GRADING STANDARDS - Public Speaking

You may be wondering what factors determine your grades on your public speaking assignments. During the semester I will be listening for how well you do on two basic elements of good speaking - speech composition and delivery.

Each of these ten factors has degrees of competence associated with it; they are
not simply "present" or "absent." In the section below I will describe, in general terms, the differences between an A, B, and C speech.

THE C SPEECH. To receive a grade of C, a speech must be basically COMPETENT. The C speech is one in which nothing major goes wrong. The introduction gets the speech started appropriately - capturing your audience's attention and directing it toward your speech's theme. The introduction also relates the topic to the audience in some clear way, establishes your credibility on the topic, and leads smoothly to the body of the speech. The body of the C speech is divided in a way that is appropriate to the topic, is developed with appropriate supporting materials, and is cast into language that accurately and clearly expresses your ideas. The conclusion fulfills the minimum essentials - summarizing either your main theme or major points, and giving the speech a definite sense of conclusion.

The delivery of the C speech is one in which you do not look visibly nervous, nor do you have distracting postural, gestural, or movement mannerisms (such as slouching over the lectern, brushing your hair out of your eyes, and rocking or squirming while you speak). Furthermore, to receive a grade of a C you should at least maintain more eye contact with your audience than with your notes, the walls, or the ceiling. Your voice should be relatively flowing, loud enough to be heard without the audience having to strain, and free from vocalized pauses such as "uhs," "you knows," and "like." Finally, the C speech keeps the audience at least politely attentive throughout. The topic must be interesting and significant enough to be worthy of their time.

The vast majority of the speeches in the beginning public speaking class fall into this category. For most students, being able to present their ideas in a coherent and reasonably well-developed manner, while looking basically poised and confident standing up in front of their classmates, is an important and significant accomplishment for a single semester. A grade of C on your speech is an indication that you have achieved a level of competence.

THE B SPEECH. To receive a grade of B, a speech must be more than simply competent; it must also be INTERESTING. The introduction of the B speech is usually more fully developed with more time and effort spent in relating the topic to the audience and preparing them for what is to follow. The body of the B speech has a clear pattern of organization that is closely related to the central theme. The B speech also has fuller development and employs a wider variety of interesting supporting material (such as anecdotes, examples, visual aids, definitions, statistics, comparisons, contrasts, analogies), as well as more fully adapting those materials to this particular audience. Often, the conclusion of the B speech is more fully developed and better integrates with the theme of the speech as well.

Delivery in a B speech has you more animated and fluid. Not only do you not look uncomfortable, you are actually beginning to look comfortable and at ease. Your posture remains good, you are beginning to gesture naturally and expressively, and your movement on the platform begins to serve the conveyance of your speech's content instead of merely using up excess adrenalin. Your voice is becoming more expressive and empathic, and your audience shows signs of active interest in your speech.

THE A SPEECH. To receive a grade of A, your speech must be more than interesting; it must also be MEMORABLE. The introduction actively involves us with your topic in some way and makes us want to hear more, starting the speech out with a bang. Your analysis of the subject is unusual, insightful, novel, and unexpected. Your examples are especially apt and well-adapted to your particular audience. Your language choices are vivid (perhaps employing some effective imagery or sustained metaphor that unifies the entire speech). The statements of your main points are memorable (they alliterate, or are grammatically parallel, and so on). Transitions between points are varied and appropriate; the audience knows at all times precisely where you are in your speech and how the parts relate to the whole. The conclusion of the A speech not only rounds the speech out by giving it a sense of completeness; it actually gives the speech a sense of IMPACT and forcefulness.

Delivery in an A speech goes beyond general poise and a sense of looking comfortable in front of your audience. In an A speech, you are actively projecting your personality to your audience, actively employing your posture, gestures, and movements to engage your audience's attention to your speech. Furthermore, you are able to take advantage of the natural ebb and flow of their attention as you present your speech - adapting your presentation to your audience as you progress through your speech. Your voice becomes more than simply a means for conveying your ideas. Instead, it becomes more like a musical instrument, which you control for tempo, volume, rhythm, and rate in order to best serve the presentation of your ideas - building crescendos, climaxes, and decrescendos to heighten the impact of your ideas on your audience. Finally, the A speech has the audience actively listening, responsive to your speech, and eagerly waiting for what comes next.

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