Checklist for School Media Advisory Committee's Reconsideration of Instructional
Material - Fiction and Other Literary Forms (sample)
Title ____________________________________Author _______________________________
A. Purpose
1. What is the purpose, theme or message of the material? How well does the author/producer/composer accomplish this purpose?
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2. If the story is fantasy, is it the type that has imaginative appeal and is suitable for children? ___Yes ___No: for young adults? ___Yes ___No. If both are marked No, for what age group would you recommend?
3. Will the reading and/or viewing and/or listening to material result in more compassionate understanding of human beings? ___Yes ___No
4. Does it offer an opportunity to better understand and appreciate the aspirations, achievements, and problems of various minority groups? ___Yes ___No
5. Are any questionable elements of the story an integral part of a worthwhile theme or message? ___Yes ___No
B. Content
1. Does a story about modern times give a realistic picture of life as it is now?
___Yes ___No
2. Does the story avoid an oversimplified view of life, one which leaves the reader with the general feeling that life is sweet and rosy or ugly and meaningless?
___Yes ___No
3. When factual information is part of the story, is it presented accurately? ___Yes ___No
4. Is prejudicial appeal readily identifiable by the potential reader? ___Yes ___No
5. Are concepts presented appropriate to the ability and maturity of the potential readers? ___Yes ___No
6. Do the characters speak in a language true to the period and section of the country in which they live? ___Yes ___No
7. Does the material offend in some special way the sensibilities of women or a minority group by the way it presents either the chief character or any of the minor characters? ___Yes ___No
8. Is there preoccupation with sex, violence, cruelty, brutality, and aberrant behavior that would make this material inappropriate for children? ___Yes ___No;
young adults? ___Yes ___No
9. If there is use of offensive language, is it appropriate to the purpose of the text for children? ___Yes ___No; young adults? ___Yes ___No
10. Is the material free from derisive names and epithets that would offend minority groups? ___Yes ___No; children? ___Yes ___No; young adults? ___Yes ___No
11. Is the material well written or produced? ___Yes ___No
12. Does the story give a broader understanding of human behavior without stressing differences of class, race, color, sex, education, religion or philosophy in any adverse way? ___Yes ___No
13. Does the material make a significant contribution to the history of literature or ideas? ___Yes ___No
14. Are the illustration appropriate and in good taste? ___Yes ___No
15. Are the illustrations realistic in relation to the story? ___Yes ___No
Additional comments:
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Recommendation by School Media Advisory Committee for Treatment of Challenged Materials:
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Date____________________
Signature of Media Advisory Review Committee
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