Distinguished - Clearly justifies the alignment of lesson plan learning objectives, learning activities, and assessments; thoroughly justifies the construction of the unit as building knowledge from the prior knowledge or classroom experience. The justifications are supported with relevant and appropriate examples.

Proficient - Justifies the alignment of lesson plan learning objectives, learning activities, and assessments; justifies the construction of the unit as building knowledge from the prior knowledge or classroom experience. The justifications are supported with relevant and appropriate examples. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally justifies the alignment of lesson plan learning objectives, learning activities, and assessments; partially justifies the construction of the unit as building knowledge from the prior knowledge or classroom experience. The justifications are somewhat supported with appropriate examples and/or relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to justify the alignment of lesson plan learning objectives, learning activities, and assessments and to justify the construction of the unit as building knowledge from the prior knowledge or classroom experience; however, the justifications are not supported, and appropriate examples and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The justification of the alignment of lesson plan learning objectives, learning activities, and assessments and the justification of the unit as building knowledge from the prior knowledge or classroom experience are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains how the work in the lesson plan helps students to understand how experts use important content to address problems, how the content makes a difference in the world, and supports them in becoming thinkers and problem solvers, often drawing on methods and practices of experts. The explanations are supported by relevant and appropriate examples.

Proficient - Explains how the work in the lesson plan helps students to understand how experts use important content to address problems, how the content makes a difference in the world, and supports them in becoming thinkers and problem solvers, often drawing on methods and practices of experts. The explanations are supported by relevant and appropriate examples, but minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially explains how the work in the lesson plan helps students to understand how experts use important content to address problems, how the content makes a difference in the world, and supports them in becoming thinkers and problem solvers, often drawing on methods and practices of experts. The explanations are somewhat supported by appropriate examples and/or relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain how the work in the lesson plan helps students to understand how experts use important content to address problems, how the content makes a difference in the world, and supports them in becoming thinkers and problem solvers, often drawing on methods and practices of experts; however, the explanations are not supported by appropriate examples and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The explanation of how the work in the lesson plan helps students to understand how experts use important content to address problems, how the content makes a difference in the world, and supports them in becoming thinkers and problem solvers, often drawing on methods and practices of expertise either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly evaluates the appropriateness of the assessment to accurately measure the learning objectives, thoroughly determines how to refine and revise the instructional plans based on assessment results, and thoroughly explains how the assessments provide students with multiple means of representation, expression, and engagement. Clear evidence and examples are provided for support.

Proficient - Evaluates the appropriateness of the assessment to accurately measure the learning objectives, determines how to refine and revise the instructional plans based on assessment results, and explains how the assessments provide students with multiple means of representation, expression, and engagement. Evidence and examples are provided for support, but minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially evaluates the appropriateness of the assessment to accurately measure the learning objectives, partially determines how to refine and revise the instructional plans based on assessment results, and/or partially explains how the assessments provide students with multiple means of representation, expression, and engagement. Evidence and examples somewhat provide support, but relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate the appropriateness of the assessment to accurately measure the learning objectives, to determine how to refine and revise the instructional plans based on assessment results, and to explain how the assessments provide students with multiple means of representation, expression, and engagement; however, evidence and examples do not provide support. Significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The evaluation regarding the alignment of the assessments with learning objectives, the determination of how the assessment will guide instructional plans, and the explanation of how the assessments provide students with multiple means of representation, expression, and engagement are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains the issue to be considered, delivering all relevant information necessary for a full understanding.

Proficient - Clearly explains the issue to be considered, delivering enough relevant information for an adequate understanding.

Basic - Briefly explains the issue to be considered, delivering minimal information for a basic understanding.

Below Expectations - Briefly explains the issue to be considered, but may not deliver additional information necessary for a basic understanding.

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

Distinguished - Employs persuasive and applicable information from credible sources to develop an ample analysis or synthesis of the topic. Viewpoints of experts are scrutinized thoroughly.

Proficient - Employs applicable information from credible sources to develop an analysis of the topic.

Basic - Identifies applicable information from credible sources, but may neglect the application of such information toward the analysis of the topic. 

Below Expectations - Presents information from external sources, but such information may lack credibility and/or relevance. Neglects to apply such information toward the analysis of the topic.

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

Distinguished - Renovates ideas or solutions into entirely new forms.

Proficient - Conceives ideas or solutions into a coherent whole.

Basic - Associates ideas or solutions in novel ways. 

Below Expectations - Recognizes existing connections among ideas or solutions.

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 - 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.

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.