How Essays Are Scored: Transparent Rubric & Process
Skill-Based Evaluation
All essays submitted to the LEGO Holiday Creativity Essay Challenge are judged by a qualified panel using an objective scoring rubric. There is no element of chance or random selection in determining winners.
Each essay receives a score based on four equally weighted criteria, each worth 25 points, for a maximum total score of 100 points.
Scoring Rubric (100 Points Total)
1
Creativity & Originality (25 Points)
What Judges Evaluate:
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Uniqueness of concept and perspective
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Imaginative use of LEGO holiday theme
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Fresh, original ideas rather than clichés
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Ability to surprise or engage the reader
Scoring Range:
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20–25 points: Highly original, innovative, memorable
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15–19 points: Creative with some unique elements
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10–14 points: Adequate creativity, somewhat predictable
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0–9 points: Lacking originality or relying on overused ideas
2
Storytelling & Descriptive Ability (25 Points)
What Judges Evaluate:
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Ability to paint a vivid picture with words
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Effective use of descriptive language
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Engaging narrative flow
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Reader immersion and emotional connection
Scoring Range:
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20–25 points: Vivid, compelling, immersive storytelling
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15–19 points: Good descriptive writing with clear narrative
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10–14 points: Basic storytelling, some descriptive gaps
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0–9 points: Weak or unclear storytelling
3
Writing Quality & Mechanics (25 Points)
What Judges Evaluate:
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Grammar, spelling, and punctuation accuracy
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Sentence structure and variety
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Word choice and vocabulary
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Overall polish and professionalism
Scoring Range:
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20–25 points: Virtually error-free, polished writing
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15–19 points: Minor errors, strong overall quality
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10–14 points: Noticeable errors but readable
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0–9 points: Frequent errors affecting readability
4
Structure & Adherence to Guidelines (25 Points)
What Judges Evaluate:
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Clear beginning, middle, and end
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Logical flow and organization
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Word count compliance (300–600 words)
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Adherence to contest requirements
Scoring Range:
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20–25 points: Excellent structure, fully compliant
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15–19 points: Good structure with minor issues
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10–14 points: Adequate structure, some organizational weakness
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0–9 points: Poor structure or significant guideline violations
Judging Process & Timeline
Who Are the Judges?
Essays are evaluated by a panel of qualified judges selected by Wesden 47 Holdings LLC. Judges have expertise in creative writing, storytelling, or related fields. All judging is conducted independently and impartially.
How Judging Works
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Blind Review: Essays are judged without knowledge of entrant identity to ensure fairness
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Independent Scoring: Each judge scores essays individually using the rubric
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Score Aggregation: Scores from all judges are averaged to produce final scores
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Winner Selection: The three highest-scoring essays win 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place
Judging Timeline`
January 29–30, 2026: Judging period
January 30, 2026: Winners announced at 12:00 PM (Noon) EST
Tie-Breaker Rules
In the event that two or more entries receive the same total score:
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The entry with the higher score in Creativity & Originality will be ranked higher
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If still tied, the entry with the higher score in Storytelling & Descriptive Ability will be ranked higher
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If still tied, the entry submitted earliest (based on email timestamp) will be ranked higher
⚖️ No Element of Chance
Winners are determined entirely by judges' scores based on the criteria above. There is no lottery, random drawing, or game of chance involved in this contest. Your skill as a writer determines your outcome.
⛔ Disqualification Criteria
Essays may be disqualified for:
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Failing to meet word count requirements (300–600 words)
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Plagiarism or use of non-original content
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Inappropriate, offensive, or prohibited content
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Failure to follow submission instructions
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Violation of contest rules
Disqualified entries will not be scored or eligible for prizes.