Microphysics presentations

AGRON 590

Rubric for oral presentations

The following rubric gives examples of the standards expected for each major component of your presentation.

Criterion Excellent Very Good Adequate Unsatisfactory

Content mastery Thoroughly understands all aspects of the material presented. Adds context and detail to slides or other visual materials. Can explain further when called upon to do so. Understands the essential aspects of the material presented but has some gaps in mastery of details. Understands the basic points of the material presented but has trouble with in-depth explanations. Unable to interpret material in a meaningful physical context. Reads directly from slides or notes without adding context or explanation. Does not understand terms in equations presented.

Visual materials Text and images are clear and are appropriate to the ideas being discussed. Not too many or too few visual materials. Carefully proofread, with no errors in grammar or spelling. Text and images are clear. May have too many slides (or other visual materials) so that presentation is rushed. Text and/or images are mostly appropriate but some are unclear. Text on some slides may be too small or some images may be blurry. Labels on some graphs are too small to be readable. Too many words on text slides. Some slides may have grammatical or spelling errors. Visual materials are unclear or poorly organized. Little evidence of careful construction; for example, text may have grammatical or spelling errors. May include extraneous material as decoration or filler.

Delivery and engagement Speaks clearly and engages the entire audience. Speaks loudly enough to be heard throughout the room. Speaks clearly. Attempts to engage the audience's attention. Speaks clearly, but with some hesitation. May have some distracting mannerisms (for example, rising intonation at the ends of sentences). Attempts to engage the audience's attention but may focus mainly on one individual in the audience, such as a friend or the instructor. Does not speak clearly. Mostly faces the projector screen or reads from notes.

Summary/conclusions Unifies the material presented and brings it to a logical end. Clarifies the takeaway message for the audience. Main points are well summarized but with some gaps or extraneous details. A summary is shown but not clearly explained. The speaker does not emphasize the main takeaway points Ends abruptly with no summary or conclusions. May have a perfunctory summary slide that merely lists a few points discussed in the presentation.

Questions Responds to questions from the audience with ease and confidence. It is obvious that the presenter understands the assumptions, limitations, and larger context of the material. Responds well to questions, though with some hesitancy. Responds to basic questions about the material but lacking in depth of understanding. May attempt to bluff their way through questions instead of frankly admitting lack of knowledge. Unable to clarify basic aspects of the material when asked.

Criterion	Excellent	Very Good	Adequate	Unsatisfactory
Content mastery	Thoroughly understands all aspects of the material presented. Adds context and detail to slides or other visual materials. Can explain further when called upon to do so.	Understands the essential aspects of the material presented but has some gaps in mastery of details.	Understands the basic points of the material presented but has trouble with in-depth explanations.	Unable to interpret material in a meaningful physical context. Reads directly from slides or notes without adding context or explanation. Does not understand terms in equations presented.
Visual materials	Text and images are clear and are appropriate to the ideas being discussed. Not too many or too few visual materials. Carefully proofread, with no errors in grammar or spelling.	Text and images are clear. May have too many slides (or other visual materials) so that presentation is rushed.	Text and/or images are mostly appropriate but some are unclear. Text on some slides may be too small or some images may be blurry. Labels on some graphs are too small to be readable. Too many words on text slides. Some slides may have grammatical or spelling errors.	Visual materials are unclear or poorly organized. Little evidence of careful construction; for example, text may have grammatical or spelling errors. May include extraneous material as decoration or filler.
Delivery and engagement	Speaks clearly and engages the entire audience. Speaks loudly enough to be heard throughout the room.	Speaks clearly. Attempts to engage the audience's attention.	Speaks clearly, but with some hesitation. May have some distracting mannerisms (for example, rising intonation at the ends of sentences). Attempts to engage the audience's attention but may focus mainly on one individual in the audience, such as a friend or the instructor.	Does not speak clearly. Mostly faces the projector screen or reads from notes.
Summary/conclusions	Unifies the material presented and brings it to a logical end. Clarifies the takeaway message for the audience.	Main points are well summarized but with some gaps or extraneous details.	A summary is shown but not clearly explained. The speaker does not emphasize the main takeaway points	Ends abruptly with no summary or conclusions. May have a perfunctory summary slide that merely lists a few points discussed in the presentation.
Questions	Responds to questions from the audience with ease and confidence. It is obvious that the presenter understands the assumptions, limitations, and larger context of the material.	Responds well to questions, though with some hesitancy.	Responds to basic questions about the material but lacking in depth of understanding. May attempt to bluff their way through questions instead of frankly admitting lack of knowledge.	Unable to clarify basic aspects of the material when asked.