Interest depends primarily upon substance. It depends next upon clarity and upon including specific details and examples which individualize the story as an outgrowth of the writer's character and experience. A well-organized story will present ideas and arguments in a logical and coherent manner. Grammatical correctness of style includes avoiding errors in sentence structure, punctuation, grammar, spelling and word usage. The judges should discuss the stories contending for a rank and may alter their decisions as a result of the discussion.
Judges are to reach a consensus on the rankings.
There can be no ties in this contest. Preparing Evaluation Sheets. Judges shall prepare comments on the Creative Writing Evaluation Sheets for each entry. Comments should reflect the UIL philosophy of judging. Identify and comment first on the positive aspects of the story, then offer constructive criticism.