Distinguished - Thoroughly introduces the business plan for purchasing and operating a professional sports team and provides a succinct thesis statement for the work.

Proficient - Introduces the business plan for purchasing and operating a professional sports team and provides a thesis statement for the work. Thesis statement or introduction is missing some components.

Basic - Introduces the business plan for purchasing and operating a professional sports team and provides a vague thesis statement for the work. Thesis statement and/or introduction are missing several components.

Below Expectations - Attempts to introduce the business plan for purchasing and operating a professional sports team and provides a thesis statement for the work; however, the thesis statement and the introduction are missing many components.

Non-Performance - The introduction and thesis statement are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly discusses how specific marketing promotions will help drive revenue and profitability for the sports organization. Fully considers trends, market strategy, pricing, sponsorships, advertising, and revenue generation sources, etc.

Proficient - Discusses how specific marketing promotions will help drive revenue and profitability for the sports organization. Considers trends, market strategy, pricing, sponsorships, advertising, and revenue generation sources, etc. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Discusses how marketing promotions will help drive revenue and profitability for the sports organization and somewhat considers trends, market strategy, pricing, sponsorships, advertising, and revenue generation sources, etc. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss how marketing promotions will help drive revenue and profitability for the sports organization; however, does not consider trends, market strategy, pricing, sponsorships, advertising, and revenue generation sources, etc. and significant details are missing.

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

Distinguished - Thoroughly and accurately discusses at least one tax and one legal issue that will be faced in the purchase or operation of the sports business.

Proficient - Accurately discusses at least one tax and one legal issue that will be faced in the purchase or operation of the sports business. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially discusses at least one tax and one legal issue that will be faced in the purchase or operation of the sports business. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss at least one tax and one legal issue that will be faced in the purchase or operation of the sports business, but significant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The discussion of at least one tax and one legal issue is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Develops comprehensive financial reports including well developed key assumptions. All supporting documentation is included.

Proficient - Develops financial reports including well developed key assumptions. All supporting documentation is included, but the financial reports are slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Develops financial reports including partial key assumptions. Supporting documentation is minimally included and the financial reports are underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to develop financial reports and include key assumptions; however, supporting documentation is not included and the financial reports are significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The financial statements and assumptions are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes three financial metrics or ratios used to analyze the health of the business, three financial risks the business may face, and the possible methods to mitigate these risks.

Proficient - Describes three financial metrics or ratios used to analyze the health of the business, three financial risks the business may face, and the possible methods to mitigate these risks. One of these descriptions is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Describes three financial metrics or ratios used to analyze the health of the business, three financial risks the business may face, and the possible methods to mitigate these risks. At least one of these descriptions is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe three financial metrics or ratios used to analyze the health of the business, three financial risks the business may face, and the possible methods to mitigate these risks; however, the descriptions are significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The descriptions of three financial metrics or ratios used to analyze the health of the business, three financial risks the business may face, and the possible methods to mitigate these risks are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes what will be offered to potential investors in order to seek funding for business. Fully considers types of ownership, stocks, dividends, interest payments, royalty fees, merchandise profit sharing, perks, etc. All supporting documentation is included.

Proficient - Describes what will be offered to potential investors in order to seek funding for business. Considers types of ownership, stocks, dividends, interest payments, royalty fees, merchandise profit sharing, perks, etc. All supporting documentation is included, but the description is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially describes what will be offered to potential investors in order to seek funding for business. Somewhat considers types of ownership, stocks, dividends, interest payments, royalty fees, merchandise profit sharing, perks, etc. Minimal supporting documentation is included and the description is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe what will be offered to potential investors in order to seek funding for business; however, does not consider types of ownership, stocks, dividends, interest payments, royalty fees, merchandise profit sharing, perks, etc., does not include supporting documentation, and/or the description is significantly underdeveloped.

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

Distinguished - Presents a thorough description of the exit strategy assuming sale of the sports business in 10 years.

Proficient - Presents a description of the exit strategy assuming sale of the sports business in 10 years. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Presents a partial description of the exit strategy assuming sale of the sports business in 10 years. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to present a description of the exit strategy assuming sale of the sports business in 10 years, but significant details are missing.

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

Distinguished - Conclusion thoroughly summarizes the content discussed and reiterates and supports the thesis statement fully.

Proficient - Conclusion summarizes the content discussed and reiterates and supports the thesis statement. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Conclusion partially summarizes the content discussed and somewhat reiterates and supports the thesis statement. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Conclusion attempts to summarize the content discussed and reiterate and support the thesis statement, but significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The conclusion is either nonexistent or lacks 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 - 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.