Hi guys,
This criteria was thrown together a little hastily so we're really sorry if it's not very cohesive. Keep in mind that we would love your feedback for our next contest for which we hope to make a decent criteria. Anyway, here is a quick rundown (we suggest that judges read through this once or twice and then start their judging):
Structure - Look for paragraphing, even stanza lengths, even line lengths (or the opposite depending on the poem). Basically, discern if the structure of the poem is effective in helping convey the theme of the poem (/25)
Meaning/theme - The poem doesn't need to have a super deep theme as long as it does have some theme or meaning and that the main focus of the poem is that theme. This means no random ranting or metaphors for no reason. (/30)
Language and imagery - This is everything your English teachers have drilled into your brain since primary school: metaphors, similes, alliterations, assonance, slant rhymes, onomatopoeia, etc. Pretty much anything that evokes an image as long as it is necessary to the poem and actually adds to the poem's meaning. (/20)
Tone/word choice - The tone is how the author writes or, more specifically, their words choice. This means you need to look for things like loaded words the poet has used and decide if they fit the theme of the poem well. (/10)
Title, cover and blurb - Aesthetics never hurt anyone (so long as they are relevant). (/15) → 5 for each
So judges will read 1-3 poems from each book and use the following to give them an overall score out of 100:
Structure (/25)
Meaning/theme (/30)
Language and imagery (/20)
Tone/word choice (/10)
Title, cover & blurb (/15)
Overall (/100)
Feedback: (this feedback doesn't have to be super detailed it can just be a sentence or two about what was good and what could use improvement)
Thanks,
The Untitled People :D