iRubric: Persuasive Speech rubric

The speaker begins with his or her name and has no attention catching device, no understandable thesis, and no preview.

The speaker fails to begin the speech with an attention catching device or lacks a thesis or a preview of the main points.

The speaker attempts to catch attention but it is not relevant to the topic or does not effectively bring the audience to attention. The thesis or preview of main points are present but may be difficult to understand and/or remember.

The speaker catches the attention of the audience. A preview is used that clearly denotes the main points of the speech. The thesis is used but is not a single, simple sentence.

The speaker catches the attention of the audience, clearly states the thesis as a single, simple sentence. Preview is clear and followed.

The speech is riddled with vocal delivery deficiencies or notes are used to deliver the speech.

The speech is understandable, but the vocal delivery is distracting due to consistent presence of vocal delivery problems: numerous vocalizations (uhhs and umms) exist; words are used repeatedly (like, you know); pitch is monotone; volume is inaudible; rate of delivery is too fast or too slow; words are mispronounced; and lacks enunciation.

The vocal delivery does not distract from the content of the speech. Although one or more of problems exist (Numerous vocalizations [uhhs and umms] exist; words are used repeatedly [like, you know]; volume is inaudible; pitch is monotone; rate of delivery is too fast or too slow; words are mispronounced; and lacks enunciation.) They are isolated.

Speech is delivered in a conversational manner with appropriate volume, rate, pitch variance, and enunciation. Only isolated examples of vocalizations and/or mispronunciations detract from the delivery.

Speech is delivered in a conversational manner with appropriate volume, rate, pitch variance, and enunciation. Speech is free of mispronunciation and vocalizations or verbal pauses are not noticeable.

The speaker uses gestures and movement that distract from the speech. For example: leans on a podium, chews gum, paces throughout the speech.

Gestures and/or movement consistently distract from the speech but are broken by episodes of distraction-free delivery.

There are significant, although inconsistent, distractions caused by gestures and/or movement. For example: playing with hair, jewelry, clothing, or body; failing to stand square on two fee; occasional pacing.

Gestures and/or movement are largely free of distraction but do not add to the delivery of the speech. Visual aids, if used, distract from delivery.

Gestures and movement add to the delivery of the speech. For example: arms and hand movement are constructive and draw attention to points of emphasis; student moves to emphasize transition points, etc. Visual aids, if used, do not distract from the delivery.

The speaker ends the speech abruptly and without finality.

The speaker ends the speech with a conclusion but does not review the main points, restate the thesis or have a sense of finality.

The speaker ends the speech with a conclusion but is missing one of the following: review of main points, restatement of thesis, or a sense of finality.

The speaker ends the speech with a conclusion that has all of the following: restatement of thesis, review of main points, and a sense of finality.

The speaker ends the speech with a conclusion that includes all of the following: restatement of thesis, review of main points, and a sense of finality. In addition the conclusion reminds the audience of the relevance to them and ties the conclusion to the introduction.

No outline or text is turned in.

An outline or text is turned in but lacks substantial details.

An outline or text is turned in but is missing one or more of the following details: introduction, main points, conclusion, and bibliography.

An outline or text is turned in and includes: introduction, main points, sub-points, conclusion, and bibliography.

An outline or text is turned in and includes: introduction, main points, sub-points with source citations, conclusion, and bibliography.