Distinguished - Thoroughly assesses which strategic leadership skills are needed to grow the entrepreneurial venture, including a comprehensive evaluation of the leaders in the venture to determine if they have the leadership skills needed.

Proficient - Assesses which strategic leadership skills are needed to grow the entrepreneurial venture, including an evaluation of the leaders in the venture to determine if they have the leadership skills needed. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially assesses which strategic leadership skills are needed to grow the entrepreneurial venture, including an evaluation of the leaders in the venture to determine if they have the leadership skills needed. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to assess which strategic leadership skills are needed to grow the entrepreneurial venture, including an evaluation of the leaders in the venture to determine if they have the leadership skills needed; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The assessment of which strategic leadership skills are needed to grow the entrepreneurial venture, including an evaluation of the leaders in the venture to determine if they have the leadership skills needed is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the challenges and problems the venture may face, including guidelines for managers to deal with the problems and challenges.

Proficient - Describes the challenges and problems the venture may face, including guidelines for managers to deal with the problems and challenges. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially describes the challenges and problems the venture may face, including guidelines for managers to deal with the problems and challenges. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the challenges and problems the venture may face, including guidelines for managers to deal with the problems and challenges; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the challenges and problems the venture may face, including guidelines for managers to deal with the problems and challenges, is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the current level of entrepreneurial activity in the United States.

Proficient - Describes the current level of entrepreneurial activity in the United States. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially describes the current level of entrepreneurial activity in the United States. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the current level of entrepreneurial activity in the United States; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the current level of entrepreneurial activity in the United States is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly evaluates the overall entrepreneurial atmosphere, including strategic moves to expand the venture domestically and internationally.

Proficient - Evaluates the overall entrepreneurial atmosphere, including strategic moves to expand the venture domestically and internationally. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially evaluates the overall entrepreneurial atmosphere, including strategic moves to expand the venture domestically and internationally. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate the overall entrepreneurial atmosphere, including strategic moves to expand the venture domestically and internationally; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of the overall entrepreneurial atmosphere, including strategic moves to expand the venture domestically and internationally, is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains which expansion model is recommended as the best strategic plan for expansion.

Proficient - Explains which expansion model is recommended as the best strategic plan for expansion. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially explains which expansion model is recommended as the best strategic plan for expansion. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain which expansion model is recommended as the best strategic plan for expansion; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The explanation to which expansion model is recommended as the best strategic plan 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 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 - Analyzes texts for scholarly significance and pertinence within and across various disciplines, assessing them according to their contributions and consequences.

Proficient - Utilizes texts in the context of scholarship to expand a foundation of disciplinary knowledge and to raise and discover significant inquiries.

Basic - Employs texts with the intent and expectation of increasing knowledge.

Below Expectations - Approaches texts only within the context of assignment.

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.