Persuasive Speech Assignment

Assignment: You will write a persuasive speech on a topic of your choice.

Requirements:
Speeches must be at least 2-3 minutes in length (approx. 1-2 typed, double spaced pages
but remember this depends on how fast you talk).
You must include each of the 3 persuasive appeals ethos, pathos, logos
You must use at least one outside source and cite it within your speech
You must include 3 different style devices restatement, repetition, parallelism,

rhetorical questions, alliteration, metaphor or simile

You need to have a strong opening (attention-grabber)
You need to have a call to action at the end
A clear, specific claim
Support examples/evidence
Logical and clear explanations
Counter-argument
Although you are presenting your speech, you will still need to hand in a typed copy.
Times new roman, 12 point font, double spaced, 1 inch margins

Timeline (subject to change):

Monday
9/19 Track skill

Tuesday
9/20 Review

Wednesday
9/21 Review

Thursday
9/22 Begin

Friday
9/23 Work on

improvement

authors purpose

structure and

working on

speech: Begin

Due: Speech

and style devices

Aristotles triangle

persuasive speech:

research/planning

style paragraph

Deadline:

Determine your

Deadline:

revision

Speech style

topic

Aristotles

paragraph revision

Triangle for your

9/26 Work on

9/27 Speeches

9/28 Work on

9/29 (1/2 day)

speech
9/30 Raising

speech:

and Arguments

speech: Counter

Work on speech:

Student

outlining/research

Unit Test

argument mini-

write

Achievement Day

lesson/write

Deadline: Outline
10/6 Present

10/7 Presentation

Speeches

makeup day. Begin

10/3 Work on

10/4 Work on

Due: Outline
10/5 Present

speech: integrating

speech: conclusion

Speeches

quotes mini

mini

lesson/write

lesson/proofread

Transcendentalism

To prepare for the speech, you need to fill out Aristotles Triangle for your topic. First, determine
the context of your speech. What event/debate is occurring right now that you feel strongly enough
that you want to speak on it? Then determine your purpose. What do you want to achieve with your
speech? Next, determine your audience, your beliefs about the subject as the speaker and your
message. Finally, come up with at least one pathos, ethos or logos you might use (these may change as
you get closer to presenting the speech).
Audience/Pathos:

Purpose:

Speaker/Ethos:

Context:

Message/Logos:

Turn this in by the end of class on: Friday Sept. 23rd

High School Writing Rubric Essay/Speech

Score

Exceeds (4)

Goal (3)

Progressing (2)

Beginning (1)

Not Enough
Evidence (0)

Introduction

Opens with an inventive

attention getter. Thesis
provides a unique stance on
a given topic. In addition to
Goal criteria.

Opens with an effective

attention getter. Provides
background information.
Includes a relevance to
reader statement. Includes a
thesis sentence that is a clear,
concise, one-sentence
statement connecting to the
specific topic. Thesis
contains topic, stance, and
preview of main points.

Attention getter is in the

form of a question or
ineffective. Insufficient
background information
provided. Relevance to
reader statement is basic.
Thesis contains a topic and
stance. Thesis does not
provide enough structure
for essay.

No attention getter.
Minimal, if any,
background information.
Does not include a
relevance to reader
statement. Thesis
statement only includes
the topic.

No introduction or
missing a thesis
statement.

Organization

Sophisticated and varied

transitions and transitional
statements enhance the
audiences ability to follow
ideas. Speechs main ideas
are strategically organized
for maximum effectiveness.

Speech utilizes appropriate

transitions to ensure
audiences ability to follow
ideas.

Speech contains basic

transitions.

Speech lacks transitions.

Lack of organization
and appropriate
transitions inhibit the
audiences ability to
follow ideas.

Development
of Ideas

Speech includes sufficient

supporting information,
including quotes and
research, and demonstrates a
complete understanding of
the topic through an
inventive explanation of
supporting ideas.

Speech includes sufficient

supporting information,
including quotes and
research, and fully explains
supporting ideas.

Speech includes sufficient

information, but lacks
thorough explanation of
ideas.

Speech includes
information that is either
incorrect or irrelevant to
the topic.

Speech lacks
supporting
information.

Conclusion/
Call to action

Conclusion restates the

thesis in new words, wraps
up all ideas, reiterates the
relevance to reader, and
effectively closes and
extends ideas.

