Grading Rubric for presentation with visuals. Level: Undergraduate (Prep Year English Program in Saudi Arabia)

1. Content/Organization
Monroe's Motivated Sequence
Introduction
10 pts ATTENTION
STEP
________________
Excellent
Excellent attention
getter. Gave brief
introduction of topic, and
stated claim, (i.e. point
you'll be trying to
prove). Previewed main
points and clearly stated
the relevance of topic to
audience needs and
interests.
Good
The speaker introduced
the speech adequately,
including an attention
getter and a preview of
the main points of the
speech. Claim wasn't
clearly expressed.
Relevance of topic to
audience needs and
interests was somewhat
apparent.
Fair
The speaker
introduced the
speech, but some
details were
unclear. The
introduction lacked
an attention getter
and/or a preview of
main points.
Needs
Improvement
The speaker failed to
introduce the speech OR
the introduction was not
useful in indicating what
the speech was about.
Body
10 pts NEED,
SATISFACTION,
VISUALIZATION
________________
Excellent
Used Monroe's Motivated
Sequence in the body of
the speech. Main points
work within the steps
and were clearly
distinguished with
supporting details.
Transitions are
effectively used for
coherent movement
from point to point.
Good
General body
organization resembled
Monroe's Motivated
Sequence but some
steps weren't clear or
well-developed.
Transitions were okay,
but not as unique or
distinct as they could be.
Fair
The speaker
somewhat related
Monroe's Motivated
Sequence to the
organizational
format, but the
steps -- (need,
satisfaction,
visualization)
lacked detail [and]
some persuasive
impact was
compromised. Poor
transitions.
Needs
Improvement
The speech was difficult
to follow due to a lack of
organization. Little detail
was given to support the
main points. Difficult to
identify introduction,
body, and conclusion.
10 pts Logical
reasoning and
support to claim
(statistics, facts,
expert testimony-
quotes-, etc...)
________________
Excellent
Presents sound
arguments to support
major claim. Arguments
are supported with
sufficient, relevant and
valid proof. Anticipated
oppositional argu-ments
in a fair and persuasive
manner.
Good
Some arguments are
sufficiently supported
but some unsupported
assertions are also
present. Minor
reasoning present.
Oppositional argu-
ment somewhat
addressed. Most sources
are credible.
Fair
Arguments lack
some relevant and
solid evidence.
Credibility of
sources and/or
information is
questionable. Poor
reasoning.
Oppositional argu-
ments not present/
very apparent.
Needs
Improvement
Arguments lack relevant
and valid evidence.
Information is incorrect
and/or outdated. Many
fallacies are present in
the reasoning. Sources
either aren't credible or
not cited in
presentation.
Background/Sub-
ject Knowledge
10 pts Sound re-
search was done in
speech preparation
and modified to meet
the needs of the
audience.
________________
Excellent
Depth of content reflects
knowledge and
understanding of topic.
Main points adequately
substan-tiated with
timely, relevant and
suffi-cient support.
Thought ful audience
analysis reflected
through choice of topic
and support-ing
evidence.
Good
Accurate explana-tion of
key con-cepts. Some
support for main points,
but needed to elaborate
further (explan-ations,
examples, descriptions).
Sup-port could be
stronger. Good
audience analysis
reflected: choice of
topic and content.
Fair
Provides very
minor amounts of
content and little
support for main
points. Expla-
nations are a bit
weak or
incomplete.
Listeners gain mini-
mal knowledge.
Topic not explicitly
stated. Vague
refer-ence to
audience needs/
interests.
Needs
Improvement
Provides irrelevant or no
support. Explanations of
concepts are inaccurate
or incomplete. Listeners
gain little knowledge
from presentation. No
attempt made to
connect topic to
targeted audience.
Conclusion
10 pts ACTION STEP
Excellent
Brakelight alerted
audience to the
presentation conclusion.
