Persuasive Speech Rubric

I. Specific Assignment Criteria

______ Speech met the time limit (3-5 minutes)

______ Speech met criteria for an informative speech (data, facts, real cases/scenarios to validate opinions)

______ Speech was presented in outline form (gave me a formal Roman numeral outline prior to speaking)

______ Speech showed evidence of research

II. Analysis

______ Speaker adhered to general and specific speech purposes

______ Speech was narrow enough to be developed fully and handled in time allotted

______ Topic was appropriate for a persuasive speech

______ Topic was appropriate for the audience (understandable)

III. Support Materials

______ Speech utilized sufficient clarifying materials (illustrations, examples, etc.) (had at least one visual aid)

______ Speech utilized a variety of supporting materials (from Internet, newspaper, magazine, et cetera)

______ Sources were identified where necessary

______ Visual aids were appropriate and used correctly (was large enough to have been seen from the back of the room)

IV. Introduction and Conclusion were properly developed

______ Intro gained audience attention and created interest (hook)

______ Intro oriented audience to the speech (context—issue was clear—framed the issue with “Should…”)

______ Intro included a clear and precise thesis statement (your position on the issue)

______ Major ideas were forecast (topics of speech)

______ Conclusion provided a link back to introductory comments

______ Conclusion provided an idea for the audience to remember.

V. Internal Organization

______ Organization of the speech was clear and easy to follow

______ Transitions provided necessary links between ideas

______ Speech utilized appropriate signposts, internal previews, and internal summaries. (cohesive and unified)

VI. Nonverbal Delivery

______ Stance and posture contributed to the intended effect of the speech

______Note cards were down, out of the audience’s view

______ Eye contact was appropriate

______ Facial expressions helped to convey and clarify ideas

______ Gestures added emphasis and description

VII. Verbal Delivery

______ appropriate volume

______ appropriate rate

______ conversational style

______ appropriate tone

______ clear enunciation

______ used pauses correctly

______ vocal variety

______ fluent delivery

VIII. Persuasive Strategies

______Supported arguments with credible sources

______Used appropriate persuasive strategies (uses a variety of rhetorical modes, i.e. cause and effect, comparison, narration, description)

______Acknowledged and then disproved the opposition’s argument (this is an extremely important element of your speech)

IX. Word Usage/ Language

______ Language was direct and clearly made the speaker’s point

______ Words used appropriately

______ Grammar was appropriate

______ Word pronunciation was correct

______ Style of language was engaging and reflected stylistic elements we learned in our style unit, such as metaphor, analogy, diction and syntax

X. Overall Effect

Comments and suggestions for Improvement

Total Score ________