This document outlines the grading criteria for an ACC205 assignment with a total possible score of 29 points. It describes the requirements for organizing an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion (2 points). It also provides grading criteria for selecting and providing an overview of a company (4 points), completing a horizontal analysis of financial statements (7 points), performing a ratio analysis (6 points), discussing the company's strengths/weaknesses and making an investment recommendation (4 points), using evidence and sources (2 points), completing calculations correctly (1 point), applying quantitative analysis (1 point), controlling syntax and mechanics (0.75 points), using APA formatting (0.75 points), meeting page requirements (0.75 points), and using required

1. ACC205.W5A2.03.2013
Description:
Total Possible Score: 29.00
Organization: Introduction, Thesis Statement, and Conclusion
Total: 2.00
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.
Selects and Provides an Overview of the Chosen Company
Total: 4.00
Distinguished - Provides a thorough overview of the chosen
company, including the industry in which it competes,
competitors, and products and/or services provided.
Proficient - Provides an overview of the chosen company,
including the industry in which competes, competitors, and of
the products and/or services provided. Minor details are
missing.
Basic - Provides a limited overview of the chosen company,
including the industry in which it competes, some of the
competitors, and some of the products and/or services provided.
Several relevant details are missing.

2. Below Expectations - Provides an incomplete overview of the
chosen company. Most of the required components (industry,
competitors and products/services) are missing.
Non-Performance - The overview of the chosen company is
either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the
assignment instructions.
Horizontal Analysis of the Income Statement and Balance Sheet
Total: 7.00
Distinguished - Creates a thorough and accurate horizontal
analysis of the income statement and balance sheet. Discusses,
in detail, the importance and meaning of a horizontal analysis,
and comprehensively discusses the positive and negative trends
for the company chosen.
Proficient - Creates a thorough horizontal analysis of the
income statement and balance sheet. Discusses the importance
and meaning of a horizontal analysis and the positive and
negative trends for the company chosen. Minor details are
missing.
Basic - Creates a limited horizontal analysis of the income
statement and balance sheet. Minimally discusses the
importance and meaning of a horizontal analysis and the
positive and negative trends for the company chosen. Several
relevant details are missing.
Below Expectations - Attempts to create a horizontal analysis of
the income statement and balance sheet; however, the
importance and meaning of a horizontal analysis and/or the
positive and negative trends for the chosen company are not
sufficiently discussed. Many significant details are missing.
Non-Performance - The horizontal analysis of the income
statement and balance sheet are either nonexistent or lack the
components described in the assignment instructions.
Ratio Analysis
Total: 6.00
Distinguished - Correctly calculates all assigned ratios.

3. Interprets the findings, relating their meaning to concepts
covered in the text. Fully expands the liquidity discussion to
include competitors in the industry and the relevance of their
liquidity compared to the chosen company.
Proficient - Calculates all assigned ratios. Interprets the
findings, relating their meaning to concepts covered in the text.
Expands the liquidity discussion to include competitors in the
industry, but does not elaborate on the relevance of their
liquidity compared to the chosen company.
Basic - Calculates most assigned ratios. Interprets some of the
findings, but does not relate their meaning to concepts covered
in the text. Discusses liquidity, but does not address the
liquidity of the competitors in the industry in association with
the chosen company.
Below Expectations - Calculates some of the assigned ratios,
but does not interpret the findings or relate their meaning to the
concepts covered in the text. Minimally discusses liquidity and
fails to sufficiently address the liquidity of the competitors in
the industry in association with the chosen company.
Non-Performance - The ratio analysis is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.
Discusses Strengths and Weaknesses of the Firm and Provides a
Recommendation for Investment
Total: 4.00
Distinguished - Thoroughly discusses the strengths and risks of
the company’s financial position based on analysis completed
and integrates concepts and data to arrive at a well-supported
recommendation.
Proficient - Discusses most of the strengths and risks of the
company’s financial position based on the analysis completed
and integrates concepts and data to arrive at a reasonably well-
supported recommendation.
Basic - Discusses some of the strengths and risks of the
company’s financial position based on the analysis completed
and makes a recommendation; however, the recommendation is

4. not sufficiently supported by the text or scholarly sources.
Below Expectations - Minimally discusses the strengths and
risks of the company’s financial position based on the analysis
completed. Fails to make a recommendation for making an
investment in this firm.
Non-Performance - The recommendation for an investment in
this firm is either nonexistent or lacks the components described
in the assignment instructions.
Critical Thinking: Evidence
Total: 1.00
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.
Quantitative Literacy: Calculations
Total: 1.00
Distinguished - Calculations are essentially all successful and
all inclusive. Calculations are presented clearly and succinctly.
Proficient - Calculations are mostly 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 are both

5. unsuccessfully and are not comprehensive.
Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.
Quantitative Literacy: Application/Analysis
Total: 1.00
Distinguished - Uses the quantitative analysis of data as the
foundation for profound and thoughtful judgments, drawing
perceptive, competent conclusions from this work.
Proficient - Uses the quantitative analysis of data as the
foundation for competent judgments, drawing rational and
proficient conclusions from this work.
Basic - Uses the quantitative analysis of data as the foundation
for conceivable judgments, drawing ordinary conclusions from
this work.
Below Expectations - Attempts to use the quantitative analysis
of data as the foundation for basic judgments and is hesitant
about drawing conclusions from this work.
Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics
Total: 0.75
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

6. work contains major errors, which distract the reader.
Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: APA Formatting
Total: 0.75
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 APA formatting throughout the paper.
However, layout contains a few minor errors.
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.
Written Communication: Page Requirement
Total: 0.75
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.
Written Communication: Resource Requirement
Total: 0.75
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

7. 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.