Effectiveness/Reader Response:

NonFiction- The Judges Questions

Nonfiction & Creative Nonfiction Questions by Category 
Opening/Pacing:
  1. Is the opening compelling? Does it make you want to continue reading?
  2. Is the pacing appropriate for the unfolding article or story? Does it move rapidly enough to sustain interest?

Construction/Organization/Development:
  1. Does the writer use interesting facts, examples, opinions, anecdotes and/or explanations to develop the piece?
  2. Is the necessary background information presented in a concise and well-balanced manner?
  3. Is the piece organized effectively, with strong transitions and a conclusion that ties it all together? If it is the beginning of a book-length work, does it provide the reader with a strong sense of the protagonist's character and the conflict he/she faces?
  4. Is there a satisfying tie between the opening of the piece and its resolution? If it is the beginning of a book-length work, does each scene have a clear and necessary relationship with the scenes that precede and follow it?

Effectiveness/Reader Response:
  1. Candidly assess the total impact of this nonfiction piece.  Realistically evaluate its likelihood of enticing a successful editor to purchase it. 
  2. Does the author provide a sufficient amount of information (or narration) to hold the reader’s attention and to answer any questions that may arise from reading the entry?
  3. Does the opening section provide the reader with confidence that the author knows this topic well?
  4. Does the piece inspire the reader to think or feel strongly about the subject matter?
  5. Is the writing free of extraneous details that do not contribute to the overall effectiveness of the piece?
  6. Is the writing fresh, clear, and focused?

Mechanics:
  1. Is the entry presented professionally and following the format required by the contest?
  2. Are the writing style and vocabulary appropriate for the intended audience
  3. Is the work without errors in grammar or logic?
  4. Does the author use a variety of sentence structures and sentence lengths?
  5. Is the manuscript free of typographical, spelling, and punctuation errors?
  6. Is the writing clear and focused without an annoying overuse of adjectives, adverbs, or passive verbs?