Informative Speech Rubric: 40 points (20 items @ 2 points each)
Name____________________________________
Topic:___________________________________
0
1
2
Topic was not appropriate for
a college level audience,
speaker, or class and/or The
audience learned little or no
new or useful information.
A more commonplace topic which still
required research. Appropriate for a
college audience. The audience learned
some new materiel from this speech, but
a significant portion of the speech was
commonly known information.
Challenging academic topic that required
significant research / critical thinking on
the part of the speaker and The audience
genuinely learned new material from this
speech, and were challenged to think
critically.
No attempt to arouse
attention was made.
Attempt to arouse attention was made.
Credibility
No attempt to relate the topic
directly to the speaker was
made.
A token attempt to relate the topic to the
speaker was made. “As an education
major …”
Relevance
No attempt to relate the topic
directly to the audience was
made.
A token attempt to relate the topic
directly to the audience was made.
“How many of you drive a car?”
Thesis
Main ideas / preview of the
speech were not presented.
Thesis was clearly stated OR preview
material was presented.
Creative and/or unique attempt at
arousing the attention of this specific
audience was made.
The topic was clearly and
comprehensively related directly to the
speaker. The speaker was established as
knowledgeable and trustworthy.
The topic was clearly and
comprehensively related directly to the
audience. The audience was told exactly
why they need or want to know this
information.
Thesis was clearly stated AND preview
material was presented.
Clarity
Main points were not
distinct, and relation to the
thesis was unclear..
No organizational strategy
apparent.
Main points were distinct for the most
part, but relation to the thesis was
maintained.
An organizational strategy was
apparent, but was not appropriate to the
material, or it was not maintained.
A majority of the speech was supported
with relevant research. Inappropriate
sources may have been present or there
may have been too much emphasis on a
or biased single source.
Verbal citations used appropriately for
most points in the speech.
Main points AND their relation to the
thesis were absolutely clear.
Transitions present, but not for each
section or main point of the speech.
Transitions were used between each
section and main point in the speech.
Transition to conclusion was made, but
it was abrupt or rushed.
Thesis and main points were
summarized, but not consistent with the
introduction of body of the speech.
Attention was shifted back to the
audience.
A measured and natural transition to the
conclusion was performed.
Thesis and main points were
summarized.
Topic
Informative
topic / value
Introduction
Attention
Body
Organization
Research and
Support
Verbal
citations
Transitions
Conclusion
Signaled
ending
Summary
Elicited
response
Impact
statement
Research and/or support
material absent from the
speech.
Not present; the audience did
not know where this
information came from.
Transitions not present.
No attempt to signal the
ending was made.
Thesis and main points were
not summarized.
Attention was not shifted
back to the audience.
The significance of the topic
was not restated.
The significance of the topic was
addressed, but not related directly to this
audience.
An appropriate organizational strategy
was apparent and maintained throughout
the speech.
All points were supported with a variety
of relevant research.
Appropriate verbal citations used for
every point in the speech.
Attention was shifted back to the
audience in a manner that promoted
critical thinking after the speech.
The significance of this topic to this
particular audience was clear.
Informative Speech Rubric: continued
0
Delivery
Use of
notes
Vocal
variety
Entire speech was obviously read or
memorized.
Vocal aspect was monotone or
singsong.
Eye contact
Speaker rarely looked up from notes.
Time limit
Written
work
Formatting
Speaker was outside of the time limit.
Works
cited
Comments:
Outline was not present, was
formatted completely incorrectly, or
was handwritten.
Works cited was not present, or did
not have the required number of
sources (5) and/or Works cited was
not present, or failed to use MLA or
APA format.
1
Speaker was too reliant upon notes.
Good use of vocal variety present
throughout the majority of the speech.
Vocal aspect may have been stilted or
affected.
Speaker maintained eye contact with
the audience for the majority of the
speech.
---
2
Speech was wholly conversational
and sounded natural.
Vocal variety used to the extent that
the speech appeared conversational
and natural.
Significant and natural eye contact
maintained for the majority of the
speech.
Speaker was within the time limit.
Outline used the required template with
some deviations or missing material.
Outline used the required template,
and was formatted correctly.
Works cited contained the required
number (5) of sources, but some or all
sources were inappropriate and/or
Works cited used MLA or APA format
with errors.
Works cited contained the required
number (5) of acceptable and
scholarly sources and works cited
used correct MLA or APA format.