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Speech Grading Criteria

Grading Criteria for Speeches

To receive a C on your speeches you must meet the following standards:

  1. The speech must be original.
  2. The type of speech presented must be appropriate to the assignment.
  3. The topic must be sufficiently focused and appropriate for the audience.
  4. The speech must fit the time requirements of the assignment.
  5. The speech must be presented on the day assigned.
  6. Main ideas must be supported with facts and figures, appropriate testimony, examples, or narratives.
  7. The speech must have a clear sense of purpose.
  8. The speech must have a clearly identifiable and appropriate design, complete with an introduction and conclusion.
  9. The speech must be presented extemporaneously.
  10. The speech must satisfy any specific requirements of the assignment, such as number of references, formal outline, or use of visual aids.
  11. The speaker must use language correctly.

To receive a B on your speeches:

  1. Satisfy all requirements for a C speech.
  2. Select a challenging topic and adapt it appropriately to your audience.
  3. Reflect a greater depth of research. For example, if two references are required for a C, the B speech must have three references.
  4. Clearly identify sources of information and ideas.
  5. Create and sustain attention throughout the speech.
  6. Make effective use of transitions, previews, and summaries.
  7. Use good oral style.
  8. Present your speech with poise.

To receive an A on your speeches:

  1. Satisfy all requirements for a B speech.
  2. Demonstrate imagination and creativity in topic selection and development.
  3. Develop and sustain strong bonds of identification among the speaker, audience, and topic.
  4. Consistently adapt information and supporting material to the experiential world of your audience.
  5. Reflect an even greater depth of research. For example, if three references are required for a B, the A speech must have four references.
  6. Demonstrated artful use of language and stylistic techniques.
  7. Make a polished presentation that artfully integrates verbal and nonverbal communication skills.

A D or F speech does not meet one or more of the standards for a C speech or

  1. It is obviously unrehearsed.
  2. It is based on biased information or unsupported opinions.