Sociology Oral Communication Skills Assessment

Oral communication is defined as the ability to convey ideas/info in a fashion that is clear, ordered, & well-supported; that reflects the ability of the speaker to respond to the audience as well as to make a prepared statement; and to employ for the purpose a style that is appropriate to the occasion. Student Number: ________ Student Name: ________________

Presentation Title: ________________________________________________________ Date: ________________

II. Public communication skills

Circle the number of your best choice:

5=Excellent 4=Good 3=Average 2=Below Average 1=Far Below Average

A. ________ Ability to present a main thesis in a clear manner.

5 Overall intent is unmistakable; audience has compelling reason to listen; speaker’s credibility is explicitly stated or clear

4 Overall intent clear; audience reason to listen clear; speaker credibility good

3 A topic is introduced; audience reason to listen may be vague or unclear; credibility is identified

2 Topic/intent vague; speaker’s credibility unclear; speaker credibility unclear

1 Intent of presentation is not identifiable; audience has no reason to listen; speaker has no credibility

Comments:

B. ________ Ability to present main points/ideas in a clear manner.

5 Points are clearly related to and support thesis; points/ideas emerge w/thorough logic; cues and transitions direct

4 Points relate to thesis; points/ideas emerge fairly clearly; cues and transitions fairly direct

3 Points/ideas may not all be directly related to thesis; may cues/transitions direct; many ideas communicated

2 Points/ideas only tangentially applicable; logical progression vague; cues vague; rambles somewhat

1 No points are identifiable; lacks any logical progress; no clear cues or transitions at all

Comments:

C. ________ Ability to present sufficient research/arguments to support thesis.

5 Has excellent knowledge of & effectively uses relevant literature/theory

4 Has good knowledge of & often effectively uses relevant literature/theory

3 Has acceptable understanding of literature/theory; may use ineffectively in areas

2 Has less than satisfactory understanding of literature/theory; does not effectively apply to thesis

1 Appears to have no understanding of or ability to use literature/theory whatsoever

Comments:

D. ________ Use of language (grammatically and field-specifically) appropriate.

5 Language/syntax correct, even elegant; topic-applicable; free from error; direct and tactful

4 Language/syntax consistently correct; largely topic-applicable; mostly free from error; mostly direct

3 Language/syntax generally correct, with few errors of usage or application; tactful

2 Language/syntax sometimes correct; many errors of usage and application

1 Language/syntax completely inappropriate or incorrectly applied; lacking tact or direction

Comments:

E. ________ Visual aids appropriate for the context and field.

5 Visual aids are appropriate, professional, interesting, and thoroughly enhance presentation.

4 Visual aids appropriate but may be unexciting; enhance presentation

3 Visual aids are appropriate but not as professional (handmade charts versus Power Point); enhance presentation somewhat

2Visual aids poorly executed; have little relevance to presentation; little reference made to them

1 Visual aids nonexistent or irrelevant; little to no reference made to them

Comments:

F. ________ Ability to respond to questions in a clear fashion.

5 Speaker responds promptly, thoroughly, respectfully to questions

4 Speaker responds fairly promptly, fairly thoroughly, & respectfully to questions

3 Speaker accepts questions; is respectful; response adequate but may require further elaboration

2 Speaker accepts questions; may be impatient or uneasy with questions; responses imprecise or inadequate

1 Speaker’s response is unclear; unable to answer question; consistently misconstrues questions

Comments:

G. ________ Delivery includes effective verbal and nonverbal techniques

5 Speaker is conversational/natural; makes consistent eye contact; audible & well-paced; gestures enhance presentation; consults notes smoothly & as appropriate or does not refer to them at all (discipline-specific issue); good posture

4 Largely natural; often makes eye contact; audible; few hesitations; gestures mostly enhance; relies on notes bit more than should be necessary but w/o interrupting flow; posture seldom needs correction

3 Speaks with some hesitations; makes eye contact sometimes; audible; gestures are not distracting; use of notes may interrupt presentation; posture sometimes sloppy or inappropriate

2 somewhat stilted; seldom makes eye contact; sometimes inaudible; use of notes too often interrupts flow; posture inappropriate; gestures may not fit

1 Speaker is stilted; makes no eye contact; is not audible; no gestures or are distracting; reads only from notes giving impression that speaker is unprepared

Comments: