COM201 – The Power of Effective Speaking
© 2018 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information
and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of
Strayer University.
COM 201 FACULTY GUIDE 1182 (01-02-18) Page 1 of 4
Assignment 2: Informative Speech
Speech due Week 5, five items worth 170 points total:
Assignment Item Due Date Points
Topic Selection Week 3 5
Outline Week 4 10
Speech (5-6 min.) Week 5 115
Self Review Week 5 20
Peer Review Week 6 20
TOTAL 170
You’ve learned a lot about effective speaking and you’re already working on improving your
delivery skills. It’s time to take the next step toward becoming a powerful speaker! Your second
assignment is to prepare and deliver a researched, informative speech. Everything you’ve read
and practiced so far in this course relates directly to successful informative speaking.
Instructions: Follow the steps below to outline, record, and upload a 5-6 minute researched,
informative speech. You will complete your outline and submit it directly in Blackboard. For your
speech, you’ll record it using your own device or computer and then upload using the Connect
Speech Capture tool. In order to obtain full credit for this assignment, please complete all six
steps below. You may want to print this assignment and check off each step as you complete it.
You should use at least two quality resources (as defined by your instructor).
Step 1: Complete SmartBook Chapters and Watch Videos
Ensure you have completed SmartBook Chapters for all previous weeks. This
information will help you successfully complete Assignment 2.
Chapter 9: Organizing the Body of the Speech. This chapter will help you create a wellorganized
speech that connects with your audience.
Chapter 10: Beginning and Ending the Speech. This chapter will help you prepare a
strong introduction and conclusion for your speech.
Videos: Watch the videos assigned by your instructor this week. These videos provide
examples of informative speeches that follow the guidelines presented in the
SmartBook.
Step 2: Select a Topic (due Week 3)
Select a type of informative speech from one of four types listed below. Choose your
own topic that is different from the examples provided.
Go to the Blackboard Week 3 Assignment 2: Topic Selection section and submit your
topic.
COM201 – The Power of Effective Speaking
© 2018 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information
and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of
Strayer University.
COM 201 FACULTY GUIDE 1182 (01-02-18) Page 2 of 4
Types of Informative Speeches
(Choose only one type, then choose your own topic that differs from the examples.)
Speech About an Object
Examples:
Legos
service dogs
Susan B. Anthony
Matterhorn
Speech About a Process
Examples:
flash floods
writing resumes
how a power plant works
the stages of dementia
Speech About an Event
Examples:
Boston Marathon
Festival of the Sun
cyberterrorism
History of the Paralympics
Speech About a Concept
Examples:
numerology
philosophies of education
Net neutrality
Confucianism
Step 3: Create an Outline (due Week 4)
Create an outline in Microsoft Word. You may choose to use the template in Blackboard
Week 4 to help you organize the introduction, body, and conclusion of your speech.
Develop a specific purpose, central idea, and several main points so you'll stay within
the 6-minute time limit.
Go to the Blackboard Week 4 Assignment 2: Outline section and upload your outline.
Step 4: Deliver, Record, and Upload Your Speech (due Week 5)
Refer to your outline 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.
o Extra credit opportunity! Deliver your speech in front of at least one person
who appears on camera as the audience for the duration of the speech.
Watch your recording. Do you want to submit it, or do you want to record another
version?
Go to the Blackboard Week 5 Online Speech Assignment & Peer Review:
Assignment 2 section and upload your speech.
Step 5: Complete a Self Review (due Week 5)
Go to the Blackboard Week 2 Assignment 2: Self Review section and complete a Self
Review of your speech in Connect.
COM201 – The Power of Effective Speaking
© 2018 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information
and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of
Strayer University.
COM 201 FACULTY GUIDE 1182 (01-02-18) Page 3 of 4
Go to the Blackboard Week 2 Assignment 2: Self Review section and notify the
instructor in Blackboard that your self review is ready to be graded.
Step 6: Complete a Peer Review (due Week 6)
Go to the Blackboard Week 5 Assignment 2: Peer Review section and complete a
Peer Review of a classmate’s speech in Connect. Note: Peer Review is graded
separately and due by Week 6.
Go to the Blackboard Week 5 Assignment 2: Peer Review section and notify the
instructor in Blackboard that your peer review is ready to be graded.
Rubric
Grading for this assignment will be based on the following rubric:
Points: 115 Assignment 2: Informative 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. Introduction
Weight: 10%
Does not gain
attention and
interest,
and/or does
not preview
main points
Insufficiently
gains attention
and interest or
insufficiently
previews main
points
Some problems
with gaining
attention and
interest and/or
with previewing
main points
Gains
attention and
interest,
generally
previews main
points
Gains attention
and interest,
previews main
points
2. Research
Weight: 15%
Does not cite
any credible
sources,
and/or
insufficiently
supports main
points
Cites only one
credible source,
insufficiently
supports at least
one main point
Cites at least
two credible
sources, but
lacks support for
at least one
main point
Cites at least
two credible
sources that
generally
support main
points
Cites at least
two credible
sources that
support main
points
3. Conclusion
Weight: 10%
Does not
reinforce
central idea,
and/or does
not use strong
closing
Insufficiently
reinforces
central idea or
uses weak
closing
Some problems
with reinforcing
central idea
and/or with
using strong
closing
Reinforces
central idea,
uses generally
strong closing
Reinforces
central idea,
uses strong
closing
4. Speech Limited or no Insufficiently Some problems Well Well organized,
COM201 – The Power of Effective Speaking
© 2018 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information
and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of
Strayer University.
COM 201 FACULTY GUIDE 1182 (01-02-18) Page 4 of 4
Organization
Weight: 15%
organization,
and/or limited
or no logical
structure
organized or
insufficiently
structured
with organization
and/or with
logical structure
organized,
generally
logical
structure
logical structure
5. Time
Requirement
Weight: 10%
5-6 minutes
+/- 75 seconds
5-6 minutes +/-
60 seconds
5-6 minutes +/-
45 seconds
5-6 minutes
+/- 30 seconds
5-6 minutes +/-
15 seconds
6. 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
7. Technology
Use
Weight: 10%
Limited or no
audio, video,
and/or other
technology
Problems with
clarity and
consistency
throughout
Some problems
with clarity and
consistency
Generally
clear and
consistent
Clear and
consistent
throughout
8. Overall
Effectiveness
Weight: 15%
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