Oral Communication Criteria
Primary Competencies (High competency in ALL 3 required to pass exam)
The speech should be 8 minutes in length, plus or minus 1 minute. The 7-9 minutes time range is strictly enforced; speeches under or over this range will not pass. [Time signals will not be provided.]
INVENTION - Provides supporting material appropriate to audience and occasion.
Competent (passing score)
Speaker uses supporting material that is logically linked to thesis of speech and includes a minimum of four different “verbally cited” sources within delivery of speech, and verbal citations must include references to (all 4): Author / Title / Source / Date. Supporting material is appropriate in quality and variety to engage target audience.
Unsatisfactory
Speaker uses inadequate supporting material in speech (i.e., four different sources not cited verbally within delivery of speech, verbal citations do not include references to (all 4): Author / Title / Source / Date, supporting material only vaguely related to thesis of speech, or lacks source quality or variety).
ORGANIZATION - Uses organizational pattern appropriate to topic, audience, occasion, and purpose.
Competent (passing score)
Speaker uses appropriate Introduction and Conclusion, and provides reasonably clear and logical progression within and between ideas. Introduction clearly engages majority of audience in an appropriate manner. Body of speech reflects adequate clarity in organization (i.e., Problem / Solution, Motivated Sequence, Topical). Conclusion clearly reflects content of speech, leaving majority of audience with an undeniable message or call to action.
Unsatisfactory
Speaker fails to use Introduction or Conclusion, and fails to provide a reasonably clear and logical progression within and between ideas (i.e., Introduction fails to engage majority of audience in appropriate manner. Body of the speech reflects lack of clarity in organization. Conclusion fails to reflect content of speech, and fails to leave majority of audience with clear message or call to action).
DELIVERY - Uses vocal variety in rate, pitch, and intensity (volume) to heighten and maintain interest appropriate to audience and occasion. Uses pronunciation, grammar, and articulation appropriate to audience and occasion. Uses physical behaviors that support verbal message.
Competent (passing score)
Speaker uses extemporaneous or “conversational” delivery. They do not read the speech, use a manuscript, or recite a memorized speech. They engage the audience and adjust the message accordingly.
Speaker makes acceptable use of vocal variety in a conversational style (i.e., speaker shows only occasional weakness in pace, volume, pitch, etc., thereby not detracting significantly from overall quality or impact of speech).
Speaker has acceptable articulation, with few pronunciation or grammatical errors (i.e., most sounds are properly formed, with only minor vocalized disfluencies, and minor errors in pronunciation and grammar).
Speaker demonstrates acceptable posture, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and use of dress (i.e., kinesic [posture, gesture, facial expressions, eye contact] and proxemic [interpersonal distance and spatial arrangement] behaviors / dress generally support message, with minor inconsistencies that neither significantly distract from speaker's credibility with audience nor interfere with message).
Unsatisfactory
Speaker reads speech, uses a manuscript, or recites a memorized speech. Speaker fails to use vocal variety and fails to speak in a conversational style (i.e., speaker shows frequent weakness in controlling and adapting pace, volume, pitch, etc., resulting in overall detraction from quality or impact of speech).
Speaker fails to use acceptable articulation, pronunciation, and grammar (i.e., nonfluencies / disfluencies interfere with message, and frequent errors in grammar and pronunciation make it difficult for audience to understand message).
Speaker fails to use acceptable posture, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and dress (i.e., kinesic and proxemic behaviors / dress are incongruent with verbal intent and detract from speaker's credibility with audience as well as distract audience from speaker's message).
Secondary Competencies (Adequate competency in ALL 3 required to pass exam)
TOPIC - Chooses and narrows topic appropriate to audience and occasion.
Competent (passing score)
Speaker presents topic and focus appropriate for purpose, time constraints, and clearly adapted to audience (i.e., speaker's choice of topic is generally consistent with purpose, is a reasonable choice for time limitations of speech, and reflects appropriate analysis of majority of audience).
Unsatisfactory
Speaker presents topic and focus inappropriate for purpose, time constraints, or audience (i.e., speaker's choice of topic inconsistent with purpose; topic cannot be adequately addressed within time limitations of speech; little or no evidence of successful audience analysis or adaptation).
THESIS - Communicates Thesis / Specific Purpose in manner appropriate for audience and occasion.
Competent (passing score)
Speaker communicates Thesis / Specific Purpose that is adequately clear and identifiable (i.e., majority of audience should understand clearly, within opening minute of speech, precisely what is the Thesis / Specific Purpose of speech).
Unsatisfactory
Speaker does not communicate clear and identifiable Thesis / Specific Purpose (i.e., majority of audience may have difficulty understanding, within opening minute of speech, precisely what is the Thesis / Specific Purpose of speech).
LANGUAGE - Uses language appropriate to audience and occasion.
Competent (passing score)
Speaker uses vivid language (i.e., examples, stories) to engage audience.
Speaker uses language that is clear, understandable, and appropriate to audience (i.e., speaker chooses language free of inappropriate jargon or humor, and is nondiscriminatory).
Speaker addresses topic from multiple viewpoints.
Unsatisfactory
Speaker uses unclear or inappropriate language (i.e., speaker chooses inappropriate jargon or humor, or language that is discriminatory).
Speaker only speaks from one person’s viewpoint.
See Exam Instructions, Oral Communication Criteria, and Tips for Success for all exam requirements. Here is the Evaluation Form judges use to evaluate the Oral Competency Exam. Additional resources available at The Speech Center