Have you ever had someone correct you as you were trying to learn something new? Getting feedback isn't always enjoyable, but it can really help you make changes and improve your game.
Since speaking in front of others is usually a nerve-racking experience, you probably want the first unofficial presentation of your speech to be in front of someone who will give you honest feedback and encourage you as much as possible. Therefore, you should choose your first listeners wisely—perhaps a parent, a grandparent, an older sibling, or a good friend can be your first audience.
Turn It In!
Print out the evaluation form below and review it before you give it to the person who will hear your speech. Then present your speech to this person as he or she fills out the form.
After your audience has evaluated your speech, talk to him or her about what you did right and what needs improvement. Then use this feedback to improve your speech and your public speaking skills.
You should submit several items to your teacher after you have practiced giving your speech and received feedback: a copy of your script, a scanned version of your note cards, and a scan of the feedback sheet your listener(s) filled out for you.
Your work on this project will be graded using the rubric below.
| Superior 5 points |
Average 3 points |
Poor 1 point |
|---|---|---|
| Audience/Tone | ||
| Your presentation script includes many words and phrases that make its tone appropriate for an audience consisting of your classmates. | Your presentation script includes some words and phrases that make its tone appropriate for an audience consisting of your classmates. However, some sections are too formal, too informal, or in other ways not quite right for this group. | Your presentation script includes few words and phrases that make its tone appropriate for an audience consisting of your classmates. Overall, the script sounds too formal, too informal, or in other ways not right for a group of classmates. |
| Main Ideas and Support | ||
| The main points of your speech are powerfully expressed and easy to identify, and all your main ideas are well-supported by facts, examples, and details. You also identify the source of key information in your speech, including statistics and direct quotes. | The main points of your speech are easy to identify in your script, and most of your main ideas are well-supported by facts, examples, or details. You also identify the source of key information in your speech, including statistics and direct quotes. | The main points of your speech are difficult to identify, and few of your main ideas are well-supported by facts, examples, or details. You also use statistics or direct quotes without citing the sources of those details. |
| Structure | ||
| Your script uses organizational patterns that fit each section of content, and your script's overall structure includes all the important elements: an attention-grabbing introduction, a thesis statement, a "body" consisting of main ideas and details, and a conclusion. | Your script's overall structure includes all the important elements: an attention-grabbing introduction, a thesis statement, a "body" consisting of main ideas and details, and a conclusion. However, while your script uses some of the organizational patterns that are appropriate for its content, some sections seem to lack that careful attention to organization. | Your script's overall structure includes some but not all the most important elements, such as an attention-grabbing introduction, a thesis statement, a "body" consisting of main ideas and details, and a conclusion. Its sections lacked the kinds of organizational patterns that help readers follow specific kinds of content. |
| Transitions | ||
| Your script uses exactly the right transition words and phrases to help listeners follow the flow of your ideas. | You use many of the right transition words and phrases to help listeners follow the flow of ideas in your script. However, some ideas seem poorly connected, which could cause your listeners to lose track. | You use very few, if any, transition words and phrases that might help listeners follow the flow of your ideas. Overall, your ideas seem poorly connected—it's hard to follow the flow of your thoughts through the script. |
| Note Cards | ||
| Your note cards provide a clear and obvious path for you to follow through your speech. They make good use of key words and phrases without including too much detail. | Your note cards create a path for you to follow through your speech. They use key words and phrases to remind you of main ideas, but they may include a bit too much detail for you to read quickly and easily. | Your note cards seem unlikely to provide a clear and obvious path for you to follow through your speech. They should make better use of key words and phrases. |
| Practice/Feedback | ||
| Your test audience's feedback on your speech suggests that you took the practice session seriously and performed most of the public speaking skills well. | Your test audience's feedback on your speech suggests that you took the practice session seriously and performed some public speaking skills well. | Your test audience's feedback on your speech suggests that you may not have taken the practice session seriously enough. You did not seem to perform many of the skills required for effective public speaking. |
