Distinguished - Clearly and completely summarizes at least four findings or learnings from the article.

Proficient - Summarizes at least four findings or learnings from the article. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Summarizes at least three findings or learnings from the article. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Summarizes at least two findings or learnings from the article. Significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The summary of at least four findings or learnings from the article is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively describes at least three ways to apply what was learned to classroom instruction.

Proficient - Describes at least three ways to apply what was learned to classroom instruction. The description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially describes at least three ways to apply what was learned to classroom instruction. The description is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe at least three ways to apply what was learned to classroom instruction; however, the description is significantly underdeveloped. 

Non-Performance - The description of at least three ways to apply what was learned to classroom instruction is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoughtfully reflects on at least two concepts from the article in which there is personal agreement or disagreement. Thoroughly explains why there is personal agreement or disagreement with the concepts. 

Proficient - Reflects on at least two concepts from the article in which there is personal agreement or disagreement. Explains why there is personal agreement or disagreement with the concepts. The reflection or the explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Reflects on at least two concepts from the article in which there is personal agreement or disagreement. Somewhat explains why there is personal agreement or disagreement with the concepts. The reflection or the explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to reflect on at least two concepts from the article in which there is personal agreement or disagreement and explain why; however, the reflection and/or the explanation are significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The reflection on at least two concepts from the article in which there is personal agreement or disagreement and the explanation of why are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Identifies at least one question the article brings to mind and thoroughly explains why this is a question.

Proficient - Identifies at least one question the article brings to mind and explains why this is a question. Minor details are missing from the explanation.

Basic - Identifies at least one question the article brings to mind, but only briefly explains why this is a question. Relevant details are missing from the explanation. 

Below Expectations - Identifies at least one question the article brings to mind and attempts to explain why this is a question; however, significant details are missing from the explanation.

Non-Performance - The identification of at least one question the article brings to mind and the explanation of why this is a question are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Appraises tactics for relating ideas, text structure, or other textual features in order to gain knowledge or insight within and across texts and disciplines.

Proficient - Recognizes connections among ideas, text structure, or other textual features, to analyze how they support a sophisticated understanding of the text as a whole.

Basic - Recognizes the connections among portions of a text in considering how these connections contribute to a fundamental understanding of the text as a whole.

Below Expectations - Makes an effort to recognize portions of a text as needed to respond to inquiries posed in the assignment.

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

Distinguished - Distinguishes probable implications of the text for contexts, perspectives, or issues outside the assigned task or beyond the author’s explicit message.

Proficient - Uses the text, general background understanding, and/or specific knowledge of the author’s context to draw more intricate inferences about the author’s message and approach.

Basic - Considers how textual features (e.g., sentence and paragraph structure or tone) contribute to the author’s message; draws fundamental inferences about context and rationale of text.

Below Expectations - Inadequately captures vocabulary and makes an effort to paraphrase or summarize the information the text communicates.

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 basic 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 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 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.