Scoring Schematic

VM uses an hierarchical approach when evaluating each book. In the schematic below, the outermost terms are examples of the literary elements that VM considers. Terms in the middle 'ring' are more abstract literary elements and are conceptually dependent on the outer terms. In turn, the middle terms combine to form the highest levels of abstraction: Story, Ideas & Craft.

The scoring approach at VM is similar to that used by a teacher marking an essay, by looking for specific features and skills. Our reviewers examine a book’s outer ring elements in order to score the middle ring elements as objectively as possible. Those weighted scores are summed, effectively integrating the three most abstract, central elements with a single, ordinal 100 point score. Since Discovery works focus on Educational content, and have no Plot or Climax, their scoring scheme differs accordingly.