Communications

COM201: ASSIGNMENT 4

Special Occasion Speech

Assignment 4.1 Due Date Points

Outline Week 8 45

Assignment 4.2 Due Date Points

Speech (1-2 min.) Week 9 70

Self-Review Week 9 30

You’ve reached the final step of your effective speaking journey! In this course, you’ve learned about the

power of effective speaking by developing and delivering introductory, informative, and persuasive

speeches. Your last assignment is to prepare and deliver a special occasion speech.

Special occasion speeches are different from the other types of speeches you’ve given. You’ll develop this

speech around the purpose of the special occasion, which you can choose from the two options provided.

Reference Chapters

 Chapter 18: Speaking on Special Occasions.

This chapter covers the most common types of special occasion speeches.

Technical Difficulties

 For technical difficulties reach out to me via:

o email horner@strayer

o phone 240-484-4353

o Blackboard Chat Line (when available)

See next page for instructions

Assignment 4.1 Special Occasion Speech Outline Due Week 8: 45 points

1) Select either Topic A or Topic B for your special occasion speech.

o Topic A: Who Inspires You? | Deliver a speech of introduction in which you

introduce a person who inspires you.

o Topic B: Employee of the Month | You have been given an award for

“Employee of the Month” and must give an acceptance speech at an awards

banquet. Deliver your speech of acceptance.

2) Create an outline or speaking notes in Microsoft Word.

o Download the Microsoft Word template in the “Assignment 4.1” section

located in Week 8 of your course.

o Structure and organize your speech so you’ll stay within the 2-minute time

limit.

3) Submit the completed Microsoft Word template in Blackboard (this is separate from

your speech/self-review).

Assignment 4.2 Special Occasion Speech and Self-Review Due Week 9: 100 points

1) Part 1: Record or upload your speech.

o Refer to your outline or speaking notes to deliver your speech. Do not read

your notes word for word.

o Follow the technical instructions for recording your video in the “Assignment

4.2” section located in Week 9 of your course.

o Remember to watch your recording. Do you want to submit it, or do you want

to record another version?

2) Part 2: Complete the self-review questions.

o After you have recorded your speech, address the self-review questions in the

“Assignment 4.2” section located in Week 9 of your course. This reflection

helps you step back and take a second look at your work, with an eye on

improvement and highlighting your achievements!

3) Submit your speech and self-review in Blackboard.

See next pages for grading

*Grading for this assignment will be based on the following criteria and evaluation standards:

POINTS: 45 ASSIGNMENT 4.1: SPECIAL OCCASION SPEECH OUTLINE

Criteria Exemplary 100% - A

Proficient 85% - B

Fair 75% - C

Meets Minimum Expectations

65% - D

Unacceptable 0% - F

1. Completed

outline submitted to Blackboard.

Weight: 40%

Submitted a

complete, well- developed outline.

Submitted a

complete outline but some areas needed more information or

development.

Submitted an

outline but it was partially developed and / or was

missing some information.

Submitted an outline

but it was insufficiently developed and / or

missing large amounts of information.

Did not submit

any outline to Blackboard.

2. Outline provides solid flow for speech.

Weight: 40%

Submitted outline provided excellent sense of flow

without any noticeable errors for speech.

Submitted outline provided strong sense of flow with

only minor errors for speech.

Submitted outline provided partial sense of flow for

speech.

Submitted outline provided little sense of flow for

speech.

Did not submit or outline structure

provided no sense of flow for speech.

3. Outline

checked for spelling / grammar issues.

Weight 20%

Outline was clean,

clear, and easy to read throughout the entire submission.

Outline had no

major spelling / grammar issues but minor issues

throughout the submission.

Outline had major

spelling / grammar issues in 25% and minor issues

throughout the submission.

Outline had major

spelling / grammar issues in 50% of the submission.

Did not submit

or outline had major issues that impacted

readability.

POINTS: 75 ASSIGNMENT 4.2: SPECIAL OCCASION SPEECH

Criteria Exemplary 100% - A

Proficient 85% - B

Fair 75% - C

Meets Minimum Expectations

65% - D

Unacceptable 0% - F

1. Introduction

Weight: 15%

Gains attention and

interest, previews main points

Gains attention and

interest, generally previews main points

Some problems

with gaining attention and

interest and/or with previewing main points

Insufficiently gains

attention and interest or

insufficiently previews main points

Does not gain

attention and interest, and/or

does not preview main points

2. Conclusion

Weight: 15%

Reinforces central

idea, uses strong closing

Reinforces central

idea, uses generally strong

closing

Some problems with

reinforcing central idea and/or with

using strong closing

Insufficiently

reinforces central idea or uses weak

closing

Does not

reinforce central idea, and/or

does not use strong closing

3. Speech

Organization

Weight 15%

Well organized,

logical structure

Well organized,

generally logical structure

Some problems with

organization and/or with logical structure

Insufficiently

organized or insufficiently structured

Limited or no

organization, and/or limited or no logical

structure

4. Time Requirement

Weight: 15%

1-2 minutes +/- 15 seconds

1-2 minutes +/- 30 seconds

1-2 minutes +/- 40 seconds

1-2 minutes +/- 50 seconds

1-2 minutes +/- 60 seconds

5. Delivery

Weight: 15%

Strong eye contact, expressive voice,

and natural gestures

Good eye contact, generally

expressive voice and natural

gestures

Average eye contact, some

expressive voice, minimally distracting

gestures

Insufficient eye contact, limited

expressive voice and/or unnatural

gestures

Very little/ no eye contact, no

expressive voice, unnatural

gestures

6. Speech Clarity, and

Visual Quality

Weight: 20%

Clear and consistent throughout

Generally clear and consistent

Some problems with clarity and

consistency

Problems with clarity and

consistency throughout

Limited or no audio, video,

and/or other technology

7. Overall Effectiveness

Weight 15%

Connects well with audience and achieves purpose

Generally connects with audience and achieves purpose

Connects somewhat with audience, partially achieves

purpose

Limited connection with audience, doesn’t fully

achieve purpose

Doesn’t connect with audience or achieve purpose

POINTS: 30 ASSIGNMENT 4.2: SPECIAL OCCASION SPEECH SELF-REVIEW

Criteria Exemplary 100% - A

Proficient 85% - B

Fair 75% - C

Meets Minimum Expectations

65% - D

Unacceptable 0% - F

1. Submit a

completed self- review.

Weight: 20%

Submitted a

completed self- review.

Submitted a

generally completed self-review.

Submitted a

partially completed self-review.

Submitted a

minimally completed self-review.

Did not submit a

self-review.

2. Self-review

was well- developed.

Weight: 80%

Submitted self-

review provided excellent comments

on student progress/work.

Submitted self-

review provided good comments on

student progress/work.

Submitted self-

review provided acceptable

comments on student progress/work.

Submitted self-

review provided minimal comments

on student progress/work.

Did not submit

completed self- review, or

submitted self- review provided no comments on

student progress/work.