Distinguished - Creates a comprehensive literacy unit comprised of four lessons that thoroughly incorporate the reading/writing connection and are clearly woven around a common theme. 

Proficient - Creates a literacy unit comprised of four lessons that incorporate the reading/writing connection and are woven around a common theme. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear. 

Basic - Creates a partial literacy unit comprised of four lessons that minimally incorporate the reading/writing connection and are woven around a common theme. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to create a literacy unit comprised of four lessons that incorporate the reading/writing connection and and are woven around a common theme; however, significant details are missing or unclear. 

Non-Performance - The literacy unit comprised of four lessons is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - The literacy unit includes all six components as described in the assignment. All six components are clearly stated and well-developed. 

Proficient - The literacy unit all six components as described in the assignment. One or two of the components are slightly underdeveloped or unclear. 

Basic - The literacy unit includes five of the six components as described in the assignment. Several of the components are underdeveloped and/or unclear. 

Below Expectations - The literacy unit includes fewer than five of the six components as described in the assignment and many of the components are significantly underdeveloped and unclear. 

Non-Performance - The literacy unit with the six required components is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly recommends at least two research-based accommodations and/or adaptations for culturally and linguistically diverse learners for each lesson plan.

Proficient - Recommends two research-based accommodations and/or adaptations for culturally and linguistically diverse learners for each lesson plan. Minor details are slightly unclear.

Basic - Recommends two research-based accommodations and/or adaptations for culturally and linguistically diverse learners for each lesson plan. Relevant details are unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to recommend research-based accommodations and/or adaptations for culturally and linguistically diverse learners for each lesson plan; however, significant details are extremely unclear.  

Non-Performance - The research-based accommodations/adaptations for each lesson plan are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly analyzes strategies and techniques for their empirical value in supporting student learning and comprehensively describes the research that demonstrates the empirical value.

Proficient - Analyzes strategies and techniques for their empirical value in supporting student learning and describes the research that demonstrates the empirical value. Minor details are missing from the analysis or description.  

Basic - Partially analyzes strategies and techniques for their empirical value in supporting student learning and somewhat describes the research that demonstrates the empirical value. Relevant details are missing from the analysis and/or description. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to analyze  strategies and techniques for their empirical value in supporting student learning and describe the research that demonstrates the empirical value; however, significant details are missing from the analysis and description.

Non-Performance - The analysis of the strategies and techniques for their empirical value is either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Creates a clear and descriptive list of the instructional materials to be used in the lessons. 

Proficient - Creates a descriptive list of the instructional materials to be used in the lessons. Minor details are missing or slightly unclear.

Basic - Creates a partial descriptive list of the instructional materials to be used in the lessons. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to create a descriptive list of the instructional materials to be used in the lessons; however, significant details are missing and entirely unclear. 

Non-Performance - The descriptive list of the instructional materials to be used in the lessons is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Uses appropriate, pertinent, and persuasive content to discover and develop sophisticated ideas within the context of the discipline, shaping the work as a whole.

Proficient - Uses appropriate and pertinent content to discover ideas within the context of the discipline, shaping the work as a whole.

Basic - Uses appropriate and pertinent content but does not apply it toward discovering or developing ideas. Overall, content assists in shaping the written work.

Below Expectations - Uses content, though it may be unrelated or inappropriate to the topic. Content does not contribute toward the development of the written work and may distract the reader from its purpose.

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

Distinguished - Autonomously synthesizes or draws conclusions by combining examples, facts, or theories from multiple disciplines. 

Proficient - Autonomously correlates examples, facts, or theories from multiple disciplines.

Basic - Attempts to correlate examples, facts, or theories from multiple disciplines.

Below Expectations - Displays inconsistent examples, facts, or theories from multiple disciplines.

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.