Distinguished - Composes a thorough professional introduction preparing the audience for the content of the paper.

Proficient - Composes a professional introduction preparing the audience for the content of the paper. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Composes a limited professional introduction preparing the audience for the content of the paper. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to compose a professional introduction preparing the audience for the content of the paper; however, significant details are missing.

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

Distinguished - Comprehensively defines EBP in the field of special education and identifies the criteria for determining what is considered EBP.

Proficient - Defines EBP in the field of special education and identifies the criteria for determining what is considered EBP. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially defines EBP in the field of special education and identifies the criteria for determining what is considered EBP. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to define EBP in the field of special education and identifies the criteria for determining what is considered EBP; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The definition and criteria for determining EBP are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly summarizes the importance of EBP in the field of special education and identifies a resource for locating EBP strategies.

Proficient - Summarizes the importance of EBP in the field of special education and identifies a resource for locating EBP strategies. The summary is slightly underdeveloped or the resource is slightly inappropriate.

Basic - Minimally summarizes the importance of EBP in the field of special education and identifies a resource for locating EBP strategies. The summary is underdeveloped and/or the resource is slightly inappropriate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to summarize the importance of EBP in the field of special education and identifies a resource for locating EBP strategies; however, the summary is significantly underdeveloped and the resource is inappropriate.

Non-Performance - The summary of the importance of EBP and a resource of EBP strategies are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains the types of strategies available through this resource.

Proficient - Explains the types of strategies available through this resource. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially explains the types of strategies available through this resource. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the types of strategies available through this resource; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The explanation of strategies through the resource is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively describes how to incorporate EBP into current or future professional practice.

Proficient - Describes how to incorporate EBP into current or future professional practice. The depiction is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally describes how to incorporate EBP into current or future professional practice. The depiction is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe how to incorporate EBP into current or future professional practice; however, the depiction is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The description of how to incorporate EBP into practice is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Composes a comprehensive and concise conclusion for the paper.

Proficient - Composes a concise conclusion for the paper. The conclusion is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Composes a limited conclusion for the paper. The conclusion is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to compose a conclusion for the paper. The conclusion is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The composes a conclusion is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment 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 - 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 - 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.