Distinguished - Paper is logically organized with a well-written introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion.

Proficient - Paper is logically organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. One of these requires improvement.

Basic - Paper is organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. One or more of the introduction, thesis statement, and/or conclusion require improvement.

Below Expectations - Paper is loosely organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. The introduction, thesis statement, and/or conclusion require much improvement.

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

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains the investment strategy, including a thorough assessment of the willingness to bear risk.

Proficient - Explains the investment strategy, including an assessment of the willingness to bear risk. The explanation or assessment is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially explains the investment strategy, including a minimal assessment of the willingness to bear risk. The explanation or assessment is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the investment strategy, including an assessment of the willingness to bear risk; however, the explanation and/or the assessment are significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the investment strategy, including an assessment of the willingness to bear risk, is nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides comprehensive descriptions of the selected securities and historical information for each firm. Effectively uses scholarly sources to support the descriptions.

Proficient - Provides descriptions of the selected securities and historical information for each firm. Uses scholarly sources to support the descriptions, but minor details are missing.

Basic - Provides partial descriptions of the selected securities and historical information for each firm. Uses few scholarly sources to support the descriptions and relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a description of the selected securities; however, descriptions of the historical information for each firm are missing, scholarly sources are not used, and/or significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The descriptions of the securities in the portfolio and of the historical information for each firm are nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides an accurate calculation of the quarterly, annualized, and expected return for the portfolio.

Proficient - Provides a calculation of the quarterly, annualized, and expected return for the portfolio. Minor inaccuracies are present.

Basic - Provides a calculation of the quarterly, annualized, and expected return for the portfolio. Several inaccuracies are present.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a calculation of the quarterly, annualized, and expected return for the portfolio; however, one calculation was not fully completed and/or many inaccuracies are present.

Non-Performance - The calculations of the quarterly, annualized, and expected return for the portfolio are nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately computes the beta of each security to correctly compute the beta for the portfolio.

Proficient - Computes the beta of each security to compute a beta for the portfolio. Minor inaccuracies are present in the computations for some of the securities.

Basic - Computes the beta of each security to compute a beta for the portfolio. Inaccuracies are present in the computations for several of the securities.

Below Expectations - Attempts to calculate Beta for the portfolio; however, there are many inaccuracies in the computations for many of the securities.

Non-Performance - The computation of the beta of the portfolio is either nonexistent or fails to answer the problem from the assignment.

Distinguished - Provides a comprehensive summary of the risks of the portfolio and accurately determines any areas that might need reinvesting to achieve either less risk or a higher expected return.

Proficient - Provides a summary of the risks of the portfolio and accurately determines areas that might need reinvesting to achieve either less risk or a higher expected return. Minor details are missing from the summary.

Basic - Provides a partial summary of the risks of the portfolio and accurately determines areas that might need reinvesting to achieve either less risk or a higher expected return. Relevant details are missing from the summary.

Below Expectations - Provides a minimal summary of the risks of the portfolio and determines areas that might need reinvesting to achieve either less risk or a higher expected return. Significant details are missing from the summary.

Non-Performance - The summary of the risks of the portfolio and determination of any areas that might need reinvesting are nonexistent or lack 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 - Calculations are essentially all successful and adequately all inclusive. Calculations are presented clearly and succinctly.

Proficient - Calculations are mostly all successful and adequately comprehensive to solve the problem.

Basic - Attempted calculation either unsuccessfully or represents only a segment of the calculations required to comprehensively solve the problem.

Below Expectations - Attempted calculations both unsuccessfully and is not comprehensive.

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 paper meets the specific page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Proficient - The paper closely meets the page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Basic - The paper meets over half of the page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Below Expectations - A fraction of the page requirement is completed.

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 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 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.