Judging the Research
See Also: Score Sheet for Written Research Paper | Score Sheet for Oral Presentation
The Judging Process
Upon receipt of the research papers (and abstracts) from students by the date required, a copy of each paper is distributed to each of the judges of the competition for their independent evaluations. Each judge is to apply the criteria established by the Tennessee Symposium in his/her evaluation. Points are applied by each judge for each criterion. The score for the paper is determined by adding the scores.
After each judge has evaluated all papers, the scores are sent to the Director of the Symposium who then determines which papers are to be presented to the Symposium from an analysis of the scores assigned the papers. Further discussions between the Director and the judges may be necessary to determine how many papers will be presented and which ones. From four to eight papers are usually selected to be presented.
The Oral Presentation
Students who are selected to orally present their research to the Symposium by the process described above will be in invited to do so. The times for the presentation will be determined by the Director. Students will then prepare this presentation using the guidelines of the Symposium.
The judges will independently evaluate the presentation using the criteria given below. Upon completion of all of the presentations, the judges may wish to discuss with each student his/her research in private before their final evaluations. Upon completion of this process, the judges will rank the presentations, determine the top five and the First and Second prize winners. The top five presenters will form the Tennessee Regional delegation to the national JSHS. The winners will be announced at the luncheon which closes the Symposium.