Distinguished - Thoroughly describes a previous, current, or future professional role and setting in early childhood education that aligns with career goals and interests.

Proficient - Describes a previous, current, or future professional role and setting in early childhood education that aligns with career goals and interests. The description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally describes a previous, current, or future professional role and setting in early childhood education that aligns with career goals and interests. The description is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe a previous, current, or future professional role and setting in early childhood education that aligns with career goals and interests; however, the description is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The description of previous, current, or future professional role and setting in early childhood education is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains the purpose of the study and the student outcomes that will be influenced, including a thorough discussion of at least one scholarly article that clearly indicates why this is an important area to address in education. The explanation is fully supported by current research.

Proficient - Sufficiently explains the purpose of the study and the student outcomes that will be influenced, including a discussion of at least one scholarly article that indicates why this is an important area to address in education. The explanation is supported by research.

Basic - Briefly explains the purpose of the study and the student outcomes that will be influenced, including a limited discussion of at least one scholarly article that indicates why this is an important area to address in education. The explanation is somewhat support by current research.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the purpose of the study and the student outcomes that will be influenced, including a discussion of at least one scholarly article that indicates why this is an important area to address in education; however, the explanation is not support by current research.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the purpose of the study and the student outcomes that will be influenced is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains the problem or situation that led to interest in this topic.

Proficient - Explains the problem or situation that led to interest in this topic. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially explains the problem or situation that led to interest in this topic. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the problem or situation that led to interest in this topic; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

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

Distinguished - Clearly and thoroughly describes the target population of the study and clearly explains why this population was chosen for this study. The description includes specific details about why the population is appropriate for the study.

Proficient - Describes the target population of the study and explains why this population was chosen for this study. The description includes details about why the population is appropriate for this study. The description or the explanation is slightly unclear.

Basic - Minimally describes the target population of the study and partially explains why this population was chosen for this study. The description includes limited details about why the population is appropriate for this study. The description and/or the explanation are unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the target population of the study and explain why this population was chosen for this study; however, the description does not include details about why the population is appropriate for this study and/or the description and the explanation are significantly unclear.

Non-Performance - The description of the target population of the study and explanation of why this population was chosen are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Develops a succinct, comprehensive research question that strongly aligns with an area of focus and clearly addresses what is hoped to be answered and influenced in this proposed study. The question is measurable and appropriate for the population identified.

Proficient - Develops a succinct research question that aligns with an area of focus and addresses what is hoped to be answered and influenced in this proposed study. The question is measurable and mostly appropriate for the population identified.

Basic - Develops a research question that aligns with an area of focus and addresses what is hoped to be answered and influenced in this proposed study. The question is mostly measurable and somewhat appropriate for the population identified.

Below Expectations - Attempts to develop a research question; however, the question lacks alignment with an area of focus, is unmeasurable and/or inappropriate for the population identified.

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

Distinguished - Thoroughly evaluates whether the proposed idea or past experience is within the locus of control. The explanation is clearly supported with scholarly sources.

Proficient - Evaluates whether the proposed idea or past experience is within the locus of control. The explanation is supported with scholarly sources but is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally evaluates whether the proposed idea or past experience is within the locus of control. The explanation is somewhat supported with scholarly sources and/or is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate whether the proposed idea or past experience is within the locus of control; however, the explanation is not supported with scholarly sources and is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of whether the proposed idea or past experience is within the locus of control 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 - 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.