Assignment 1 COMMS

Assignment 1: Introductory Speech Three items worth 120 points total:

Assignment Item Due Date Points

Outline Week 2 20

Speech (2-3 min.) Week 2 70

Self Review Week 2 30

TOTAL 120

This is the beginning of your journey to becoming an effective speaker! Strong oral communication skills will be valuable to you throughout your academic journey and are in high demand by many employers. In this course, you’ll have multiple opportunities to practice and improve your speaking skills through a variety of assignments. Your first assignment is to prepare and deliver a short, introductory speech. Don’t worry—your first speech doesn’t have to be perfect. Assignment 1 is your first opportunity to complete the process of outlining, delivering, and recording a speech with the Webcam Recorder tool. You will also review and reflect on your speech.

Instructions: In order to obtain full credit for this assignment, please complete all five (5) steps below. You may want to print this assignment and check off each step as you complete it.

STEP 1: Read Assigned Chapters

 Chapter 3: Listening. This chapter covers listening skills that will help you complete your Self Review.

 Chapter 4: Giving Your First Speech. This chapter covers the steps you’ll complete to prepare and deliver your speech.

STEP 2: Select a Topic

Topic Bank (Choose only one topic.)

Deliver an elevator pitch that describes your professional background and experience for a potential employer during a job interview.

Present a significant event or decision in your life and describe how it impacted you.

Discuss your dream career or a potential business you intend to start following graduation.

Select an object that represents a significant aspect of who you are. Describe why you chose it and explain how it represents you.

STEP 3: Create an Outline

 Create an outline or speaking notes in Microsoft Word. A sample template is available in the “Assignment 1: Outline” section located in Week 2 of your course.

 Focus your speech on 2-3 main points so you'll stay within the 3-minute time limit.  Go to the Week 2 “Assignment 1: Outline” section and submit your outline.

 The outline is worth 20 points and is graded separately. STEP 4: Deliver, Record, and Upload Your Speech

 Go to the Week 2 “Assignment 1: Introductory Speech” section and click the link under “Instructions” to access Speech Assignment Submission Instructions.

 Refer to your outline or speaking notes to deliver your speech. Do not read your notes word for word. Make sure you record your speech delivery with a computer, phone, or tablet.

 Watch your recording. Do you want to submit it, or do you want to record another version?

 Go to the Week 2 "Assignment 1: Introductory Speech" section and upload your speech. For additional help recording and uploading your speech, go to the “Course Tool Help” link in the left-hand navigation bar in Blackboard and review the Speech Assignment Submission Guide located under “Kaltura Media and Webcam Recorder Help.”

STEP 5: Complete a Self Review

 Go to the Week 2 “Assignment 1: Self Review” section.  Follow the instructions listed to complete and submit your Self Review of Assignment 1.  The self review is worth 30 points and is graded separately.

Rubric Grading for this assignment will be based on the following rubric:

Points: 70 Assignment 1: Introduction Speech

Criteria Unacceptable

Below 60% F

Meets Minimum Expectations

60 - 69% D

Fair

70 - 79% C

Proficient

80 - 89% B

Exemplary 90 - 100% A

1. Speech Quality Weight: 15%

No audio [online only] or speaks so low audience cannot hear it

Problems with clarity and consistency throughout

Some problems with clarity and consistency

Generally clear and consistent

Clear and consistent throughout

2. Visual Quality Weight: 15%

No video [online only] or inappropriate visual

Problems with clarity and consistency

Some problems with clarity and consistency

Generally clear and consistent

Clear and consistent throughout

3. Speech Topic Focus Weight: 20%

No focus on topic

Minimum 25% focused on topic

Minimum 50% focused on topic

Minimum 75% focused on topic

Entirely focused on topic

4. Time Requirement

2–3 minutes +/- 75 seconds

2–3 minutes +/- 60 seconds

2–3 minutes +/- 45 seconds

2–3 minutes +/- 30 seconds

2–3 minutes +/- 15 seconds

Weight: 15%

5. Delivery Weight: 15%

Very little/no eye contact, no expressive voice, unnatural gestures

Insufficient eye contact, limited expressive voice, and/or unnatural gestures

Average eye contact, some expressive voice, minimally distracting gestures

Good eye contact, generally expressive voice, and natural gestures

Strong eye contact, expressive voice, and natural gestures

6. Overall Effectiveness Weight: 20%

Doesn’t connect with audience or achieve purpose

Limited connection with audience, doesn’t fully achieve purpose

Connects somewhat with audience, partially achieves purpose

Generally connects with audience and achieves purpose

Connects well with audience and achieves purpose