Capstone: Rehearsing Your Speech

Your instructor will assign a number of speeches for you to prepare and deliver throughout this course. The speech preparation process is similar for all types of speeches. In this activity, you are required to craft your central idea/thesis statement for your current speech assignment, following the guidelines given to you by your instructor.

Step 1: Understand the requirements of the assignment from your instructor. For example, requirements for a speech might look like this: “This speech is an Informative Speech with a length of no less than three minutes and no more than five minutes. It should not be a “How To” speech but should be focused on informing the audience about something interesting, new, or different that has the potential to impact the audience. You must have at least three sources in your speech. Presentation aids are optional. Your speech must have an introduction, a central idea, a preview, three major body areas, a review, and a conclusion.”

Step 2: Practice! After you have created any presentation aids you wish to use in your speech, you need to practice delivering the speech. Always practice standing up. You want to practice in the same manner you will be presenting to your class. If you are giving a virtual presentation, practice virtually and make sure your camera angles and lighting are set the way you want them to be for your presentation.

Step 3: Record a rehearsal and complete a self-evaluation of your speech. Because practicing delivery is such an important part of preparing to give a speech, you need to take the time to record a rehearsal. Use the video recording to check your time and make sure it meets the time limit of the assignment. What else do you notice about your speech as you watch it? Was your pace too fast, too slow, or just about right? Did you enunciate your words clearly? Were you loud enough to be heard clearly? Did you limit your use of filler words such as “umm” and “ahhh”? Did you use pauses effectively? Were your gestures effective? Were you expressive and engaging? Did you vary your pace and tone throughout the speech? Were you relaxed? Did your voice sound conversational? Complete the self-evaluation form and submit it along with your practice video to your instructor or designated peer review group.

Grading Rubric: Rehearsing Your Speech
Criteria Ratings Point Total: 100%
Rehearsal Practice video submitted to your instructor or designated peer review group. ___ / 50%
Self-evaluation form Completed and submitted ___ / 50%

Self-Evaluation Form

  1. I presented fluently, limiting the number of filler words.
    Excellent Good  Needs Improvement
  2. My gestures were varied and used to enhance my message (my gestures were not distracting or repetitive).
    Excellent Good  Needs Improvement
  3. My voice was loud and clear enough to be heard by the audience.
    Excellent Good  Needs Improvement
  4. My words were enunciated clearly.
    Excellent Good  Needs Improvement
  5. My pace was slow enough to be clearly understood by the audience.
    Excellent Good  Needs Improvement
  6. I varied my pace and tone throughout the speech.
    Excellent Good  Needs Improvement
  7. I used expressive and engaging language and tone throughout the speech.
    Excellent Good  Needs Improvement
  8. I used pauses effectively during the speech.
    Excellent Good  Needs Improvement
  9. I felt and looked relaxed and conversational while giving the speech.
    Excellent Good  Needs Improvement
  10. I maintained eye contact with the audience (the camera if virtual) while giving my speech.
    Excellent Good  Needs Improvement