Distinguished - Completes a comprehensive autobiographical sketch, including experience working with children and a thorough explanation of desire to work in the field of early childhood education.

Proficient - Completes an autobiographical sketch, including experience working with children and an explanation of desire to work in the field of early childhood education. The sketch is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Completes an autobiographical sketch, including experience working with children and a partial explanation of desire to work in the field of early childhood education. The sketch is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to complete an autobiographical sketch, including experience working with children and an explanation of desire to work in the field of early childhood education; however, the sketch is significantly underdeveloped.

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

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes career goals for working in the field of Early Childhood Education and preferred age range, including the rationale for choosing this group.

Proficient - Describes career goals for working in the field of Early Childhood Education and preferred age range, including the rationale for choosing this group. The description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially describes career goals for working in the field of Early Childhood Education and preferred age range, including the rationale for choosing this group. The description is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe career goals for working in the field of Early Childhood Education and preferred age range; however, does not include the rationale for choosing this group and the description is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The descriptions of career goals and preferred age range of children are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively discusses beliefs about how young children learn.

Proficient - Discusses beliefs about how young children learn. The discussion is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially discusses beliefs about how young children learn. The discussion is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss beliefs about how young children learn; however, the discussion is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The discussion of beliefs about how young children learn is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains theory or theories one connects most with in regard to children’s learning.

Proficient - Explains theory or theories one connects most with in regard to children’s learning. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially explains theory or theories one connects most with in regard to children’s learning. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain theory or theories one connects most with in regard to children’s learning; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

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

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains teaching approach one most aligns with.

Proficient - Explains teaching approach one most aligns with. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially explains teaching approach one most aligns with. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain teaching approach one most aligns with; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped

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

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains the meaning of developmentally appropriate practice.

Proficient - Explains the meaning of developmentally appropriate practice. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially explains the meaning of developmentally appropriate practice. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the meaning of developmentally appropriate practice; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the meaning of developmentally appropriate practice is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes developmental domains in which one has the strongest foundation and comprehensively discusses how internship experience would strengthen understanding of developmental domains.

Proficient - Describes developmental domains in which one has the strongest foundation and discusses how internship experience would strengthen understanding of developmental domains. The description or discussion is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially describes developmental domains in which one has the strongest foundation and minimally discusses how internship experience would strengthen understanding of developmental domains. The description and/or discussion are underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe developmental domains in which one has the strongest foundation and discuss how internship experience would strengthen understanding of developmental domains; however, the description and discussion are significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The description of developmental domains and discussion of how internship experience would strengthen understanding of developmental domains are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively discusses role in developing strong home-school partnerships, including specific examples of strategies and thoroughly discusses how internship experience would strengthen ability to develop home-school partnerships.

Proficient - Discusses role in developing strong home-school partnerships, including specific examples of strategies and discusses how internship experience would strengthen ability to develop home-school partnerships. The discussions are slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially discusses role in developing strong home-school partnerships and minimally discusses how internship experience would strengthen ability to develop home-school partnerships. The discussions are underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss role in developing strong home-school partnerships and discuss how internship experience would strengthen ability to develop home-school partnerships; however, the discussions are significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The discussion of role in developing home-school partnerships and discussion of how internship experience would have strengthen ability to develop home-school partnerships are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively analyzes one current or historical trend/issue in ECE by explaining its influence and impact on the field and thoroughly discusses how internship experience would strengthen understanding of the trend or issue.

Proficient - Analyzes one current or historical trend/issue in ECE by explaining its influence and impact on the field and discusses how internship experience would strengthen understanding of the trend or issue. The analysis or discussion is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially analyzes one current or historical trend/issue in ECE by explaining its influence and impact on the field and minimally discusses how internship experience would strengthen understanding of the trend or issue. The analysis and/or discussion are underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to analyze one current or historical trend/issue in ECE by explaining its influence and impact on the field and discuss how internship experience would strengthen understanding of the trend or issue; however, the analysis and discussion are significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The analysis of current or historical trend or issue and the discussion of how internship experience would strengthen understanding of the trend or issue are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly summarizes how one would uphold NAEYC’s Professional Preparation Standards throughout the internship.

Proficient - Summarizes how one would uphold NAEYC’s Professional Preparation Standards throughout the internship The summary is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially summarizes how one would uphold NAEYC’s Professional Preparation Standards throughout the internship The summary is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to summarize how one would uphold NAEYC’s Professional Preparation Standards throughout the internship; however, the summary is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The summary of NAEYC Professional Preparation Standards is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Includes at least three resources. The resources are related to the field of early childhood education.

Proficient - Includes at least three resources. Some resources are unrelated to the field of early childhood education.

Basic - Includes less than three resources and/or some resources are unrelated to the field of early childhood education.

Below Expectations - Attempts to include resources; however, less than three are included and they are unrelated to the field of early childhood education.

Non-Performance - The list of resources is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment 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 - Demonstrates consistent use of reliable, appropriate sources and/or evidence to support ideas that are situated within the discipline and genre of the writing.

Proficient - Demonstrates mostly consistent use of reliable sources that are appropriate to the discipline and genre of the writing. Sources offer some support to the ideas in the writing. 

Basic - Demonstrates somewhat inconsistent use of sources that are mostly reliable to the discipline and genre of the writing. Sources offer little support to the ideas in the writing.

Below Expectations - Inconsistently utilizes sources and/or evidence that may be unrelated and offer little support to the ideas in the writing. 

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 - 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.