Demonstration Speech Grading Rubric
Objective
Effectively
Accomplished
Partially
Accomplished
Opens with Impact
Effective use of
attention getting
strategy (quote,
statistic, question,
story, etc.) to
capture listeners’
attention and to
introduce topic.
Attention getter is
relevant and
meaningful and
seemed to gain the
desired response
from audience.
(8-10 points)
Speaker clearly
formulated and
stated audience
relevance (8-10
points)
Credibility is clear
(4-5 points)
Attention getting
strategy but did not
seem to adequately
capture audience
attention and/or lead
to desire outcome.
(4-7 points)
Audience Relevance
Credibility
Organization &
Subject Knowledge
Uses effective
organizational
pattern for speech
purpose. Main
points are clearly
distinguished from
supporting details.
Signposts are
effectively used for
smooth and
coherent
transitions. Depth
of content reflects
knowledge and
understanding of
topic. Main points
Not
Accomplished/Hardly
Accomplished
No attention getting
strategy was evident.
No clear or relevant
connection to topic
and/or speech purpose
(0-3 point)
Audience relevance
is implied, although
not explicitly stated.
(4-7 points)
No audience relevance
(implied nor explicit).
(0-3 point)
Credibility is audible
but either in wrong
part of speech or not
made clear (2-3
points)
General
structure/organization
seems adequate but
some blurring
between main points
and supporting
details. Logical flow,
but no clear signposts
for smooth
transitions. Provides
some support for
main points, but
needed to elaborate
further with
explanations,
examples,
No credibility given
(0-1 point)
Lack of structure.
Ideas are not coherent,
and transitions are
forced or blurred.
Difficult to identify
introduction, body, and
conclusion. Provides
irrelevant or no
support. Explanations
of three main points
are inaccurate or
incomplete. Listeners
gain little knowledge
from presentation.
(0-3 points)
Delivery:
Eye Contact
Delivery:
Movement/Gestures
Delivery:
Language
Conclusion/What
audience can do
adequately
substantiated with
timely, relevant and
sufficient support.
(7-10 points)
Consistently and
effectively used eye
contact to establish
rapport with
audience.
Inconspicuous use
of speaker notes
and effective use of
scanning to
establish an
expanded zone of
interaction.
(11-15 points)
Expressive,
dynamic, and
natural use of
gestures, posture
and facial
expressions to
reinforce and
enhance meaning.
Body language
reflects comfort
interacting with
audience.
(11-15 points)
Use of clear,
correct, and
appropriate
language for target
audience and
speech goal.
Appropriate vocal
pitch and speed.
(8-10 points)
Effectively
summarizes the
speech. Closing is
meaningful with
descriptions, etc.
(6-4 points)
Seems disengaged
from audience for
noticeable periods of
time.
(6-10 points)
Avoids eye contact
with audience. Only
occasional and
sporadic glances.
(0-5 points)
Stiff or unnatural use
of nonverbal
behaviors. Body
language reflects
some discomfort
interacting with
audience. Limited
use of gestures to
reinforce verbal
message.
(6-10 points)
Body language reflects
a reluctance to interact
with audience.
Distracting movement
and/or use of selfadaptive behaviors.
(0-5 points)
Few noticeable
grammatical errors
and some use of
vague language, but
generally clear and
appropriate for
speech goal and
audience.
Inconsistent vocal
pitch and speed.
(4-7 points)
Reviewed ideas but
not as presented or
incoherently.
Conclusion did not
Excessive grammar
errors. Some sentences
are incomplete and/or
vocabulary is limited
or inappropriate.
(0-3 points)
Did not summarize
speech and no
effective closing with
Time Limit
what the audience
can do with the new
knowledge and
seemed to gain the
desired response
from the audience.
(8-10 points)
Stayed within
timeframe limit of
3-4 minutes.
(11-15 points)
seem to adequately
capture audience
attention (4-7 points)
impact in place.
(0-3 point)
Over or under time
limit by 11-20
seconds.
(6-10 points)
Over or under time
limit by more than 20
seconds.
(1-5 point)