Distinguished - Accurately and thoroughly describes which water cycle processes are represented in the model and by what components.

Proficient - Describes which water cycle processes are represented in the model and by what components. Minor details are missing or slightly inaccurate.

Basic – Briefly describes which water cycle processes are represented in the model and by what components. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations – Attempts to describe which water cycle processes are represented in the model and by what components; however, significant details are missing and inaccurate.

Non-Performance – Does not describe which water cycle processes are represented in the model and by what components.

Distinguished - Accurately and thoroughly describes which processes are not represented in the model, detailing how to alter the model to include these processes.

Proficient - Describes which processes are not represented in the model detailing how to alter the model, to include these processes. Minor details are missing or slightly inaccurate.

Basic – Briefly describes which processes are not represented in the model, detailing how to alter the model to include these processes. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations – Attempts to describe which processes are not represented in the model, detailing how to alter the model to include these processes; however, significant details are missing and inaccurate.

Non-Performance – Does not describe which processes are not represented in the model and detail how to alter the model to include these processes.

Distinguished - Accurately and thoroughly describes how the weather would be affected if the water temperature in the bag was increased and decreased.

Proficient - Describes how the weather would be affected if the water temperature in the bag was increased and decreased. Minor details are missing or slightly inaccurate.

Basic – Briefly describes how the weather would be affected if the water temperature in the bag was increased and decreased. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations – Attempts to describe how the weather would be affected if the water temperature in the bag was increased and decreased; however, significant details are missing and inaccurate.

Non-Performance – Does not describe how the weather would be affected if the water temperature in the bag was increased and decreased.

Distinguished - Develops a logical hypothesis related to the effect of sunlight on evaporation.

Proficient - Develops a mostly logical hypothesis related to the effect of sunlight on evaporation. Minor errors in hypothesis format are present.

Basic - Develops a somewhat logical hypothesis related to the effect of sunlight on evaporation. Relevant errors in hypothesis format are present.

Below Expectations – Attempts to develop a hypothesis related to the effect of sunlight on evaporation; however, the hypothesis does not properly address the experimental question, and significant errors in the hypothesis format are present.

Non-Performance – Does not develop a hypothesis related to the effect of sunlight on evaporation.

Distinguished - Accurately accepts or rejects the hypothesis proposed in Question 1, and thoroughly explains how this was determined.

Proficient - Accurately accepts or rejects the hypotheses proposed in Question 1, and explains how this was determined. Minor details of the explanation are missing or slightly inaccurate.

Basic - Accurately accepts or rejects the hypotheses proposed in Question 1, and minimally explains how this was determined. Relevant details of the explanation are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Accepts or rejects the hypotheses proposed in Question 1, and attempts to explain how this was determined; however, the explanation contradicts the acceptance or rejection of the hypothesis, and significant details of the explanation are missing and inaccurate.

Non-Performance – Does not accept or reject the hypothesis proposed in Question 1 and explain how this was determined.

Distinguished - Accurately and thoroughly describes what parts of the water cycle are represented in this experiment.

Proficient - Describes what parts of the water cycle are represented in this experiment. Minor details are missing or slightly inaccurate.

Basic – Briefly describes what parts of the water cycle are represented in this experiment. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations – Attempts to describe what parts of the water cycle are represented in this experiment; however, significant details are missing and inaccurate.

Non-Performance – Does not describe what parts of the water cycle are represented in this experiment.

Distinguished - Accurately and thoroughly describes how increasing the proportion of land to water affects the amount of water vapor released.

Proficient - Describes how increasing the proportion of land to water affects the amount of water vapor released. Minor details are missing or slightly inaccurate.

Basic – Briefly describes how increasing the proportion of land to water affects the amount of water vapor released. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations – Attempts to describe how increasing the proportion of land to water affects the amount of water vapor released; however, significant details are missing and inaccurate.

Non-Performance – Does not describe how increasing the proportion of land to water affects the amount of water vapor released.

Distinguished - Accurately and thoroughly describes how drought conditions would impact infiltration and evaporation from the soil.

Proficient - Describes how drought conditions would impact infiltration and evaporation from the soil. Minor details are missing or slightly inaccurate.

Basic – Briefly describes how drought conditions would impact infiltration and evaporation from the soil. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations – Attempts to describe how drought conditions would impact infiltration and evaporation from the soil; however, significant details are missing and inaccurate.

Non-Performance – Does not to describe how drought conditions would impact infiltration and evaporation from the soil.

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.