A good grading rule of thumb. If you don't like something fundamental about the piece, like its pairing or the fact that it's dark/horror, try and consider it from the point of view from someone who does like those things or don't mark it at all. Giving a Sess/Kag masterpiece a 40 because you don't like Sess/Kag isn't cool. If it's a story that would make anyone who loves Sess/Kag retch as well, you're okay.

Stuff will be flagged with alternate pairings and any "squicks" on the list, so you're not going to 'save' anyone from the horror of Rin/Jaken by giving it a zero. They'll know what they're getting into if they click the link.

Grade A (90-100):   These are stories that you would pay money for. Basically, if you give a story an A grade, you are telling the author, "As much as it hurts me, you should stop writing fanfiction and start trying to publish your original work." Look for excellent characterization, smooth flow, sophisticated language, and grammar that doesn't interrupt the flow of the story.

Grade B (80-90):   This is good fanfiction. The author could probably use some work before turning him- or herself loose on the private market, but you certainly got a great deal of enjoyment from the story, and would recommend it without reservation to any of your friends. Look for stories with characterizations that aren't too far off, although Kagome may be a bit to whiny or Inuyasha a bit too much of a wild lust machine. Grammar's not too bad. The prose isn't too purple. Etc.

Grade C (70-80):  This is decent fanfiction. You'd recommend it to people who you know liked some particular aspect of the story, such as an apperance by Demon Inuyasha, or it taking place in the modern era, or some other characteristic, but you wouldn't recommend it to everyone.   If you can start a sentence with "This story was good" but can't finish without a "but" or "despite", it may be in C territory. Grade inflation may make everyone think they deserve As, but remember, in the classical sense of the grade, a C is average.

Grade D (60-70): The author could use some substantial improvement. The characters may have been nearly unrecognizable, or the story could be all dialogue and no description. You wouldn't recommend the story to anyone, but it's not beyond redemption.  

Grade F (0-60):  You wouldn't just refuse to recommend a story with an F to anyone, you would actually volunteer the story as one to avoid. An F story may be one that was so bad that you couldn't finish it (not necessarily didn't want to, but couldn't) , despite the fact that you typically enjoy the genre (bailing on a dark!fic because you don't like dark!fic is not the same thing).

 

Try and avoid being an ass about really low F grades. Think back to when you were in school. Short of not submitting an assignment, did the truly awful actually get a 12, or was it something like a 45? Giving something a zero means that not only is the content completely irredeemable, but it's also written in the retarded step-sister of English.  

 

 

 

 

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