Distinguished - Provides an accurate and complete definition of a term sheet and comprehensively explains its purpose. The definition and explanation are supported by scholarly resources.

Proficient - Provides a definition of a term sheet and explains its purpose. However, minor details are missing from the definition or the explanation of purpose.

Basic - Provides a partial definition of a term sheet and somewhat explains its purpose. However, relevant details are missing from the definition and/or the explanation of purpose.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a definition of a term sheet and explain its purpose; however, significant details are missing from the definition and/or the explanation of purpose.

Non-Performance - The definition and explanation of the purpose of a term sheet are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Identifies a position on what is being sold, stock amount, voting rights, dividends, founder rights, and exit provisions. Provides an accurate and complete definition for each element, a rational on the position, and substantive examples are used to support the position.

Proficient - Identifies a position on what is being sold, stock amount, voting rights, dividends, founder rights, and exit provisions. Provides a definition for each element, a rationale on the position, and examples are used to support the position. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Identifies a position on what is being sold, stock amount, voting rights, dividends, founder rights, and exit provisions. Provides a basic definition for each element, a rationale on the position, and examples are somewhat used to support the position. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Identifies a position on what is being sold, stock amount, voting rights, dividends, founder rights, and exit provisions; however, does not provide a complete definition for each element, a rationale on the position, and/or examples do not support the position. Significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The identification of a position on what is being sold, stock amount, voting rights, dividends, founder rights, and exit provisions, and the definition for each element, a rational on the position, and examples used to support the position, are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Completely describes the key issues that must be addressed when preparing to successfully negotiate.  The description includes unique considerations, and is supported by scholarly examples.

Proficient - Describes the key issues that must be addressed when preparing to successfully negotiate. The description highlights most of the unique considerations, but minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially describes the key issues that must be addressed when preparing to successfully negotiate. The description somewhat includes unique considerations. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the key issues that must be addressed when preparing to successfully negotiate and include unique considerations; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the key issues that must be addressed when preparing to successfully negotiate and unique considerations are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a comprehensive summary of the basic interests of the venture capitalist organization and thoroughly discusses the objections that may occur.

Proficient - Provides a summary of the basic interests of the venture capital organization and discusses the objections that may occur. Minor details are missing from the summary or the discussion.

Basic - Provides a partial summary of the basic interests of the venture capital organization and somewhat discusses the objections that may occur. Relevant details are missing from the summary and/or the discussion.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a summary of the basic interests of the venture capitalist organization and discuss the objections that may occur; however, significant details are missing from the summary and/or the discussion.

Non-Performance - The summary of the basic interests of the venture capitalist organization and a discussion of objections is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - The non-financial resources needed are thoroughly discussed and supported by scholarly sources.

Proficient - The non-financial resources needed are discussed, but minor details are missing.

Basic - The non-financial resources are discussed, but relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss the non-financial resources that are needed; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The discussion on non-financial resources is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly evaluates a legal and negotiation strategy and includes the areas that will be emphasized.

Proficient - Evaluates a legal and negotiation strategy and includes the areas that will be emphasized. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially evaluates a legal and negotiation strategy and partially includes the areas that will be emphasized. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate a legal and negotiation strategy and include areas that will be emphasized; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The legal and negotiation strategy, as well as the areas of emphasis, 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 - Renovates ideas or solutions into entirely new forms.

Proficient - Conceives ideas or solutions into a coherent whole.

Basic - Associates ideas or solutions in novel ways.

Below Expectations - Recognizes existing connections among ideas or solutions.

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 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.