Conclusion restates the thesis

in new words, wraps up all
ideas, reiterates the relevance
to the reader, and ends with
an effective close.

Conclusion attempts to
include a restatement of
thesis and includes a basic
summary of ideas.

Conclusion includes the

original thesis statement.

No conclusion or
missing thesis in
conclusion.

Writing Style

The student uses complex

sentences to enhance the
fluency and conciseness.
Writes using formal tone.
Words are chosen
thoughtfully to impact the
meaning and tone of the
response. Concrete details
are seamlessly integrated
into the response.

Uses a variety of sentence

types. Writes using formal
tone. Words are chosen
thoughtfully and are grade
appropriate. Concrete details
are integrated into the
response.

Lacks consistent sentence

variety. Writes
inconsistently using a
formal tone. Words are
simplistic and basic.
Inconsistently integrates
concrete details into the
response and in a basic
way.

Sentence structure
negatively impacts a
readers understanding of
the response.
Consistently uses
informal tone. Words
chosen are often
inaccurate or repetitive.
Does not integrate
concrete details.

The student does not

demonstrate a
writing style.

Persuasive
Appeals/
Rhetorical
Devices

All three persuasive appeals

(ethos, pathos and logos) are
used. They clearly support
the thesis are used
appropriately. Three
different types of rhetorical
devices are used
appropriately and
effectively to enhance the
argument.

All three persuasive appeals

are used. Three different
types of rhetorical devices
are used correctly.

Only 2 of the 3 persuasive

appeals and/or rhetorical
devices are used or are
used correctly.

Only 1 of the 3
persuasive appeals and/or
rhetorical devices are
used or are used
correctly.

No persuasive appeal
and/or no rhetorical
devices are used.

Mechanics
and MLA
Style

Makes 1 type of
grammatical or spelling
error. MLA style is used
flawlessly (1 error). Text
evidence is properly cited.

Makes 2 different types of

grammatical or spelling
errors. There is an attempt to
competently write in MLA
style (2 errors). Text
evidence is properly cited.

Makes 3-4 different types

of grammatical or spelling
errors. The student
struggles with MLA style
(3 errors). Text evidence is
improperly cited.

Makes 5 or more
different types of
grammatical or spelling
errors. There are serious
errors in relation to MLA
style (4 errors). Text
evidence is inconsistently
cited.

The response made

no attempt to address
the rules of writing
mechanics. There is
no attempt in using
MLA style (5 or
more errors).
Evidence is not
cited.

28-27 = 100% (Exceeds) 26-24 = 95% (Goal +) 23-21 = 85% (Goal) 20-17 = 80% (Pro+) 16-14 = 75% (Progress) 13-11 = 65% (Beginning - optional rewrite)
7 = 50% (optional rewrite) 6-0 = N/E (must rewrite for credit)

10-

Total for Speech/Essay: ______________________/80

Delivery Rubric
Score

Exceeds (4)

Goal (3)

Eye contact

Speaker makes constant eye

contact. Most of speech is
memorized. Does not look
down at speech often.

Speaker makes good eye

contact. Speech is somewhat
memorized. Looks down very
little at speech.

Volume

Speaker is easy to hear and

varies tone in voice for
dramatic effect.
Speakers delivery is easy to
understand, words are
pronounced correctly and
speaker does not stutter or
hesitate.

Speaker is easy to hear.

Gestures were not distracting

and emphasized points made
in the speech.
At least 2-3 mins limit.

Gestures were not distracting.

Enunciation

Gestures

Time Limit

Speakers delivery is
understandable, words are
pronounced correctly and there
is very little stutter or
hesitation.

20-29 seconds under time limit.

Total for Delivery:________________/20

Total for Speech and Delivery:______________________/100

Progressing (2)

Beginning (1)

Speaker makes ok eye

contact. Speech doesnt
seem to be memorized.
Look down often at
speech.
Speaker is sometimes
difficult to hear.

Speaker doesnt make

eye contact. Looks at
speech the entire time.

Speakers delivery is
somewhat
understandable, some
words are
mispronounced and there
is some stutter or
hesitation.
Gestures were
distracting.

Speakers delivery is
not understandable,
many words are
mispronounced and
there is distracting
stutter or hesitation.

30-35 seconds under

time limit.

36+ seconds under time

limit.

Speaker is extremely
difficult to hear.

Gestures were
extremely distracting.