The document describes the criteria for evaluating reports on capital expenditures for two companies over three years. It is evaluated based on comprehensively reporting spending amounts and trends, describing factors that impacted debt capacity and capital structure, comparing spending levels between the companies, and critically thinking about the issues. Additional criteria include developing ideas through content, controlling syntax and mechanics, using APA formatting, meeting page requirements, and citing the required number of scholarly sources.

1. Description:
Total Possible Score: 7.00
Reports the Amount of Capital Spending for the Past Three
Years for the Selected Company and One Direct Competitor
Total: 1.50
Distinguished - Comprehensively reports the amount of capital
spending for the past three years for the selected company and
one direct competitor. Quantitatively determines whether the
amount of spending has been consistent or if it has fluctuated.
Proficient - Reports the amount of capital spending for the past
three years for the selected company and one direct competitor.
Quantitatively determines whether the amount of spending has
been consistent or if it has fluctuated. Minor details are missing
from the report or minor inaccuracies are present.
Basic - Partially reports the amount of capital spending for the
past three years for the selected company and one direct
competitor. Quantitatively determines whether the amount of
spending has been consistent or if it has fluctuated. Relevant
details are missing from the report or several inaccuracies are
present.
Below Expectations - Attempts to report the amount of capital
spending for the past three years for the selected company and
one direct competitor and quantitatively determine whether the
amount of spending has been consistent or if it has fluctuated;
however, significant details are missing from the report and/or
many inaccuracies are present.
Non-Performance - The report of the capital spending for the
two companies is either nonexistent or lacks the components
described in the assignment instructions.
Describes the Capital Expenditures of Each Firm and the
Factors That Impacted the Companies’ Debt Capacities and
Capital Structures

2. Total: 1.50
Distinguished - Comprehensively describes the capital
expenditure of each firm and the factors that impacted each
firm’s debt capacity and capital structure.
Proficient - Describes the capital expenditure of each firm and
the factors that impacted each firm’s debt capacity and capital
structure. Minor details are missing.
Basic - Briefly describes the capital expenditure of each firm
and the factors that impacted each firm’s debt capacity and
capital structure. Relevant details are missing.
Below Expectations - Minimally describes the capital
expenditure of each firm and the factors that impacted each
firm’s debt capacity and capital structure. Significant details are
missing.
Non-Performance - The description of the capital expenditure of
each firm and the factors that impacted each firm’s debt
capacity and capital structure is either nonexistent or lacks the
components described in the assignment instructions.
Compares the Level of Capital Spending Across the Two Firms
Total: 3.00
Distinguished - Comprehensively compares the capital spending
levels of the selected firm and its direct competitor, including
how the spending was similar or different. Provides a relevant
speculation on why the similarities and/or differences might
exist. Support from scholarly sources is included.
Proficient - Compares the capital spending levels of the selected
firm and its direct competitor, including how the spending was
similar or different. Provides a mostly relevant speculation on
why the similarities and/or differences might exist. Support
from scholarly sources is included. Minor details are missing.
Basic - Partially compares the capital spending levels of the
selected firm and its direct competitor, including how the
spending was similar or different. Provides a somewhat relevant
speculation on why the similarities and/or differences might
exist. Limited support from scholarly sources is included.

3. Relevant details are missing.
Below Expectations - Minimally compares the capital spending
levels of the selected firm and its direct competitor, including
how the spending was similar or different. Provides an
irrelevant speculation on why the similarities and/or differences
might exist. Support from scholarly sources is not included
and/or significant details are missing.
Non-Performance - The comparison of the capital spending
levels across the two firms is either nonexistent or lacks the
components described in the assignment instructions.
Critical Thinking: Explanation of Issues
Total: 0.15
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.
Written Communication: Content Development
Total: 0.15
Distinguished - Uses appropriate, pertinent, and persuasive
content to discover and develop sophisticated ideas within the
context of the discipline, shaping the work as a whole.
Proficient - Uses appropriate and pertinent content to discover
ideas within the context of the discipline, shaping the work as a
whole.
Basic - Uses appropriate and pertinent content, but does not

4. apply it toward discovering or developing ideas. Overall,
content assists in shaping the written work.
Below Expectations - Uses content, though it may be unrelated
or inappropriate to the topic. Content does not contribute
toward the development of the written work, and may distract
the reader from its purpose.
Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics
Total: 0.17
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.
Written Communication: APA Formatting
Total: 0.17
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.

5. 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: 0.18
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.
Written Communication: Source Requirement
Total: 0.18
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

6. 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.