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EVALUATION CRITERIA
Persuasive Speaking
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used only with permission. Rev. 11/2016 Item 8308E
This criteria lists the specific goals and expectations for the speech. Please review each level to help you complete
the evaluation.
Clarity
5 – Is an exemplary public speaker who is always
understood
4 – Excels at communicating using the spoken word
– Spoken language is clear and is easily understood
2 – Spoken language is somewhat unclear or
challenging to understand
1 –
Spoken language is unclear or not easily understood
Vocal Variety
5 – Uses the tools of tone, speed, and volume
to perfection
4 – Excels at using tone, speed, and volume as tools
3 – Uses tone, speed, and volume as tools
2 – Use of tone, speed, and volume requires
further practice
1 – Ineffective use of tone, speed, and volume
Eye Contact
5 – Uses eye contact to convey emotion and
elicit response
4 – Uses eye contact to gauge audience reaction
and response
3 – Effectively uses eye contact to engage audience
2 – Eye contact with audience needs improvement
1 – Makes little or no eye contact with audience
Gestures
5 – Fully integrates physical gestures with content to
deliver an exemplary speech
4 – Uses physical gestures as a tool to enhance speech
3 – Uses physical gestures effectively
2 – Uses somewhat distracting or limited gestures
1 – Uses very distracting gestures or no gestures
Audience Awareness
5 – Engages audience completely and anticipates
audience needs
4 – Is fully aware of audience engagement/needs
and responds effectively
3 – Demonstrates awareness of audience
engagement and needs
2 – Audience engagement or awareness of audience
requires further practice
1 – Makes little or no attempt to engage audience or
meet audience needs
Comfort Level
5 –
Appears completely self-assured with the audience
4 – Appears fully at ease with the audience
3 – Appears comfortable with the audience
2 – Appears uncomfortable with the audience
1 – Appears highly uncomfortable with the audience
Interest
5 – Fully engages audience with exemplary, well-
constructed content
4 – Engages audience with highly compelling, well-
constructed content
3 – Engages audience with interesting, well-
constructed content
2 – Content is interesting but not well-constructed
or is well-constructed but not interesting
1 –
Content is neither interesting nor well-constructed
Persuade
5 – Delivers an exemplary persuasive speech
4 – Delivers an excellent persuasive speech
3 – Delivers a speech that is clearly intended to
persuade the audience
2 – Delivers a speech that has some components of
persuasion, but needs improvement
1 – Speech has few or no components of a
persuasive speech
