Rationale and Criteria

Recognition and awards

Is the writer well-known? Does he/she has great reputation and widely acknowledged by their works in American literary world? Does he/she win any awards?

Influence

Does the writer make big impact on the area regardless of the awards they won? Does he/she make breakthroughs in the area? Does any of his/her works gain significant public acclaims and can make the writer be remembered?

Diversity

I hope writers from the list are from diverse backgrounds. If all of them are from the same ancestry, the list cannot represent the writer from the whole A/PIA society.