SC - "period" cookery and "period" poetry

[kat]

As the latest comment in a thread on sources and documentation
Daniel Raul wrote:
"I opted out of A/S competition for a long time and when I started up again 
I
realized that complete and damned near exhaustive documentation is as vital
as the object created.  Consider the questions that might be asked and
answer them point by point in your documentation.  Bad judging is generally
not the result of malevolence but ignorance.  Education is thus the key." 

While I most wholeheartedly agree with your point I would be interested in 
the Lists (everyone's: Entrants, judges, and especially the Masters and 
Misstressess) take on a local situation.  I have seen it suggested 
(strongly) that documentation for any given A&S entry be NO MORE than 1 
(one) page (8 1/2 x 11" or A4 format) and I have heard some talk (though 
have not gotten this confirmed) that a 3x5 index card is preferred by some 
judges.

I have had judges tell me I have too much stuff for them to read. Now I 
have a preference for giving detailed documentation including quotes, and 
citing several sources where possible. I have often included (at the end, 
after the bibliography) xerox copy of the pertinent pages.  After all, I 
might not be able to call to mind an exact page, or quote, so I don't 
expect my judges to have photographic recall either. I don't expect them to 
have to double check me, but I want them  to be able to if they wish to.  I 
realize that someone judging multiple entries may not want to read 6 pages, 
and I try to put the most important stuff first,  but I feel the more Info 
I can provide the better they will be able to judge my efforts.  I would 
hope it would avoid such "errors" as "that is not x".
I have had experiences where even though I explained about something in the 
documentation I was marked down for it (I assume the judge chose not to 
read the documentation, and they did not try to find me to ask my reasons.) 
 I have also had wonderful judges who spent time discussing my entry, my 
documentation, and making me think! And who wrote useful commentary.
But some past experiences have made me seriously consider NOT doing A&S 
Competitions.

Gwen Catrin
Caerthe

============================================================================

To be removed from the SCA-Cooks mailing list, please send a message to
Majordomo at Ansteorra.ORG with the message body of "unsubscribe SCA-Cooks".

============================================================================