Distinguished - Thoroughly analyzes the past performance of an organization similar to the start-up venture. Effectively utilizes strong, relevant examples to support the analysis.

Proficient - Analyzes the past performance of an organization similar to the start-up venture. Sufficiently utilizes relevant examples to support the analysis but minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially analyzes the past performance of an organization similar to the start-up venture. Utilizes somewhat relevant examples to support the analysis and relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to analyze the past performance of an organization similar to the start-up venture; however, does not utilize examples to support the analysis and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The analysis of the past performance of an organization similar to the start-up venture is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately determines what funding will be available for long- and short-term operation for the start-up and comprehensively describes why specific sources were chosen. Expertly applies vocabulary and concepts from the text and/or scholarly sources.

Proficient - Determines what funding will be available for long- and short-term operation for the start-up and describes why specific sources were chosen. Sufficiently applies vocabulary and concepts from the text and/or scholarly sources.

Basic - Determines what funding will be available for long- and short-term operation for the start-up and briefly describes why specific sources were chosen. Partially applies vocabulary and concepts from the text and/or scholarly sources.

Below Expectations - Determines what funding will be available for the start-up for the long- and short-term and attempts to describe why the sources were selected; however, vocabulary and concepts from the text and/or scholarly sources are not applied.

Non-Performance - The determination of what funding will be available for the start-up for long- and short-term and the description of why sources were selected are either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes how much funding will be required for the venture, comprehensively addressing how funding will utilized and fully discusses the type of pro forma projections to be used to increase borrowing capacity credibility.

Proficient - Describes how much funding will be required for the venture, addressing how funding will be utilized, and discusses the type of pro forma projections to be used to increase borrowing capacity credibility. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Briefly describes how much funding will be required for the venture, somewhat addressing how funding will be utilized, and partially discusses the type of pro forma projections to be used to increase borrowing capacity credibility. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe how much funding will be required for the venture, addressing how funding will be utilized, and discuss the type of pro forma projections to be used to increase borrowing capacity credibility; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of how much funding will be required to fund the venture, addressing how funding will be utilized and the discussion of what kind of pro forma projections can be utilized to increase borrowing capacity credibility are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Recommends fully relevant solutions to mitigate various risks such as management, technical, programmatic, and cost risks associated with the venture. Expertly applies vocabulary and concepts from the text and/or additional scholarly sources.

Proficient - Recommends mostly relevant solutions to mitigate various risks such as management, technical, programmatic, and cost risks associated with the venture. Sufficiently applies vocabulary and concepts from the text and/or additional scholarly sources.

Basic - Recommends somewhat relevant solutions to mitigate various risks such as management, technical, programmatic, and cost risks associated with the venture. Generally applies vocabulary and concepts from the text and/or additional scholarly sources.

Below Expectations - Attempts to recommend solutions to mitigate various risks such as management, technical, programmatic, and cost risks associated with the venture; however, vocabulary and concepts from the text and/or additional scholarly sources are not applied.

Non-Performance - The recommendation of solutions to mitigate risks such as management, technical, marketing, programmatic, and cost risk is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

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

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

Basic - The 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 - The 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 - Clearly and comprehensively explains in detail the issue to be considered, delivering all relevant information necessary for a full understanding.

Proficient - Clearly explains in detail the issue to be considered, delivering enough relevant information for an adequate understanding.

Basic - Briefly recognizes the issue to be considered, delivering minimal information for a basic understanding.

Below Expectations - Briefly recognizes 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 - Adapts and employs, independently, skills, abilities, theories, or methodologies gained in one situation to new situations. Solves difficult problems or explores complex issues in original ways.

Proficient - Utilizes skills, abilities, theories, or methodologies gained in one situation to new situations, contributing to an understanding of problems or issues.

Basic - Attempts to utilize, in a basic way, skills, abilities, theories, or methodologies gained in one situation, in a new situation.

Below Expectations - Attempts to utilize, in a basic way, skills, abilities, theories, or methodologies gained in one situation in a new situation. Such attempts may be ineffective.

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.

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.