Speech grading criteria for James Ameen's Rio Hondo Speech 101 classes

* I want to encourage students to do their own work and to avoid cheating or plagiarism. We will talk about your speech topics during class.

* Your speeches must be typed and in outline form. Make sure your speech outlines are in complete sentences. I will not grade a speech that is less than 10 minutes or more than 20 minutes. (However, if there are less speakers on a day your are scheduled to speak, compared to the amount of speakers that were suppose to speak, you may talk with me about doing a longer speech.) 

*  You must have your speech outline approved by me before you do your speech . I will give zero points for speeches that are done without my approval. Zero points will also be given for speeches that are evangelical (or damning), violent, illegal, discriminatory or harassing towards me and fellow students. Please talk with me before you do your speeches to avoid any problems between us. Most speeches may require an understanding between us regarding your intentions and my (and the college's) rules.

Here is a point breakdown regarding your speeches: 

1) Delivery--30 points

Present your speech in a way that your audience wants to listen to you. Have appropriate eye-contact with your audience (but do not stare at them), do not focus on your nervous habits, use appropriate mannerisms (gestures, body movement, etc.) and tone of voice, and dress appropriately.

a) Memory (preparation)

Have you practiced your speech? We can tell if you know it or if you have to read it all the way through.

b) Audience-centered

Have you made sure that this topic is interesting to your audience? Why should they care to listen for the next 10 to 20 minutes?

2) Ethics and Logic--25 points 

Is this speech ethical? Does it have something to do with the improvement of humankind and relationships? Are you avoiding or paying attention to the guidelines I gave you before you gave your speech? Also, the above* paragraphs apply here. (The difference between losing points--or receiving a zero on a speech regarding ethics or logic--depends on the student's language use or word choices. I will determine point issues as they apply to each speech.) 

Logic

Prove to me that you did not copy or plagiarize this speech. Show me the sources (e.g., websites) as you proceed during your speech and in your outline. Is your speech a logical presentation that represents your creativity and research or is it a quagmire of ideas unrelated to each other? Also, the above* paragraphs apply here. 

3) Organization--25 points

Make sure you have an appropriate introduction (attention-getter and audience-centered preview), body (two or three main points, two or three minor points supporting main points, sub-points supporting minor points, and transition) and conclusion (summary of main points and creative final remarks--why was this speech important for us to listen to?) Also, the above* paragraphs apply here. 

4) Visual aids--10 points (used appropriately)

Give us some way of visualizing what you are talking about. We need to see what you are referring to in order to understand the item, chart, graph, clothing, picture, etc. Remember that a visual aid helps us understand a piece of evidence within our speech. It is not just a visual thing; it is also an aid to help us understand the importance of something logical and meaningful to us--in a visual sense. (Please do not show videos for more than the allotted time that we discuss before your speech. If we have time, we can show longer videos after the speeches are done on that particular day of your speech.)

5) ** Time--10 points

The introduction should be 1 to 2 minutes. The body must be 10 to 16 minutes. (The first main point outline should be 3 to 8 minutes and the second main point outline should be 3 to 8 minutes. The conclusion should be 1 to 2 minutes. A speech that is under 10 minutes or over 20 minutes will not be graded. If a "visual video aid" is used it must be under a certain time limit that I will discuss with each student before her or his speech. 

** Time exceptions will be made if there are fewer people scheduled to do speeches compared to what was originally scheduled for that day; this will depend on how many people are scheduled on a given day. Talk with me right before your speech (or on the day of your speech) regarding your speech time issues. 

Total for this speech __________ out of 100. Please make one copy of this grade sheet for your reference guide.