Assessing for Oral Communication Competency
This comprehensive guide explores the essential elements of effective speeches and presentations. It covers techniques to assess oral communication competency, methods of preparing students for public speaking, and strategies for overcoming nervousness. The guide emphasizes understanding audience dynamics, organizing content, and employing varied delivery methods to engage listeners effectively. Additionally, it provides practical insights into structuring speeches, preparing outlines, and using rubrics for evaluation, ultimately enabling students to communicate confidently and effectively.
Assessing for Oral Communication Competency
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Presentation Transcript
Goals: • Elements of effective speeches & presentation • Methods for assessing speeches & presentations • Preparing students for speeches & presentations
GOAL #1: Understanding elements of effective speeches & presentation
Effective public speaking • Topics to Address… • Nervousness • Speech Making Process • Audience Analysis • Delivery • Preparation & Rehearsing
Dealing with Nervousness • Acknowledge Your Fear • Focus on Message, not Fear • Act Confident • Give Yourself a Mental Pep Talk • Visualize Your Success • Channel Nervous Energy • BREATHE • Practice, Practice, Practice
Understand the Speech Making Process • Choosing Topic • Focus Purpose • Research • Organizing Content • Developing an Outline • Delivering Speech • Rehearsing
Choosing a Topic • Consider… • Is It Important to You? • Is It Important to Your Audience? • Will It Hold Audience’s Attention? • Is It Manageable in the Time Available? • Is It Clear? • Can You Support It?
Focus Purpose • General Purpose: • TO Inform, Persuade, Entertain, Inspire, Pay Tribute, etc. • Specific Purpose: What you hope to accomplish • EXAMPLE: To inform the audience about the importance of having a college education. • Central Idea: Summary of speech content (thesis) • EXAMPLE: A college education opens the door to: greater earning potential, more employment opportunities and allows for personal growth.
Researching Topic • Current Situation/Info • Background Info • Supporting Materials
Organizing Content • Chronological • Topical • Spatial • Cause-Effect • Problem-Solution • Comparison-Contrast
Introductions • PURPOSE • Introduce topic & preview what is to come • State purpose & importance • Grab Attention • Build Credibility TYPES: Story, Rhetorical Question, Quotation, Humor, Allude to conclusion
Conclusions • PURPOSE • Summarize Speech & Re-emphasize Main Idea • Motivate Response • Provide Closure TYPES: Summary, Quotation, Story or Rhetorical Question, Refer to Introduction, Challenge
Understand Your Audience • CHALLENGES • People Think Faster Than Hear • Short Attention Span • Easily Distracted • How to Deal with… • Keep Speech Focused • Analyze Audience Carefully • Adapt to Situation
What Audience most often remembers: • #1—Last thing they heard • #2—Introduction • #3—Topic
Methods of Delivery • Manuscript Reading (hard to connect with audience) • Memorized (pressure to remember) • Impromptu (off the cuff) • Extemporaneous (best choice)
Delivering Speech - • Use Effective… • Eye Contact • Gestures & Expressions • Volume—project and use variety in pitch & inflection • Pace—pause between points • Use Clear… • Language–appropriate terms and definitions • Pronunciation and Articulation • Conversational style • Be Enthusiastic • End Well • Be Concise & Memorable • Pause before Returning to Seat
Assessing Speeches • Determine whether this is a speech or presentation • Is focus on oral content or overall presentation? • How important is delivery to overall assessment? • Prepare rubrics & assessment criteria • Determine what areas student should demonstrate proficiency • Review criteria and do a practice assessment. • Know in you mind the difference between a 1--5 or A-F etc.
-Sample Rubric- GROUP/INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATION EVALUATION (50pts) Verbal Delivery ______ (5) Stage Presence ______(5) Message Content ______ (5) Message Organization ______ (5) Effective Introduction ______ (5) Effective Conclusion ______ (5) Creativity ______ (5) Kept to Time Frame ______ (5) Overall Presentation ______(10) TOTAL possible 50pts
Preparing Students • Clearly outline skills & content to be assessed • Explain what an effective speech looks & sounds like • Message Organization • Delivery • Explain Outlines & Speaking Notes • Review rubrics & assessment criteria • Allow opportunity for practice
Developing an Outline • Preparation Outline used to organize research • Speaking Outline is actual speaking notes • DO NOT WRITE OUT WORD FOR WORD • Just enough detail to serve as reminder • Include cues (“pause” or “show slide”) • Consider transitions
Types of Outlines • Preparation Outline • Title & Topic • Specific Purpose • Central Idea • Introduction • Main & Sub-Points • Support/Evidence • Conclusion • Speaker’s Outline • Introduction • Main Point • Support with Evidence • TRANSITION • Supporting Point • Support with Evidence • TRANSITION --REPEAT AS NECESSARY-- • Conclusion
Rehearsing Speech • Practice Out Loud • Practice Actual Delivery (eye contact , volume, stance) • Watch Yourself • Keep Track of Time
Sources • A Concise Public Speaking Handbook by Steven & Susan Beebe • Lecture Notes from SPC 2608 by Heather Elmatti
