Composition and Communication I
Speech Grading Criteria
(1)
Content
Analysis:
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Appropriate purpose
Focus
“New” knowledge or insight (beyond what your audience is likely to know already)
Main point development (breadth, depth, and listener relevance)
Time constraint (5 minutes)
Supporting Materials:
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Variety
Distribution throughout the speech and properly credited at least 1 oral citation.
Linked to main point or subpoint
Structure
Macrostructure:
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All elements (attention catcher, listener relevance, speaker credibility, thesis statement with main point
preview, transitions, thesis restatement with main point summary, and clincher) must be clearly
articulated for the listener
Creativity. To attain and maintain listener interest, attempt to be creative/novel as you develop your
attention catcher, listener relevance, speaker credibility, thesis statement, transitions and clincher.
Microstructure:
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(3)
Language must be appropriate, inclusive, clear, concrete, and vivid (colorful, descriptive, and sensory
language)
No jargon, slang, abbreviations, or acronyms unless they are appropriate to your goal and are defined
clearly the first time they are used
Use language appropriate for representing your community
Very few vocalized pauses (too many=distracting from the message)
Use figures of speech that add novelty and make it more engaging to listen
Use internal summaries and signposts (for example, to clarify, moreover, etc.)
Delivery
Use of Voice:
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Intelligibility (Your rate, volume, pitch, pronunciation, and enunciation/articulation be understandable to
the listener.)
Conversational style (You need to sound as though you are talking with us rather than reading to us or
performing for us or reciting in front of us. A conversational oral style is one where listeners feel like
they are involved in the process of shared communication to achieve mutual understanding.)
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Fluency (Your ideas should be articulated without noticeable stumbles over words and oddly placed
pauses, which is achieved through adequate oral rehearsal in advance.)
Emotional Expression. (Vary your rate, pitch and volume to reinforce the emotion or attitude conveyed
in the verbal message.)
Use of Body:
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(4)
Attire (You need to dress a bit more formally/professionally than your listeners are likely to be, e.g.,
dress slacks and a button down shirt.)
Poise (You need to appear calm and confident as you speak. This begins with initial ethos and ends with
terminal ethos. It also means standing comfortably on both feet and avoiding distracting behaviors such
as shifting from foot to foot, playing with index cards, etc. during the speech.)
Eye contact (Look up from your notes 90% of the time, span the entire audience, turn your head not just
your eyes, and look each listener in the eye until you achieve a “connection” before moving on.)
Facial expression (Your facial expressions should reinforce the attitude or emotional stance you are
conveying in the verbal message. You should look like you are sincere about sharing this information
with us. Practice by looking into a mirror as you rehearse.)
Gestures (Use gestures that reinforce important points, clarify structure, or reference your presentational
aids. Gestures that are not motivated based on one of these purposes distract listeners from the message.
Extend gracefully from the elbow. Your gestures should appear to be natural and spontaneous even
though you have planned and practiced them in advance.)
Presentational Aids
Construction:
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You must use 20 timed slides (e.g., Ignite-type format).
Use the verbal message to enhance the visual message, and the visual message to enhance the verbal, but
not merely repeat the messages.
Each presentational aid must offer new information.
Your visuals must be large, neat (professional), colorful, and clear.
Your audios must be easily audible and intelligible throughout the room.
Your audios/videos should take no more than 5% (15-25 seconds) of your speaking time.
If you take a presentational aid from a source, you must cite that source on the presentational aid.
Integration:
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Use PA smoothly during the presentation.
Reference PA effectively with gestures during the speech.
Explain PA adequately during the speech.
Evident that you had practiced with the timing of the PA.
Question and Answer Session
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Fielded questions with poise, answered appropriately, and enhanced audience understanding
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