Scholars of St. Thomas Aquinas
Shire of Appledore

Scholars of St. Thomas Aquinas is open to all male personas from throughout the Known World. Each Candidate will be tested on his ability to create and project an authentic and logical historically based persona existing between 450 and 1650 A.D. For this competition, personas should be assumed to be of noble birth, and of any geographic area known between 450 and 1650 A.D.

Judging will be done in the thirteen categories listed below. Scholars Candidates must enter the seven (7) required categories and three (3) of the six optional categories.

Anyone may enter individual competitions, but only those previously accepted Candidates have the chance to attain the Scholars or St. Thomas Aquinas Medallion. In order to attain the Medallion each Candidate must be successful in all ten of the categories entered.

JUDGING ROLE AND APPLICATION
The role of judge for this competition is not one of fact-finder, it is a nurturing and growth position. The judges should learn about the culture presented as well as seeking out possible areas of ill-preparation. We are not grand inquisitors nor do we have all of the possible applications of information at our fingertips. We, as judges, do have the responsibility of maintaining a high standard of excellence for this competition. It is not an easy task.

Following is a brief description of the judging scale, how judging is done, and a description of the criteria for each category for judging purposes.

JUDGING SCALE
Each competition is rated on a one (1) to ten (10) scale of excellence. One (1) is a very low score; ten (10) is a very high score. An average score would be considered five (5). In order for a Scholars Candidate to attain a Medallion, he will need to attain a minimum of seven (7) in each competition. There are no bonus points.

HOW JUDGING IS DONE
Each competition will have a minimum of two (2) judges, including a representative of Appledore and a Scholar. The judging slips (to write notes or an awarded score on) are confidential - no one is allowed access to them except the judges of the specific competition, the Scholars Autocrat, and the Appledore Seneschal. Once all the Competitions have been finished, a conclave of all the judges, the Appledore Seneschal, and all present Scholars will be held. At that time, the spokesperson for each competition will give the results of each entrant for their respective competition. The spokesperson may at that time give additional information deemed relevant to the competition. Others present, if having observed relevant information, may also have the floor to comment. All discussion during this time is confidential, and has no place being discussed after the conclave ends.

At the end of the conclave the Scholars Autocrat or Appledore Seneschal burns all judging slips.

After the conclave no one keeps track of the score obtained by the applicants or other entrants in the competitions. “No Scholar is more of a Scholar because of their score”; ALL ARE EQUAL.

After the Conclave the Scholar Candidates are told whether they passed the competition or not. They are not told their score. They are told, if they ask, their strengths and weaknesses. They are always welcome to discuss their attempt with a Scholar at a later date.

No applicant is judged against another. They are judged against the information they provide and themselves.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Required Categories
1] PERSONA CREATION:
1 - No documentation or very inaccurate information/documentation.
5 - The information is within period, accurate to persona and complete in requested information.
7 - Complete, accurate, in period, documentation provided, well detailed social and personal history, able to maintain persona during competitions.
10 - Same as 7, plus ability to deal with other people while in persona, able to stay in persona all weekend.

2] CALLIGRAPHY/CORRESPONDENCE:
1 - The alphabet style is of modern design; use of blatantly modern materials.
5 - The work looks authentic, but felt tips or obviously inauthentic materials or techniques were used.
7 - The work is done on appropriate paper, the ink was used in fill or dip pens, the alphabet is period, layout and text are appropriate to persona period.
10 - Special effort has been made to use period materials and techniques, including page layout.

3] COSTUMING:
1 - Blatantly modern elements.
5 - Looks authentic on the surface, but inauthentic elements in design, colour, fabric, etc. ("theatre costume" - e.g. fake layers).
7 - Authentic in both look and feel; period colours, fabric either period or close, construction appropriate to period.
10 - Same as 5, plus special effort to achieve total period effect (e.g. all hand-sewn, or hand-done embellishment, or accessories made by entrant to enhance total look, or entirely period construction and techniques).

4] DAILY LIFE/LIVELIHOOD:
1 - Blatantly modern elements in any or all of presentation.
5 - Period as to accuracy of information, able to coherently discuss some of the suggested topics.
7 - Accurate as to period, able to project information to others present without it being dragged out of them.
10 - Special effort to achieve total period information in look and feel during competition. Readily able to give accurate period information.

5]  HANDCRAFT:
1 -- Non-period item, doubtful period elements, item, or design.
5 -- Some period elements.
7 -- Period elements and design.
10 -- Totally period piece. Use of proper materials, design, quality of piece. Consistent to period and place of persona.

6] SKILLS/SCHOLARLY PURSUITS:
1 -- Not a period craft/presentation.
5 -- Modern craft/presentation with some relation to period pursuits.
7 -- Mostly period craft/presentation using modern tools/skills/materials.
10 -- Period craft/presentation using period tools/skills/materials (e.g. person could have made own tools/materials), or period topic and point of view.

7] COURTESY AND ETIQUETTE:
• Judging for this competition will be done throughout the event
1 -- No attempt at courtesy and etiquette.
5 -- Attempted period courtesy and etiquette, with modest success.
7 -- Period courtesy and etiquette, displayed majority of time.
10 -- Special emphasis by the applicant to utilize appropriate period forms of courtesy and etiquette, with very high success.

Optional Categories
DANCING:
1 -- Mixes period and non-period steps or figures, or mixes radically different periods.
5 -- Steps and figures are authentic; details such as hand holds are not.
7 -- Authentic not only in steps and figures, but also in details such as posture, hand holds, and spirit of dance presented.
10 -- Special efforts taken for complete authenticity, including garb, music, accessories, etc.

GAMES AND PASTIMES:
1 -- Blatantly modern in material choice or misinterpretation of rules of play.
5 -- Most of game or pastime elements are appropriate, able to play and explain basic procedures of game.
7 -- Elements of play are appropriate to period, shows proficiency in and ability to teach games of choice.
10 -- Special care is taken to enhance authenticity, in addition to 7, handmade game boards and pieces provided, materials appropriately period for construction.

BARDIC/PERFORMANCE:
1 -- Blatantly modern in choice of material or performance style, or misinterpretation of content and material not period.
5 -- Most of performance elements are appropriate to the material, performance environment, persona time period and nationality.
7 -- All performance elements are appropriate to the material, performance environment, persona time period and nationality.
10 -- Special care is taken to enhance authenticity, in addition to above (e.g. period instrumental accompaniment, period costumes, props, or embellishments, etc.)

FOOD:
1 -- Blatantly modern elements in any or all of presentation
5 -- Period as to accuracy of information, able to coherently discuss some of the suggested topics.
7 -- Accurate as to period, able to project information to others present without it being dragged out of them. Good general knowledge.
10 -- Very accurate, highly detailed information. Able to discuss or demonstrate in a personal manner that indicates detailed familiarity.

HABITAT:
-- Blatantly modern elements in any or all of presentation
5 -- Period as to accuracy of information, able to coherently discuss some of the suggested topics.
7 -- Accurate as to period, able to project information to others present without it being dragged out of them.
10 -- Special effort to achieve total period information in look and feel during competition. Readily able to give accurate period information. Displays personal and specific understanding of where and how her persona lives.


SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES :
Judging for this category is dependent on the technique chosen by the applicant. The 10 point breakdown could run along these lines;

JUDGES, please remember that you are an integral part of this competition. By your staying in persona, you might just give them the edge to succeed, and they will remember it.

Application Process
Application Form (PDF)
Application Form (HTML)
Competition Categories
Judging Criteria