DANCE (ages 13 to 17 years old. Any gender)

• Technique: How well the dancer executes the steps and movements of their style 
• Performance: How well the dancer follows the choreography and matches their style to the music 
• Presentation: How the dancer moves with confidence and poise 
• Choreography: How well the dancer follows the choreography 
• Overall impression: How well the dancer’s performance comes together as a whole 

• General impression of the song or album
• Instrumentation
• Clarity
• Coherence
• Consistency
• Audience Impact

• Whether the painting is unique and creative

• How well the painting’s design elements work together
• The balance of elements, repetition, and visual rhythm
• The effective use of forms or abstract techniques

• The quality of the color and tone
• The use of color, line, shape, space, value, form, and texture

• The clarity of the theme and how well it’s interpreted by the viewer
• The uniqueness and creativity of the theme

• The overall artistic impression of the painting

• Craftsmanship
• The artist’s skill in using materials
• The appropriate use of materials and textures
• The use of space, including perspective and mass
• The presentation of the painting, including framing and mounting
• The degree of difficulty of the painting in relation to the artist’s maturity and ability

• How well the sculpture’s forms and abstract techniques are used
• The quality of the sculpture’s design and composition

• The sculpture’s effect as a whole
• How well the sculpture’s theme is communicated to the viewer

• The sculpture’s technical merit
• The sculpture’s presentation
• The sculpture’s color value
• The sculpture’s ability to evoke an emotion
• The sculpture’s craftsmanship, or the artist’s skill in using the material
• The sculpture’s use of space
• The sculpture’s unity and variety
• The sculpture’s medium and texture

• Textual Understanding:

  • Accurate identification of key themes and motifs 
  • Deep analysis of character development and motivations 
  • Clear explanation of plot points and their significance 
• Literary Techniques and Devices:

  • Recognizing and explaining figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification) 
  • Analyzing symbolism and imagery 
  • Identifying literary structures (foreshadowing, flashback) 
• Argument Development and Clarity:

  • A well-defined thesis statement 
  • Logical progression of ideas and supporting evidence 
  • Clear and concise writing style 
• Textual Evidence and Citations:

  • Accurate and relevant quotations from the text to support claims 
  • Proper citation formatting 
  • Integration of textual evidence into the analysis 
• Writing Mechanics:

  • Grammar and punctuation accuracy 
  • Sentence structure variety 
  • Appropriate vocabulary usage 
• Critical Thinking and Interpretation:

  • Demonstrating a nuanced understanding of the text 
  • Engaging with multiple perspectives and interpretations 
  • Presenting original insights and thoughtful analysis 

• Genre Specificity:

  Depending on the literary genre (poetry, drama, novel), specific criteria may need to be adjusted to focus on relevant aspects like rhyme scheme, dialogue, or narrative structure. 
• Assessment Level:

  Scoring criteria should be tailored to the appropriate grade level, with simpler expectations for younger students and more complex analysis for advanced learners. 
• Rubric Design:

  Creating a detailed rubric with clear descriptors for each criteria level allows for consistent and fair evaluation

• Emotional believability: How well the performer conveys the character’s emotions 
• Character consistency: How well the performer maintains the character’s consistency throughout the performance 
• Character development: How much the character changes or develops throughout the performance 

• Articulation: How clear the performer’s speech is
• Projection: How well the performer’s voice can be heard
• Pitch, tone, and inflection: How the performer uses these to support the character

• Listening and reacting: How well the performer listens to and reacts to other actors
• Ensemble: How well the performer works with the other actors in the ensemble

• Stage presence: How the performer uses their body language and gestures to engage the audience 
• Movement: How well the performer uses their body to reflect the character’s age, social status, and history 
• Preparation: How well the performer has prepared for their role 
• Professionalism: How professional the performer is

• Character Interpretation:

  • Understanding of the character’s motivations, backstory, and arc.
  • Accuracy in portraying the character’s personality traits and nuances.
  • Ability to embody the character’s emotional state throughout the film.
• Emotional Delivery:

  • Conveying a wide range of emotions authentically.
  • Subtlety and nuance in expressing emotions.
  • Effectively communicating emotional shifts within a scene.
• Technical Execution:

  • Clear and impactful line delivery
  • Proper pacing and rhythm of dialogue
  • Physical presence and movement that supports the character
• Presence/Engagement:

  • Ability to draw the audience into the character and story.
  • Maintaining focus and engagement throughout the scene
  • Creating a believable on-screen presence
• Character Development:

  • Showing the character’s growth and transformation throughout the film
  • Consistency in character portrayal across different scenes
  • Creating a compelling character arc that resonates with the audience
• Ensemble Dynamics:

  • Chemistry and believable interactions with other actors
  • Supporting the narrative through effective ensemble playing
  • Contributing to the overall dynamic of the cast 

• Genre Specificity:

  Acting criteria should be adjusted based on the film genre, as comedic acting demands different skills than dramatic acting. 
• Contextual Analysis:

  Evaluate the performance within the broader context of the film’s story, directing style, and script. 
• Subtlety vs. Overacting:

  Assess whether the actor delivers a nuanced performance or overplays emotions. 

• Appropriateness: Whether the outfit is suitable for the event and conditions
• Originality: How unique the outfit is
• Attention to detail: How well accessories are used
• Fashion trends: How well the outfit reflects current trends
• Fabric: Whether the fabric is attractive and suitable for the garment
• Style: Whether the style is current or basic
• Color: Whether the color or color combination is pleasing

• Confidence: How the model poses, talks, makes eye contact, and models
• Star factor: The model’s X factor
• Catwalk: The model’s pace and professionalism
• Overall impression: The overall impression the model gives the judges

• Grooming and deportment: The model’s grooming and demeanor
• Presence: The model’s presence
• Personality: The model’s personality
• Overall appearance: The model’s overall appearance
• Style: The model’s style
• Charm: The model’s charm