Grading Criteria

1. Translation: Presentation of topical scientific / technical knowledge in an accessible language suited to the particular audience of the writing.

   Thus, while the science writer can expect a well-educated but non-scientist audience to be familiar with a common scientific term like "cell" (of an animal or plant body), the writer should not expect a less well-educated, sixth-grade audience to be familiar with such a term.

2. Related to this: Audience awareness.

3. A good opening: A strong, catchy, and interesting first sentence or group of sentences or, for longer pieces, an engaging opening paragraph or scene.

4. A good ending: An ending that returns to or at least resonates with the beginning.

5. Clear and polished language.

6. Stylistic devices: Moderate but effective use of analogy, vivid imagery, and/or colorful (but never excessive) rhetoric to clarify the technical material and help to make it interesting.

7. Distinct human element: Through narrative and interpretation situates the specialized scientific material in engaging and identifiable human terms. Gives a clear sense of why the science is important for the non-scientist as well as the scientist, develops a universal message from the science, or, turning things around a bit, uses a story about the science (how a discovery was made, what effects it had on the lives of others, etc.) to entertain and enlighten the reader.

8. Technical care: Follows the length and formatting guidelines of the assignment.

9. Working from the appropriate sources: For instance, when the assignment specifies and the genre of science writing requires it, the successful paper works from science research reports by the scientists themselves rather than from news articles already translating their reports.