Distinguished - Comprehensively explains the proposed intervention, including why the population will benefit from the intervention and how it could result in improvements in the area or variable, justifying the ideas with recent, credible research.

Proficient - Explains the proposed intervention, including why the population will benefit from the intervention and how it could result in improvements in the area or variable, justifying the ideas with credible research. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains the proposed intervention, including why the population will benefit from the intervention and how it could result in improvements in the area or variable, justifying the ideas with research. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explains the proposed intervention; however, why the population will benefit from the intervention, how it could result in improvements in the area or variable, or a justification of the ideas with credible research is not included, and/or the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

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

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes how to implement the intervention using an organized, thoughtful plan demonstrating a hypothetical yet practical timeframe for these steps.

Proficient - Describes how to implement the intervention using an organized, plan demonstrating a hypothetical yet practical timeframe for these steps. The description lacks minor details.

Basic - Minimally describes how to implement the intervention using a plan mostly demonstrating a hypothetical yet practical timeframe for these steps. The description lacks relevant details.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describes how to implement the intervention using a plan; however, the plan lacks organization, major details, or contains inaccuracies.

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

Distinguished - Discusses how to approach informed consent and IRB, and clearly and comprehensively explains how to ensure that participants enter the research on their free will and with an understanding of the study and any potential dangers.

Proficient - Discusses how to approach informed consent and IRB, and explains how to ensure that participants enter the research on their free will and with an understanding of the study and any potential dangers. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Discusses how to approach informed consent and IRB, and minimally explains how to ensure that participants enter the research on their free will and with an understanding of the study and any potential dangers. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss how to approach informed consent and IRB and explain how to ensure that participants enter the research on their free will and with an understanding of the study and any potential dangers; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The ethical considerations for informed consent and IRB approval are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains how the literature supports the plan as an appropriate intervention and does not expose participants to risk.

Proficient - Explains how the literature supports the plan as an appropriate intervention and does not expose participants to risk. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains how the literature supports the plan as an appropriate intervention and does not expose participants to risk. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain how the literature supports the plan as an appropriate intervention and does not expose participants to risk; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The ethical considerations of freedom from harm are either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains the planned measures to use anonymity and confidentiality to avoid privacy invasion and potential harm.

Proficient - Explains the planned measures to use anonymity and confidentiality to avoid privacy invasion and potential harm. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains the planned measures to use anonymity and confidentiality to avoid privacy invasion and potential harm. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the planned measures to use anonymity and confidentiality to avoid privacy invasion and potential harm; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The ethical considerations for anonymity and confidentiality are either nonexistent or lack 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.