Distinguished - Includes the grade level, anchor standard, and text in the balanced literacy lesson plan. Completely summarizes the text.

Proficient - Includes the grade level, anchor standard, and text in the balanced literacy lesson plan. Summarizes the text, but minor details are missing.

Basic - Includes the grade level, anchor standard, and text in the balanced literacy lesson plan. Vaguely summarizes the text, but relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Includes the grade level, anchor standard, and text in the balanced literacy lesson plan and attempts to summarize the text; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The inclusion of the grade level, anchor standard, and text is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly completes the chart, making sure all activities support each other and align with the anchor standard.

Proficient - Completes the chart, making sure all activities support each other and align with the anchor standard. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Mostly completes the chart, but not all activities support each other and align with the anchor standard. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to complete the chart, making sure all activities support each other and align with the anchor standard; however, many activities do not support each other and do not align with the anchor standard. Significant details are missing.

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

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains how reading, writing, listening, and speaking are promoted in the lesson plan. 

Proficient - Explains how reading, writing, listening, and speaking are promoted in the lesson plan. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Vaguely explains how reading, writing, listening, and speaking are promoted in the lesson plan. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain how reading, writing, listening, and speaking are promoted in the lesson plan; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of how reading, writing, listening, and speaking are promoted in the lesson plan is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively describes how the activities support the anchor standard.

Proficient - Describes how the activities support the anchor standard. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Vaguely describes how the activities support the anchor standard. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe how the activities support the anchor standard; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of how activities support the anchor standard is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the assessments and how they evaluate students’ reading skills and/or progress.

Proficient - Describes the assessments and how they evaluate students’ reading skills and/or progress. The description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Somewhat describes the assessments and how they evaluate students’ reading skills and/or progress. The description is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the assessments and how they evaluate students’ reading skills and/or progress; however, the description is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The description of the assessments and how they evaluate students’ reading skills and/or progress is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively discusses the benefits of teaching from a balanced literacy approach.

Proficient - Discusses the benefits of teaching from a balanced literacy approach. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially discusses the benefits of teaching from a balanced literacy approach. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss the benefits of teaching from a balanced literacy approach; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The discussion of the benefits of teaching from a balanced literacy approach is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Employs persuasive 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 - Displays information from external sources, but such information may lack credibility and/or relevance. Neglects the application of such information toward the analysis of the topic.

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 is 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 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.