Oral Presentation Assessment Rubric (Dec 2004)

It is recommended that the evaluator give a score of 1 for does not meet, 2 for approaches, 3 for meets, or a whole score of 4 for exceeds. The minimum acceptable score is 11 (70%).

Organization Delivery Support Material Visual AidExceeds (4) The purpose is clearly presented

such that all audience members easily recognize the thesis of the speech-The speaker provides an exceptional and complete introduction and conclusion-The speaker has superior use of transitions and signposting-An organizational format that reflects superior clarity and is appropriate to the occasion, purpose, and audience is used

(4) The speaker has almost complete audience eye contact with only minimal visual regard for notes-First/last words are clearly directed to the audience-The speaker makes exceptional use of vocal variety thus creating the “illusion of the first time”-The speaker demonstrates acceptable posture, gestures, facial expressions, body movement, and attire-The speaker demonstrates exceptional posture, gestures, body movement, facial expression, and attire

(4) Superior use of valid support material to support each contention and facilitate understandingAll sources are correctly cited—no outside material goes undocumented-All sources cited are current to and credible to the topic and audience-“Supporting material is unarguably linked to the thesis of the speech, and further is of such quality that it decidedly enhances the credibility of the speaker and clarity of the topic.”

(4) Speaker looks at visual only to ensure indication of correct material-No text graphics are usedThe visual aid is helpful but secondary to the speaker and verbal message-The speaker guides the audience through the visual aid completely indicating what the audience should notice-The visual and equipment are set up before the presentation and are manipulated professionally and effortlessly when in use-The visual aid is absolutely essential to the speech and the audience’s understanding of the material presented; the speech could not have been presented without it

Meets (3) A purpose is presented so that most audience members can grasp the thesis-Reasonably clear and logical progression within and between ideas is present-The speaker provides an appropriate introduction and conclusion that contains all elements-Transitions and signposting are usedThe body of the speech appears to be divided into 2-5 main pointsThe body follows an organizational format that is appropriate for the topic, purpose, and audience of the presentation

(3) The speaker shares eye contact with notes and audience-The speaker attempts to look at audience for the first and last words of the presentation-The speaker makes acceptable use of vocal variety to speak in a conversational manner-The speaker uses language that is reasonably clear and appropriate-The speaker has acceptable articulation with only insignificant errors in pronunciation and grammar-The speaker demonstrates acceptable posture, gestures, facial expressions, body movement, and attire

(3) Uses the minimum amount of required supporting material-Most sources are correctly cited-Most sources are credible to the topic and audience-Most support material is current and relevant -Adequate material is used to prove and facilitate understanding-“Supporting material is logically linked to the thesis of the speech, and is of such quality that it adds a measurable level of interest to the speech.”

(3) Speaker shares eye contact with the visual aid and the audience-Visual aid contains minimal text-The speaker and visual aid share the stage-Visual is of adequate size, neat and attractive, with no grammar or spelling errors-The visual aid is presented and used well-The speaker sets up and manipulates the visual aid and equipment with adequate proficiency-The visual aid plays a significant role in facilitating audience understanding of the speech

Approaches (2) A vague purpose is established-Parts of the ideas presented are clear and flow in a logical progression-There is an introduction and a conclusion but the major elements are missing and/or poorly developed-There are only occasional transitions and signposts and/or those that are present are poorly done-The body of the speech is poorly structured (too many or too few main

(2) Large portions of the speech are read, appear to be read, or sound as if it is read-Minimal eye contact with audience at the beginning and end of the speech (i.e. begins speaking to notes, walls, floor, etc.)-The speaker has only minimal use of focal variety and only occasionally speaks in a conversational mannerThe speaker only occasionally uses clear appropriate language

(2) Uses less than the required number of additional sources (source material)-Only a minimal number of sources are cited and/or those that are cited are cited incorrectly-A minimal number of sources are current, credible, and relative to the topic and audience-Marginal number of sources are used to prove and facilitate audience understanding-A small portion of the supporting material is logically linked to the thesis

(2) The speaker seldom looks away from the visual aid-The visual is mostly composed of text graphics-When the visual aid is in use, attention is drawn away from the speaker-There are minor problems with size, neatness, and spelling/grammar-The visual is presented but not used to its full potential-The speaker has difficulty with or only minor knowledge of how to set up and manipulate the visual aid and/or

points, main points do not flow in a logical order)-There is evidence that the speaker has attempted to utilize an appropriate organizational format but the format used is not appropriate for the topic, purpose, and audience and/or it is not correctly utilized

-The speaker occasionally uses unacceptable articulation, pronunciation, grammar-The speaker infrequently exhibits acceptable posture, gestures, facial expressions, body movement, and attire

of the speech and is of such quality that it adds only a marginal level of interest and clarity to the speech

equipment-The visual is only marginally needed

Does Not Meet (1) A clear purpose is never established-The speaker fails to provide reasonably clear and logical progression within and between ideas-There is not a clear or appropriate introduction (attention, topic, credibility, preview) or conclusion (review, closure)-Transitions and signposts do not exist or are poorly done-The body of the speech is not divided into easily recognized main points-The body is not organized or flows in an organizational format that is not appropriate for the topic, purpose, or audience for the presentation

(1) The speech is read, appears to be read, or sounds as if it is read-No eye contact at the beginning or end of the speech-The speaker fails to use vocal variety (pitch, volume, rate, pause) to speak in a conversational manner-The speaker uses unclear and/or inappropriate language (inappropriate jargon or language that is sexist, racist, obscene, etc.)-The speaker fails to use acceptable articulation, pronunciation, and grammar-The speaker does not use acceptable posture, gestures, facial expressions, body movement, or attire

(1) Uses no support material-Does not cite sources used (this is plagiarism—automatic ‘does not meet’ for entire score)-Sources cited are not credible to the topic or audience-Support material is out-dated or irrelevant-Inadequate material is used to prove and facilitate audience understanding-“Supporting material is only vaguely related to the thesis of the speech, and variety is either too great or too little to do anything but detract from the effectiveness of the speech.”

(1) The speaker talks to the visual aid rather than the audience-The visual aid is a series of ‘text graphics’ notes-The visual aid gives the speech-Visual aid is too small, messy, with spelling/grammar errors-The visual aid is presented but not used-Equipment and visual aid are not set up before the presentation-The visual is not needed in the presentation

Credits:William A. Laubert, Associate Professor of Speech Communication, SUNY College of Technology, Alfred, New York

Morreale, S.P., Moore, M. R., Taylor, K. P., Surges-Tatum, D., & Hulbert-Johnson, R. (1993). The Competent Speaker Speech Evaluation Form. Annandale, VA: National Communication Association.