Oral Communication Rubrics
Rubric: Oral Communication 1 – Message composition
Competencies:
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Organizes ideas in a logical and purposeful way
Composes oral messages appropriate to an intended audience
Constructs relevant and clear questions
Criterion: Compose and organize oral communication messages appropriately.
Primary Traits:
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A passing submission must:
Have a clear and consistent topic
Have an intended purpose that is easily identifiable
Be suitable for the intended audience
Additional Information:
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You are not assessing the following:
Delivery of the message
Verbal or nonverbal skills
Also:
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Focus is on content and organization, not delivery
Messages encompass all communication, including ideas, questions and non-verbal
communication
Provost Office
Revised 2015
1
Oral Communication Rubrics
Rubric: Oral Communication 2 – Message delivery
Competencies:
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Uses effective verbal and non-verbal skills
Delivers oral messages appropriate to the audience
Explain ideas using a variety of oral communication methods
Phrases questions to obtain information in a variety of interactions
Criterion: Use effective verbal and non-verbal skills to deliver appropriate messages effectively.
Primary Traits:
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Use language appropriate and understandable for the age and education level of the audience
Use non-verbal communication that matches the message and is appropriate for the situation
Deliver questions that effectively gather information that fits the situation
NOT use distracting movements
Additional Information:
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A passing submission must:
You are not assessing the following:
Logic or composition of the message
Listening behaviors
Provost Office
Revised 2015
2
Oral Communication Rubrics
Rubric: Oral Communication 3 – Diverse opinions and cultural differences
Competencies:
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Recognizes diverse opinions in communication interactions
Recognizes cultural differences in communication interactions
Recognizes individual differences in communication interactions
Communication skills reinforce conflict management
Criterion: Communicate in ways that recognize diverse opinions, cultural differences, individual
differences reinforce conflict management.
Primary Traits:
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Include both awareness and respect for diverse opinions
Convey understanding of others’ views when they differ from the speaker’s
Acknowledge others’ cultural differences, diverse opinions and individual differences in ways
that help to manage conflict between the speaker and others so that there can be
disagreements without animosity
Use communication skills to manage conflicts in respectful and empathetic ways
Address diverse opinions, cultural and individual differences between the speak and the
audience
Additional Information:
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A passing submission must:
You are not assessing the following:
Delivery, verbal or non-verbal skills
Overall content or logic of the message
Provost Office
Revised 2015
3
Oral Communication Rubrics
Rubric: Oral Communication 4 – Listening behaviors
Competencies:
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Demonstrate effective listening behaviors
Use attentive, effective and respectful listening behaviors
Verbally paraphrase information and opposing points of view
Criterion: Demonstrate the use of effective listening behaviors.
Primary Traits:
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Display appropriate listening skills
Exhibit attentive and respectful listening behaviors, such as maintaining eye contact, not talking
when should be listening, not speaking when others are speaking, not interrupting others when
they are speaking.
Demonstrate effective listening by summarizing and paraphrasing the information presented
Additional Information:
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A passing submission must:
You are not assessing the following:
Delivery, verbal or non-verbal skills in the original message
Agreement with the speaker’s message
Also: Assessment of this skill is dependent on the speaker’s ability to paraphrase an asked question
before answering.
Provost Office
Revised 2015
4