Re: CONTENT
CONTENT
A. TOPIC CHOICE
Considers audience and purpose. Choice of
topic is interesting, different, yet appropriate.
SPEAKING RUBRIC
1
Elements
somewhat traditional
 traditional
 novel
Purpose:
 vague, uninspired, or
inappropriate
repetitive/ tedious.
 new/unusual.
 fresh/ original
inappropriate;
 audience is unable to predict
the topic/content.
vague
 orients audience to topic &
theme;
does not fully orient audience
to topic & purpose; only
 audience has a sense of what
suggests what is to follow.
will follow.
 carries impact & strongly
engages audience;
 points clearly to what will
follow.
Thesis
Statement:
 absent, misleading or
inappropriate
 Unclear
 Clear
Conclusion:
 absent, misleading, or
inappropriate.

l summarizes/restates main
points.
 insightful, thought provoking
Supporting
material:
 insufficient, irrelevant or even
lacking.
not adequate & may be
predictable.
 sufficient, relevant, &
informed.
 well informed, insightful &
original.
uses only 1 method
 uses 2 or 3 methods skillfully.
 Uses several methods;
skillfully integrated.
weak or unclear
 strong
 compelling
Development:  in any form is ineffective,
 a main point, a focus or thesis statement?
unfocused, incomplete or
 Support with details for main point or thesis?
absent.
(may include textual evidence, research,
Cumulative  speaker fails to build or not
reasons, stories, examples, proofs, cases,
present
statement:
analogies or anecdotes.)
 evidence of revision? a cumulative
 absent, misleading, or
Visuals:
statement?
inappropriate
 Visuals are professional & effective
D.ORGANIZATION
How do the components of the piece
(introduction, body, and conclusion) fit
together? Do ideas flow from the thesis,
connect with transitions, and remain
coherent? Patterns of organization:
compare/contrast; example and illustration;
analogy; cause/effect; definition/ narration/
time line/order of importance.
4
 vague, uninspired, or
inappropriate
B. INTRODUCTION/ CONCLUSION
C. CONTENT (FOCUS &
DEVELOPMENT): Is there…
3
Topic:
Introduction:  absent, misleading or
How speaker engages audience in the
beginning that includes a thesis statement and
at the end of presentation/ performance.
2
Offer some content support, but  Offer appropriate content
style detracts
support most of the time
 Offer strong and creative
content support
Ineffective
 Logical and effective
 Creative and controlled
 sequence of ideas illogical
Illogical at times
 Logical and clear
 Skillful departures from logic
are clear and effective
 inadequate or absent
Vague, illogical at times
 Clear and varied
 Varied and well constructed
Organization:  absent
Patterns:
Transitions:
acks focus & structure;
leaves audience w/
questions re: speaker’s intent.
 Clear and creative
SPEAKING RUBRIC
Re: DELIVERY
STYLE
Elements
D. VOICE
Vocal skills:
How articulation, volume, Articulation:
tone and pace convey
energy, enthusiasm and Pronunciation:
interest.
4
 errors distract audience as  errors detract from the
speaker consistently slurs or overall quality of the
mispronounces words.
performance.
 inadequate; speaker may  to some of the audience
mumble.
members
 rarely or not at all.
 occasionally,
 conveying little engagement
& enthusiasm.
 Some energy/vocal color
 generally accurate.
 accurate.
 to most of the audience
 clearly to entire audience
 Yes
 conveying engagement
with topic & audience.
 Sufficient energy/color
 yes
Gestures/Movement:
 generally ill at ease; may lose
composure briefly on occasion
 inappropriate & distracting  somewhat inappropriate to
the situation & may be
distracting.
 minimal or absent.
 forced or awkward.
 Done effectively
 conveys engagement &
enthusiasm;
 varies pace effectively.
 Consistent energy, strong
color
 yes; conveys selfconfidence.
 professional, and suited to
purpose & setting
Eye Contact:
 minimal or none
 with most of audience.
 sustains with entire
audience.
Vocabulary used:
 inappropriate or
non-meaningful
 consistently disregards
conventions of grammar &
usage
 uses slang.
 habitual and distracting.
 minimal or with only certain
sections/members of
audience.
 functional
 appropriate
 powerful
 frequently disregards
conventions of grammar
usage
 uses some slang.
 frequent and distracting
 complies with most
grammatical & usage
standards
 avoids slang.
 present, but used
sparingly.
 consistently complies with
grammatical & usage
standards,
 avoids slang.
 rare or absent.
Speaker at ease:
Appearance:
 may impede presentation;
 unclear at times.
3
 advances presentation;
 clear & precise.
Varies tone, pitch, pace
 may detract presentation;
 imprecise.
2
 assists presentation;
 generally clear.
Volume/voice carries:
E. BODY
Attention to poise,
posture, physical
appearance, gestures,
movement, and eye
contact.
1
 no; is visibly lacking
 modest & appropriate to
purpose & setting
 advance the presentation;
 enhance the presentation;
frequent, varied, meaningful
frequent & varied

skillfully used to enhance
 enhances some content ideas
content
F. GENERAL
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Considers word choice,
appropriateness of
vocabulary, conciseness
and level of formality.
Includes correctness of
grammar and usage.
Grammar/Slang:
“Filler words”/syllables
are: