Persuasive Speech
Name: Topic: Date:
Exemplary(10 pts.) / Competent
(8 pts.) / Intermediate
(6 pts.) / Developing
(4 pts.) / Inexperienced/Weak
(0-2 pts.)
Choice of Subject / Speech applies to the audience and is useful & meaningful. Speaker uses creative & effective strategies to engage the audience and ensure the audience understands the desired position on the issue. Topic is designed to be adequately delivered in time constraints. / Speech topic applies to the audience and is useful & meaningful. Speaker connects topic to the audience and takes steps to encourage the audience to understand the issue. The speech topic adequately meets time constraints. / Topic has meaning to the audience. Topic is appropriate to the audience & the speech setting. The speech is appropriate for the time constraints. / Topic has little meaning or significance to audience. Speech lacks focus & needs narrowing or redirection. The speaker does not adequately develop the argument for their position. The speech exhibits inadequate development for meeting time constraints. / Topic is not useful or meaningful to audience. Topic is inappropriate to audience or speech setting.
Introduction / Speech opens powerfully and commands the audience’s attention. The topic is skillfully and creatively introduced. Audience has multiple reasons to listen to the speech. introduction is memorable and polished. / Opening comments fulfill the functions of an introduction and do so smoothly and comfortably. / Opening comments fulfill the functions of an introduction (i.e., getting the audience’s attention, introducing the topic, and giving audience reasons to listen), however introduction sounds “choppy” and lacks polish. / Opening comments fail to meet one or more of the functions of an introduction (getting the audience’s attention, introducing the topic, and giving audience reasons to listen). / Introduction is missing (i.e., speech opens with the thesis).
Thesis & Preview / Both thesis and preview are clearly stated in declarative, persuasive sentences. Speaker uses rhetorical strategies or other creative methods to reinforce the thesis & preview and to make them exceptionally memorable. / Thesis sentence is worded as a persuasive statement. Preview is a succinct statement that adequately forecasts the main points of the speech. / Thesis sentence is present, but is not worded as a persuasive sentence. An attempt at previewing main points is given, but the preview is not worded as a succinct statement or does not adequately forecast the main points of the speech. / Main idea of speech and preview of main points are mentioned but are unclear and confusing. / Thesis and/or preview is missing.
Development of Body / Body of the speech is organized into an appropriate number of main points (probably 2-5). Transitions are clear, smoothly introduced, and make the main points particularly memorable. Supporting materials are varied, memorable, and strongly contribute to the audience’s understanding of the topic. Main points are balanced in length. / Body of the speech is organized into an appropriate number of main points (probably 2-5). Transitions are clear, smoothly introduced and effectively signpost the main points. Supporting materials are varied and contribute to the thesis and preview. Main points are balanced in length. / Body of the speech is organized into an appropriate number of main points (probably 2-5). Transitions/signposts are present, but sound “choppy.” Supporting materials relate to the main points, although they lack variety and some information is unclear. All main points are presented, although some are longer/shorter than others. / Speaker makes an effort to organize ideas into an appropriate number of main points (probably 2-5), however main points and explanations are confusing. Some transitions are missing or are not clearly stated. Not all information relates to the thesis and/or preview. / Body of the speech lacks organization. Ideas are not grouped into distinct main points. Supporting materials are missing or confusing. Information does not relate to the thesis and/or preview. Audience does not know where speaker is going with the speech.
Conclusion / Summary of main points effectively restates the main points and reinforces arguments in audience members’ minds. Final thought is persuasive, appropriate, well-delivered, and gives the speech a sense of wholeness and unity. / Summary of main points effectively restates the main points. Final thought is persuasive, appropriate, well-delivered, and gives audience a clear sense of finality. / Summary of main points recaps the main points, but is somewhat unclear or rushed. Final thought wraps up the speech appropriately, but lacks persuasive appeal, polish, or is weak. / Summary of main points does not adequately recap the main points that were presented. Final thought is irrelevant or inappropriate (i.e., inappropriate humor, “trailing off” ending, “that’s it,” etc.). / Summary of main points and/or final thought is missing.
Column Totals
Exemplary
(10 pts.) / Competent
(8 pts.) / Intermediate
(6 pts.) / Developing
(4 pts.) / Inexperienced/Weak
(0-2 pts.)
Sources & Documentation / Speaker smoothly identifies at least four distinct sources of information, as well as other sources of information as appropriate for the speech. Specific sources are associated with specific pieces of information. Sources are highly credible, from a variety of media, and are among the best available. / Speaker identifies four distinct sources of information, including author’s name, date of publication or information, and where the information appeared for each source. Sources are smoothly cited. Specific sources are associated with specific pieces of information. Sources are from a variety of media and are credible. / Speaker identifies four distinct sources of information, including (where relevant) author’s name, date of publication or information, and where the information appeared for each source. Specific sources are associated with specific pieces of information. Sources are from a variety of media and are credible. The identification of some sources sounds stilted or awkward. / Speaker identifies most sources of information, however omits valuable information such as author’s name, date of publication or information, and where the information appeared. Sources are identified for the whole speech rather than with specific pieces of information. Some sources are biased or unreliable. Sources are from one medium only (i.e., all websites, all interviews). / Speaker plagiarizes by failing to identify sources of information or has not researched her/his topic adequately.
Persuasive Appeals
Reasoning / The speaker clearly presents strong persuasive arguments for the thesis. The thesis is eloquently developed and presented. The speaker uses a balance of ethos, reason, and emotion. All main points are fully documented with evidence that supports each claim. Audience members appear persuaded by message. / The speaker presents persuasive arguments for the thesis which is clearly developed. The speaker uses a balance of ethos, reason and emotion. All main points are fully documented with evidence that supports the claims / The speaker presents arguments for the main points. In some cases they are not clearly developed. There is a balance of ethos, reason, and emotion. Main points are documented with evidence that supports the claims. / Some main points are documented but others have undocumented claims, and the reasoning is questionable. Persuasive appeals disproportionately rely personal credibility (ethos), reasoning, or emotion. / Main points do not support the thesis and the claims that are made are not reasonably supported or argued.
Physical Delivery / The speaker appears confident and comfortable throughout the speech. Posture, movement, gestures, and eye contact all enhance the message. Speaker exhibits an appropriate energy level and is engaged with the audience. / Speaker presents the speech using effective physical delivery overall, but demonstrates very rare weaknesses in one of the following areas: poor eye contact, no gestures or distracting gestures, distracting pacing/swaying, poor posture, and sloppy or distracting appearance. As a whole, speaker appears confident and interacts easily with the audience. / Speaker presents the speech using effective physical delivery overall, but demonstrates occasional weaknesses in one or more of the following areas: poor eye contact, no gestures or distracting gestures, distracting pacing/swaying, poor posture, lack of confidence, and sloppy or distracting appearance, etc. / Speaker is clearly aware of physical delivery and is making an effort to present the speech as effectively as possible. Speaker struggles with one or more of the following physical delivery issues for the majority of the speech: poor eye contact, no gestures or distracting gestures, distracting pacing/swaying, poor posture, lack of confidence, and sloppy or distracting appearance, etc. / Speaker demonstrates no awareness of physical delivery. He/she exhibits multiple problems with physical delivery throughout the speech such as poor eye contact, no gestures or distracting gestures, distracting pacing/swaying, poor posture, lack of confidence, and sloppy or distracting appearance.
Vocal Delivery / Speaker uses conversational style to connect with the audience. Speaker is fluent and uses appropriate word choice. Rate, pitch, and volume do not detract from the presentation. / Speaker uses conversational style to connect with the audience. Speaker presents the speech using effective vocal delivery overall, but demonstrates very rare weaknesses in one of the following areas: rate, pitch, word choice, volume, or dysfluencies. / Speaker presents the speech using effective vocal delivery overall, but demonstrates occasional weaknesses in one or more of the following areas: rate, pitch, volume, word choice, dysfluencies, a stilted or memorized style of speaking. / Speaker struggles with one or more of the following vocal delivery areas throughout the majority of the speech: rate, pitch, volume, dysfluencies, word choice, a stilted or memorized style of speaking. / Speaker exhibits multiple problems with vocal delivery throughout the speech such as rate, pitch, volume, word choice, dysfluencies, and a stilted or memorized style of speaking.
Overall Effectiveness / Speaker holds the audience’s attention and engages the audience in the topic. Speech content is persuasive and invokes long-term change in audience members. / Speaker holds the audience’s attention and engages the audience in the topic. Speech content is persuasive and memorable for several days. / Speaker informs the audience and holds the audience’s attention. Speech content motivates audience to consider change. Content is memorable for several hours. / Speaker holds the audience’s interest some of the time. Moments in the speech are memorable. Audience members experience little or no change as result of speech. / Speech does not adequately engage the audience to invoke change. Speech is not memorable for any positive reason.
Column Totals
Time Limit: One pt. deducted per 10 seconds that speech is over or under the time limit. Total: