Biography Speech Rubric

PROJECT DESCRIPTION – Biography Unit

Students read a novel and researched the life of a famous person. They also wrote a poem and created a timeline of a famous person’s life. To meet the Oral Language SOL 7.2, students are asked to dress up as the famous person and talk to the class about interesting details of his/her life and the person’s major contributions to society.

Scoring Guide

Ideas & Content (Score 4) _____ The speaker’s message is clear, focused, and appropriate to the audience & purpose. The speaker: • has clear main ideas and purpose. • has supporting details that go with the topic, but they may not be consistent or strong. • makes adequate connections or conclusions but may consider only one viewpoint. • uses resources, when appropriate, to provide accurate support. • is successful in fitting ideas and details to the audience and purpose.

Organization (Score 4) _____ The organization is easy to follow but may seem stilted, overly obvious, or not consistently effective. The communication has: • an effective introduction that brings the audience to the topic. • a clear organizational structure that is relatively easy to follow. • transitions that work, but that may be formulaic or predictable. • details that fit within a planned structure. • a planned conclusion that may lack subtlety, but still matches the content and purpose of the speech.

Language (Score 4) _____ The language is original, functional and appropriate to audience and purpose. The intended message is conveyed clearly, but word choice may be somewhat lacking in vividness, precision, or interest. The communication is characterized by: • words that work but do not create a strong impact. • attempts at colorful language that occasionally evoke an appropriate emotional response from the audience, but at times may seem awkward or overdone. • slang or jargon that, if used, does not detract from the message or purpose. • competent, practiced use of the technical language necessary to make the content of the speech clear. • grammar and usage that are usually correct

Delivery (Score 4) _____ The speaker demonstrates control of technique. Minor weaknesses, while perhaps noticeable, do not detract from the message and purpose. The communication is characterized by: • eye contact that is present but may not be made consistently with all members of the audience. • mostly clear enunciation and correct pronunciation • effective rate, volume, tone, and voice inflection that are appropriate to audience and purpose. • generally fluent delivery. • appropriate use of nonverbal techniques (i.e., facial expressions, gestures, body movements, stage presence) that helps convey the message.

Miss Clark & Mrs. Hogsett