Distinguished - Records detailed, accurate observations concerning the effects of pollution on the environment.

Proficient - Records detailed observations concerning the effects of pollution on the environment.  Minor errors may be present.

Basic - Records observations concerning the effects of pollution on the environment.  Relevant errors in content and/or clarity may be present.

Below Expectations - Records observations concerning the effects of pollution on the environment. Significant errors in content and/or clarity may be present.

Non-Performance – Does not record observations concerning the effects of pollution on the environment.

Distinguished - Thoroughly and accurately describes how pollution might impact yeast using a scholarly source.

Proficient - Describes how pollution might impact yeast using a scholarly source. Minor details are missing or inaccurate.

Basic – Briefly describes how pollution might impact yeast using a source that may not be entirely scholarly. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations – Attempts to describe how pollution might impact yeast; however, the source is not scholarly, and significant details are missing and inaccurate.

Non-Performance – Does not describe how pollution might impact yeast using a scholarly source.

Distinguished - Develops a logical if-then hypothesis related to the effect of pollution on yeast respiration.

Proficient - Develops a mostly logical if-then hypothesis related to the effect of pollution on yeast respiration. Minor errors in hypothesis format are present.

Basic - Develops a hypothesis related to the effect of pollution on yeast respiration. Relevant errors in hypothesis format are present.

Below Expectations – Attempts to develop a hypothesis related to the effect of pollution on yeast respiration; 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 pollution on yeast respiration.

Distinguished - Accurately identifies the dependent, independent variable, and controlled variables for this experiment.

Proficient - Identifies the dependent variable, independent variable, and controlled variables for this experiment. One of the controlled variables may be missing or incorrect.

Basic - Identifies the dependent, independent, and controlled variables for this experiment. One of the three (dependent, independent variable, or controlled variables) is missing or incorrect.

Below Expectations – Attempts to identify the dependent, independent, and controlled variables for this experiment; however, most or all of the variables are incorrectly identified.

Non-Performance – Does not identify the dependent, independent, and controlled variables for this experiment.

Distinguished - Accurately and thoroughly describes the appearances of all three test tubes before incubation using the table provided.

Proficient - Accurately describes the appearances of all three test tubes before incubation using the table provided. The description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic – Briefly describes the appearances of all three test tubes before incubation using the table provided. The description is underdeveloped and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations – Attempts to describe the appearances of all three test tubes before incubation, using the table provided; however, the description is significantly underdeveloped and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - Does not describe the appearances of all three test tubes before incubation using the table provided.

Distinguished - Accurately and thoroughly describes the appearances of all three test tubes after incubation using the table provided.

Proficient - Accurately describes the appearances of all three test tubes after incubation using the table provided. Minor details are missing.

Basic – Briefly describes the appearances of all three test tubes after incubation using the table provided. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations – Attempts to describe the appearances of all three test tubes after incubation using the table provided; however, significant details are missing and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - Does not describe the appearances of all three test tubes after incubation using the table provided.

Distinguished - Identifies the best graph type for the data provided, thoroughly explains the reasoning behind that choice, and constructs a detailed graph.

Proficient - Identifies the best graph type for the data provided, explains the reasoning behind that choice, and constructs the graph. Minor details are missing or slightly inaccurate.

Basic - Identifies the best graph type for the data provided, minimally explains the reasoning behind that choice, and constructs a limited graph. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations – Attempts to identify the best graph type for the data provided, explain the reasoning behind that choice, and construct the graph; however, significant details are missing and inaccurate.

Non-Performance – Does not complete any of the tasks associated with this question.

Distinguished - Thoroughly and accurately interprets the constructed graph.

Proficient - Interprets the constructed graph. Minor details are missing or slightly inaccurate.

Basic – Minimally interprets the constructed graph. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations – Attempts to interpret the constructed graph; however, significant details are missing and inaccurate.

Non-Performance – Does not interpret the constructed graph from Question 7.

Distinguished - Accurately accepts or rejects the hypothesis proposed in Question 3, and thoroughly explains how this was determined.

Proficient - Accurately accepts or rejects the hypothesis proposed in Question 3, and explains how this was determined. Minor details of the explanation are missing or slightly inaccurate.

Basic - Accurately accepts or rejects the hypothesis proposed in Question 3, and minimally explains how this was determined. Relevant details of the explanation are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Accepts or rejects the hypothesis proposed in Question 3, 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 3 and explain how this was determined.

Distinguished - Proposes a logical, detailed experimental design that would address the question of whether salt pollution runoff is a potential concern including the independent and dependent variables.

Proficient - Proposes a logical experimental design that would address the question of whether salt pollution runoff is a potential concern including the independent and dependent variables. The design is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic – Proposes a logical, but limited, experimental design that would address the question of whether salt pollution runoff is a potential concern including the independent and dependent variables.  The design is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations – Attempts to propose an experimental design; however, the design would not effectively address the question of whether salt pollution runoff is a potential concern and significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance – Does not propose an experimental design.

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 for both in-text citations and references at the end of the lab form.

Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting for both in-text citations and references at the end of the lab form; however, layout contains a few minor errors.

Basic - Exhibits limited knowledge of APA formatting for in-text citations and references at the end of the lab form. However, citations and/or references do not meet many APA requirements.

Below Expectations - Does not exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting for in-text citations and references. There are frequent errors, making the layout of citations and references difficult to distinguish as APA. In-text citation may be missing completely.

Non-Performance - Although the assignment required use of a source to answer one or more questions, no source is cited or referenced on the lab form.  Sources may not have been used, or their use is entirely undocumented.