Speech Rubric

Speaker’s name: _______________________

Criterion Rating Rating Rating Rating Score

Excellent Good Satisfactory Needs Improvement
  5 4 3 1  
Introduction (1) Gets attention   Meets any three of Meets any two of the Meets only one of  
(2) Clearly identifies the four criteria four criteria the four criteria
topic
(3) Establishes
credibility 
(4) Previews the
main points
Body Main points are clear, Main points are Main points Main points
well supported, and somewhat clear, need clarity are not clear
sources are some support, and and support and have no support
documented some documentation lack of and no sources or
sources and documentation
documentation
Conclusion (1) Reviews main Reviews main Brings closure Does not bring  
points points , brings closure; the audience
(2) Brings closure closure is left hanging
(3) Memorable
Eye Contact Eye contact with Eye contact with Eye contact with Little or no eye  
audience virtually all audience less than audience less than contact
the time (except for 80% of the time 75% of the time
brief glances at
notes)
Use of Language Use of language Use of language does Use of language Use of language is  
contributes to not have negative causes potential inappropriate
effectiveness of the impact, and confusion, and/or
speech and vocalized vocalized pauses vocalized pauses
pauses (um uh er etc.) (um uh er etc.)
(um uh er etc.) not distracting are distracting
not distracting
Body language Body language, Body language, Body language, Body language,  
gestures, and facial gestures, and facial facial expressions gestures, and
expressions expressions and gestures facial expressions are
adds greatly to the compliment message lack variety and lacking or
message spontaneity inappropriate

Clarity Speaks clearly and Speaks clearly and Speaks clearly and Often mumbles or  
distinctly all the time distinctly nearly all distinctly most of the can not be
with no the time with no time with no more understood with
mispronounced more than one than two more than three
words mispronounced word mispronounced mispronounced
words words
Mastery Speaker is prepared Speaker is Speaker is somewhat Speaker is not
and confident; appropriately prepared and shows prepared; mastery is
mastery of the speech prepared and some signs of not evident
is evident confident; mastery of confidence; mastery
the speech is above of the speech is
average slightly evident
Overall effect Speaker displays The speaker shows Speaker seems Speaker lacks  
professionalism, and some professionalism professional, shows enthusiasm around
maintains enthusiasm and enthusiasm; limited enthusiasm; the topic and no clear
and audience audience interest is audience interest purpose emerges;
attention throughout; maintained most of falters at times; the seems somewhat
the purpose is clearly the time; the purpose purpose of speech unprofessional
achieved of speech is achieved only partially
achieved
TOTAL