why these goals are important including a sufficient explanation of the impact they will have in the field of early childhood education. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Identifies career goals, and partially defends why these goals are important including a limited explanation of the impact they will have in the field of early childhood education. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to identify career goals and defend why these goals are important including the impact they will have in the field of early childhood education; however, significant details are missing.

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

Distinguished - Thoroughly summarizes all seven Program Learning Outcomes, including strong intentional alignment to professional standards and a reflective explanation of the practical application to the field of early childhood education.

Proficient - Sufficiently summarizes all seven Program Learning Outcomes, including intentional alignment to professional standards and a reflective explanation of the practical application to the field of early childhood education. The summary is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally summarizes the seven Program Learning Outcomes, including alignment to professional standards and a limited reflective explanation of the practical application to the field of early childhood education. The summary is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to summarize the seven Program Learning Outcomes; however, the summary lacks alignment to professional standards, a reflective explanation of the practical application to the field of early childhood education, and is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The summary of Program Learning Outcomes is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains how mastery of the Program Learning Outcomes specifically supports individual development towards obtaining career goals and practical application in the field of early childhood education.

Proficient - Explains how mastery of the Program Learning Outcomes supports individual development towards obtaining career goals and practical application in the field of early childhood education. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially explains how mastery of the Program Learning Outcomes supports individual development towards obtaining career goals and practical application in the field of early childhood education. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain how mastery of the Program Learning Outcomes supports individual development towards obtaining career goals and practical application in the field of early childhood education; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of how mastery of the Program Learning Outcomes supports individual development towards obtaining career goals and practical application in the field of early childhood education is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Develops a comprehensive and professional presentation that is informative, engaging, organized and visually appealing.

Proficient - Develops a professional presentation that is mostly informative, engaging, organized and visually appealing. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Develops a presentation that is partially informative, engaging, organized and visually appealing. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to develop a professional presentation that is informative, engaging, organized and visually appealing; however, significant details are missing.

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

Distinguished - Written work contains exceptional language that is appropriate in diction, tone, and point of view (third person vs. first person), according to the assignment guidelines and academic writing standards. Key subject matter and academic vocabulary is integrated in a meaningful way throughout the assignment.

Proficient - Written work contains language that is appropriate in diction, tone, and point of view (third person vs. first person), according to the assignment guidelines and academic writing standards. Key subject matter and academic vocabulary is mostly integrated in a meaningful way throughout the assignment.

Basic - Written work contains language that is somewhat appropriate in diction, tone, and point of view (third person vs. first person), according to the assignment guidelines. Key subject matter and academic vocabulary is somewhat integrated throughout the assignment.

Below Expectations - Written work does not contain language that is appropriate in diction, tone, and point of view (third person vs. first person), according to the assignment guidelines and academic writing standards. Key subject matter and academic vocabulary is minimally integrated throughout the assignment.

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 - 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.