Distinguished - Provides a thorough explanation regarding why each topic is important to consider in early childhood using research to support the ideas.

Proficient - Provides an explanation regarding why each topic is important to consider in early childhood using research to support the ideas. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Provides a limited explanation regarding why each topic is important to consider in early childhood using research to support the ideas. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide an explanation regarding why each topic is important to consider in early childhood using research to support the ideas; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation regarding why each topic is important to consider in early childhood using research to support their ideas is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a thorough discussion of at least three concrete strategies to incorporate each topic into the classroom or center.

Proficient - Provides a discussion of at least three concrete strategies to incorporate each topic into the classroom or center. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Provides a limited discussion of at least three concrete strategies to incorporate each topic into the classroom or center. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a discussion of at least three concrete strategies to incorporate each topic into the classroom or center; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The discussion on at least three concrete strategies to incorporate each topic into the classroom or center is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a thorough explanation on how each topic addresses the family context and culture.

Proficient - Provides an explanation on how each topic addresses the family context and culture. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Provides a limited explanation on how each topic addresses the family context and culture. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a brief explanation on how each topic addresses the family context and culture however; significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The explanation on how each topic addresses the family context and culture is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a thorough description of at least three ways in which including each topic will have a positive impact on the children in the care.

Proficient - Provides a description of at least three ways in which including each topic will have a positive impact on the children in the care. The description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Provides a limited description of at least three ways in which including each topic will have a positive impact on the children in the care. The description is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a description of at least three ways in which including each topic will have a positive impact on the children in the care; however, the description is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The description of at least three ways in which including each topic will have a positive impact on the children in the care is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment 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 - 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.