Public Speaking - Touchstone 1,2,3

Touchstones are projects that illustrate your comprehension of the course material, help you refine skills, and demonstrate application of knowledge. You can

work on a Touchstone anytime, but you must complete this unit’s assessments before you submit it. Once you've submitted a Touchstone, it will be graded

and counted toward your final course score.

Touchstone 1: Special Occasion Speech

ASSIGNMENT: Think about a special occasion speech that you would like to present on a topic of your choice. The speech can be for any context and

any length, but the purpose must be to commemorate an occasion. See the following list of example occasions for inspiration.

Personal

• Speech at a graduation

• Toast at a wedding or other party

• Eulogy at a funeral

Academic

• Presenting an award for academic work (paper, research, report)

• Accepting an award for original creative work

Community

• Speech at a community gathering (PTA meeting, boy/girl scout convention, town hall, homeowner’s association, athletic league, school board

meeting, etc.)

Business

• Celebrating staff at a company retreat

• Sharing a professional milestone

Download and answer each question in the Unit 1 Touchstone Template based on the speech you are thinking of.

 Unit 1 Touchstone Template

In order to foster learning and growth, all work you submit must be original for this course. Any recycled work will be sent back with a 0, and you will be

Not Submitted Submitted Graded When you’re ready to upload your document, click here. SUBMIT TOUCHSTONE

 Currently, it takes about 3-5 business days for a touchstone to be graded.

UNIT 1 — TOUCHSTONE 1 SCORE

-/50

given one attempt to redo the Touchstone.

Touchstone Support Videos

Connecting your Audience, Purpose, and Message

Analyzing your Audience

A. Directions

Step 1: Answer Questions

Download the Unit 1 template and answer the questions in each section. Consider your audience, purpose, and thesis to answer each of the questions in

these sections. Make sure to answer in detail, using complete sentences.

Step 2: Review Rubric

Review the rubric to ensure that you understand how you will be evaluated. Contact a Sophia learning coach with any questions.

Step 3: Review Checklist and Requirements

Review the checklist and requirements to ensure that your Touchstone is complete.

Step 4: Submit

Submit your completed Unit 1 Touchstone Template on Sophia.

Refer to the checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.

❒ I have completed all aspects of the template.

❒ I have answered each question using complete sentences.

❒ My answers demonstrate thoughtful consideration of each question.

❒ I have adhered to all of the length and formatting requirements.

❒ I have read through the rubric and I understand how my Touchstone will be evaluated.

B. Rubric

  Advanced (100%) Proficient (80%) Needs Improvement (60%)

Non-Performance (0%)

Alignment: Special Occasion Speech (20 points)

Effectively define and align purpose, audience, and thesis.

Purpose, audience, and thesis are well aligned. If the intended message were delivered to the intended audience the targeted purpose would be achieved.

Purpose, audience, and thesis are mostly aligned. If the intended message were delivered to the intended audience the targeted purpose would be partially achieved.

Purpose, audience, and thesis are misaligned. If the intended message were delivered to the intended audience the targeted purpose would not be achieved.

Purpose, audience, and thesis are absent or unclear.

  Advanced (100%) Proficient (80%) Needs Improvement (60%)

Non-Performance (0%)

Response Quality (20 points)

Reply to questions thoroughly and thoughtfully.

Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; frequently includes insights and details. Demonstrates correct understanding of audience, purpose, and message.

Demonstrates a somewhat thoughtful reflection, but some responses are lacking in detail or insight with minor misunderstandings of audience, purpose, and/or message.

Demonstrates limited reflection. Critical aspects of audience, purpose, and/or message are misunderstood.

Answers are absent or very limited.

Requirements (10 points)

Meet submission requirements.

Met all requirements (answered all questions, used 1-3 complete sentences for each question, wrote 300-500 words in total).

Met two requirements (answered all questions, used 1-3 complete sentences for each question). However, the total length is between 200 to 300 words.

Skipped one or two questions, did not always use complete sentences, or total length is under 200 words.

Skipped three or more questions, primarily wrote in fragments, or total length is under 100 words.

C. Requirements

• Answer each question with 1 to 3 complete sentences

• Your responses should be 300 to 500 words in total

• All writing must be appropriate for an academic context

• Follow academic writing conventions (correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting)

• Composition must be original and written for this assignment; plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited

• Use a readable 12-point font, double-spaced with 1-inch margins

• Submission should include your name, the name of the course, the date, and the title of your composition

• Submit a single file only, including the answers to all questions

• Acceptable file formats include .doc and .docx.

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