RUBRICS

The student … Advanced Proficient Basic Minimal Deficient

4 3 2 1 0
Excellent attention Good attention Attention getter is Irrelevant opening; No opening
getter, firmly getter; generally mundane; little attempt to technique; no
establishes establishes somewhat build credibility; credibility to
credibility; sound credibility; provides develops abrupt jump into statement; no
orientation to topic; some orientation to credibility; body of speech; background on
Introduction
clear thesis; topic; discernible awkwardly thesis and main topic; no thesis; no
preview of main thesis; previews composed thesis; points can be preview of points
points cogent and main points provides little deduced but are
memorable direction for not explicitly stated
audience
Very well- Organization Organizational Speech did not No organizational
organized; main patterns is evident, pattern somewhat flow well; speech pattern; no
points clear, main points are evident; main was not logically transitions;
mutually exclusive apparent; points are present organized; sounded as if
Organization and directly related transitions present but not mutually transitions present information was
to thesis; effective between main exclusive; but not well-formed randomly
transitions and points; some use transitions are presented
signposts of signposts present but are
minimally effective
All key points are Main points were Points were Some points were Supporting
well-supported with supported with generally not supported; a materials are non-
a variety of appropriate supported using an greater existent or are not
incredible materials material; sources adequate mix of quantity/quality of cited
Supporting (facts, quotes correspond materials; some material needed;
materials stats); sources suitably to thesis; evidence supports some sources of
provide excellent nearly all sources thesis; source very poor quality
support for thesis; cited citations need to
all sources clearly be clarified
cited
Conclusion Provides a clear Appropriate Provides some Conclusion lacks No conclusion;
and memorable summary of points; summary of points; clarity; trails off speech ends
summary of points; some reference no clear reference ends in a tone at abruptly and
refers back to back to thesis; back to thesis; odds with the rest without closure
thesis/big picture; clear clincher or closing technique of the speech
ends with strong call to action can be
clincher or call to strengthened
action
Language is Language Language Grammar and Many errors in
exceptionally clear; appropriate to the selection syntax need to be grammar and
imaginative and goals of the adequate; some improved as with syntax; extensive
vivid; completely presentation; no errors in grammar; the level of use of jargon,
Word choice
free from bias, conspicuous errors language at times language slang, sexist/racist
grammar errors, in grammar; no misused (jargon, sophistication; terms or
and inappropriate evidence of bias slang, etc) occasionally mispronunciation
usage biased
Excellent use of Good vocal Demonstrates Sometimes uses a Speaks inaudibly;
vocal variation, variation and pace; some vocal voice too soft or enunciates poorly;
intensity, and vocal expression variation; articulation too speaks in
pacing; vocal suited to enunciates clearly indistinct for monotone; poor
Vocal expression
expression natural assignment; few if and speaks listeners to pacing; distracts
and enthusiastic; any fillers audibly; generally comfortably hear; listeners with fillers
avoids fillers avoids filler (um, often uses fillers
uh, lik)
Posture, gestures, Postures, gestures, Some reliance on Speaker relies Usually looks down
facial expression and facial notes, but has heavily on notes; and avoids eye
and eye contact expressions are adequate eye non-verbal contact; nervous
Non-verbal well-developed, suitable for contact, generally expression stiff and gestures and non-
behavior natural, and speech, speaker avoids distracting unnatural verbal behaviors
display high levels appears confident mannerisms distract from or
of poise and contradict the
confidence message
Audience Speaker shows Speaker implies Speaker assumes The importance of Speech is contrary
adaptation how information is the importance of but does not topic is not to audience beliefs,
personally the topic to the articulate the established; very attitudes, and
important to audience; importance of little evidence of values; message is
audience; speech presentation is topic; presentation audience generic or canned;
is skilfully tailored adapted to was minimally adaptation; no attempt is made
to audience beliefs, audience beliefs, adapted to speakers needs to to establish
values, and attitudes, and audience beliefs, more clearly common ground
attitudes; speaker values; an attempt attitudes, and establish a
makes allusions to is made to values; some ideas connection with the
culturally shared establish common in speech are audience
experiences ground removed from
audience's frame
of reference or
experiences
Articulates problem Problem and Problem and Problem and/or Problem and/or
and solution in solution are clearly solution are solution are solution are not
clear, compelling presented; claims evident; most somewhat unclear; denied; claims not
manner; supports supported with claims are claims not fully supported with
claims with evidence and supported with supported with evidence; poor
Persuasiveness powerful/credible examples; sound evidence; generally evidence; some reasoning; no call
evidence, reasoning evident; sound reasoning; reasoning fallacies to action
completely avoids clear call to action recognizable call to present; call to
reasoning fallacies; action action vague
memorable call to
action