The speaker summar-
Good
Brakelight alerted
audience to the
presentation conclusion.
The speaker recapped
Fair
Brakelight was
weak or not
present; the
speaker concluded
Needs
Improvement
No brakelight,
conclusion ended rather

2. Delivery
Extemporaneous, Elements of delivery help convey credibility and enthusiasm for topic: GESTURES, EYE CONTACT,
SPACE, VOICE, MOVEMENT, FLUENCIES (NO VERBAL FILLERS), FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
Voice
10 pts Articulation and
pacing.
_________________
Excellent
Natural variation
of vocal
characteristics
(pace, pitch,
power, pauses,
articulation) in
Standard English
to heighten
interest and match
message
appropriately.
Good
Some limited
variation of vocal
characteristics. Use
of pace, pitch,
power and pauses
seemed inconsistent
at times. Some
verbal fillers.
Fair
The student could
be heard most of
the time but at
certain points were
inaudible and/or
inarticulate. Little
pitch variation.
Pacing was too
slow/fast.
Needs
Improvement
Audience had difficulty
hearing and/or
understanding much of the
speech due to monotone or
inappropriate variation of
vocal characteristics.
Excessive fluency errors.
Eye Contact
10 pts Consistent eye
contact with all sides of
room.
_________________
Excellent
Consistently and
effectively used
eye contact to
establish rapport
with audience.
Inconspicuous use
of speaker notes.
Established visual
interaction.
Good
The speaker looked
up occasionally and
focused on just a
few people during
the speech. Some
use of speaker
notes. Seemed a
bit disengaged from
audience for short
periods of time.
Fair
Conspicuous use of
speaker notes.
Seemed disengaged
from audience for
noticeable periods
of time.
Needs
Improvement
The speaker seldom looked
at the audience. Read
speech from notes. Avoided
eye contact with audience.
Only occasional and
sporadic glances.
Body
10 pts Facial Expressions
Posture
Gestures
_________________
Excellent
Facial expressions
were comfortable;
showed enthu-
siasm for the
topic. Expressive,
dynamic, and
natural use of
gestures, posture
and facial expres-
sions to reinforce
and enhance
meaning. Comfor-
table interaction
with audience.
Good
Facial expressions
were comfortable.
Gestures were
fine—[but] limited.
Could have used
more gestures to
reinforce verbal
message.
Fair
Facial expressions
seemed forced or
absent. Stiff or
unnatural use of
nonverbal
behaviors. Body
language reflected
some discomfort
interacting with
audience. Limited
use of gestures to
reinforce verbal
message.
Needs
Improvement
The speaker's posture and
expression indicated a lack
of enthusiasm/
comfortableness with the
speech. Some gestures
were a bit distracting. Body
language reflected a
reluctance to interact with
audience. Use of repetitive
or nervous behaviors.
MOVEMENT/SPACE
10 pts Speaker used
movement and space to
enhance verbal message
and convey dynamism.
_________________
Excellent
Movements were
purposeful and
enhanced the
delivery of the
speech. Space
was used well
(front and center).
Good
The speaker had
adequate and non-
distracting move-
ment during the
speech. Decent use
of speaking space
(front of room).
Fair
The speaker had
some distracting
movement during
delivery. Space
wasn't used to the
advantage of the
speaker (stayed in
one place the whole
time)
Needs
Improvement
Movements were distracting
(pacing or monotonous).
Use of space was not
considered by the speaker
(potted plant).
Visuals/Props
10 pts Visuals/props
enhanced the verbal
message in the
presentation.
Excellent
Visual/prop
helped us under-
stand a piece of
evidence within
the speech. It
Good
Visual/prop helped
us understand some
of [speaker’s] verbal
message. It served
as an aid to help us
Fair
Visual/prop only
slightly helped us
understand some of
your verbal
message.
Needs
Improvement
Visual/prop didn't aid our
understanding of your
verbal message.