JUDGING CRITERIA

Essays will be judged on a scale of seventy (70) points using the following criteria:

1) Content/Originality: Does the essay address the topic? Does the essay demonstrate concern for the topic? Does the essay present a fresh idea or present its idea in a new way, and/or use diverse resource material to present its idea? Is the essay interesting? 25 point maximum

2) Organization: Are the ideas in the essay clearly articulated? Is the essay well-structured? Does the essay follow a logical and easily understood progression? Does the essay have an effective beginning and end? Does it support the conclusions it draws? 20 point maximum

3) Use of research/resource material: Does the essay utilize resource material accurately and effectively? Is resource material appropriately cited within the essay? 10 point maximum

4) Writing: Are spelling, grammar and punctuation reasonably correct? Is vocabulary used appropriately? 15 point maximum

TOTAL POINTS = 70

JUDGING PROCEDURES

1) So that it may remain anonymous, all essays submitted for screening and judging in accordance with these Judging Procedures shall be identified only by the identification number assigned to it by the Foundation pursuant to the Rules.

2) In the event that the total number of submissions exceeds 75, all submissions will be prescreened with reference to the Judging Criteria by the Prescreening Panel.

3) The top 75 essays, as determined by the Prescreening Panel, will be judged by a second panel (the “Selection Panel”) composed of Fellows who are not members of the Prescreening Panel. Each of the essays will be judged independently by at least five members of the Selection Panel in accordance with the Judging Criteria.

4) The total number of points assigned to an essay by the reviewing judges of the Selection Panel shall be added together to determine the essay’s total score. The essays receiving the ten highest scores (plus ties) shall be reviewed solely for the purpose of confirming that resource material cited in the essay has not been fabricated in form or content and language or concepts are not plagiarized. In the event that two or more panel members (the “Qualifying Panel”) conclude that the essay has fabricated resource material cited therein, the essay shall be disqualified.

5) Qualified essays receiving the six highest scores (plus ties) shall be submitted to a panel (the “Final Panel”) comprising five Fellows and/or members of the bench who have not served as members of either the Prescreening Panel or the Selection Panel. The Final Panel will not be advised of the score assigned to the essays submitted to it by the Selection Panel.

6) Each member of the Final Panel will judge each of the essays submitted in accordance with the Judging Criteria. The essay receiving the highest cumulative score shall be deemed the Statewide Winner and, thereafter, the two essays receiving the next highest scores shall be designated as Runner-Up Winners.

7) The decisions of the Prescreening Panel, the Selection Panel, the Qualifying Panel, and the Final Panel are final.

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