Category: Business

SCENARIO: Select an organization you are familiar with or have worked for (currently or in the past). You are tasked with analyzing the organization both internally and externally using some of the tools and frameworks you have learned in this course. You are also tasked with recommending changes to the organizations strategy and structure, in addition to considering associated ethical implications. This assignment requires you to apply SWOT analysis, PESTEL analysis, Porters Five Forces of Industry Analysis, Porters Generic Strategies, and organization design concepts related to strategy-structure fit. You will prepare a slide deck containing your analysis and recommendations that could be presented to the organizations Board.

ASSIGNMENT: Your presentation will be 11-14 slides long, not including the title and references slides. It must include the following slides:

• Title
• Executive Summary
• Organization Background
• Internal Strengths
• Internal Weaknesses
• External Opportunities
• External Threats
• Macro Environment Analysis: PESTEL
• Micro Industry Analysis: Porters Five Forces
• Generic Strategy Recommendations
• Organization Design Recommendations
• Ethical Considerations
• References

If youve never used a presentation tool like PowerPoint or Google Slides before, dont worry! The assignment template below will help you create slides for a basic slide presentation. Then youll be able to practice using the presentation technology as you put the finishing touches on your presentation.

Before you get started, lets look at how youll be building the presentation, step by step.

Helpful Links:

A. Directions

Step 1: Choose an Organization

Select an organization that you are familiar with.

The most successful learners select an organization that is a public company with readily available information to meet the analysis requirements of the rubric. These successful learners do not rely solely on their personal knowledge but instead use evidence from references to support points in the touchstone.

Learners that struggle with this touchstone are those who select an organization that is small, hyper-local, non-profit, or governmental; this includes municipalities or the company they work for. We suggest you avoid organizations in these categories.

Organizations that should NOT be used include:

• Amazon
• Amnesty International
• US Bank
• Walmart
• Tesla

• C. Requirements

  The following requirements must be met for your submission:

  • All content must be appropriate for an academic context.
  • Composition must be original and written for this assignment.
  • Reference slide must include at least four sources.
  • Presentation must include speaker notes for every slide.
  • Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
  • Submission must include your name and the date.
  • File format must be .pptx.

Overview

When a business shifts its strategic focus, it often must address legal and ethical concerns before it can operationalize its plan. This is because organizations are mandated to operate within legal frameworks and ethical considerations set by various authorities.

You are now in a similar situation.

While you completed the KPI analysis in Project Two, the companys legal team reviewed the same set of documents to identify and address any legal or ethical concerns.

The CEO has forwarded you a memo from the legal team that discusses these legal and ethical concerns. The marketing and sales proposal must be revised to address these issues, or it will not be approved by the legal team.

The CEO has requested that you prepare a draft response identifying one legal issue and one ethical issue, and one recommendation for each issue, so you can receive feedback before you finalize your response in Project Three. Communication received from a legal department is not always easy for someone outside the field to interpret. Therefore, you must review legalese language carefully to isolate the key issues and concerns.

Prompt

Your task is to begin drafting your response to the legal and ethical concerns raised by your companys legal team using the Project Three Milestone Response Memo Template provided below in the Guidelines for Submission. Include the following criteria:

1. Review the following resources you will be using in Project Three: Applying Ethical and Legal Frameworks:
2. Identify one legal and one ethical issue raised by the legal team. Remember you need to isolate the issues from the legalese to provide leadership with a clear interpretation of your findings.
3. Develop a recommendation that addresses both the legal and ethical issues you have identified.
   1. What do you intend to recommend? How will your recommendation resolve the issue? Explain your reasoning. Please use the links found in the Memo from Legal Department as research sources for citations.

What to Submit

Using the , draft a memo that is 1- to 2-pages in length, and include references cited in APA format. Consult the for more information on citations.

Project Three Milestone Rubric

Criteria	Exceeds Expectations (100%)	Meets Expectations (90%)	Partially Meets Expectations (70%)	Does Not Meet Expectations (0%)	Value
One Legal Concern	Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner	Clearly identifies and addresses legal concerns related to a business case	Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include providing one example of a legal concern	Does not attempt criterion	30
One Ethical Concern	Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner	Clearly identifies and addresses ethical concerns related to a business case	Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include providing one example of an ethical concern	Does not attempt criterion	30
Recommendation	Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner	Develops a recommendation that addresses both the legal and ethical issues	Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include identifying and distinguishing between legal and ethical concerns	Does not attempt criterion	20
Clear Communication	Exceeds expectations with an intentional use of language that promotes a thorough understanding	Consistently and effectively communicates in an organized way to a specific audience	Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but communication is inconsistent or ineffective in a way that negatively impacts understanding	Shows no evidence of consistent, effective, or organized communication	20
Total:					100%

Instructions

Step 1: Choose a Topic

• You will give a five-minute presentation on a topic related to business communications. Pretend you are addressing a group of colleagues at a staff meeting.
• Since you will not be able to share a screen, it is recommended that you do not try to teach people how to use a technology, but some other best practice. You may do something related to technology, as long as you do not need to do a demonstration. Use of visual aids is optional and will not be assessed directly.
• Example topics could be:

• Humor at work: whats appropriate and whats not
• How to soothe an angry customer on the phone
• How to give constructive criticism in person
• Advice for professional emails

• These are some suggestions, but you can select any topic that is related to workplace communication and which can be explained in five minutes.

Step 2: Prepare Your Presentation

• Write an outline with key points you want to make in the presentation.
• Practice and time your presentation to optimize your use of five minutes.
• Dress appropriately and find a background that is uncluttered and well-lit.

Step 3: Record Your Video

• Record a 5-minute video of yourself delivering your presentation.
• You must be seen on camera so graders can evaluate your nonverbal communication skills.
• Use of visual aids is optional. If you use any, be sure they are visible on screen.
• Review your video to make sure you like the results and that the recording was successful.

Step 4: Submit Your Video

• When you are happy with the results, submit your video for a grade.
• Any format of video is allowed, but it must be smaller than 8 gigabytes.

Overview

In the previous few weeks, you and your company have taken significant strides towards adopting triple bottom line (TBL) as a business model.

It’s now time to step back for a moment and reflect on the importance of TBL in todays world!

Prompt

Your task is to draft an executive summary on why TBL is being adopted by companies as an ethical frameworka way of assuring sustainable and ethical commitments to CSR initiatives.

Address the following criteria in the executive summary:

• Identify the advantages and disadvantages of adopting the TBL model.
  • Summarize what a company may gain from adopting the TBL model.
• Analyze how a balanced scorecard can assist a company in measuring its TBL performance.
  • Consider how each perspective of the Balanced Scorecard can be aligned with the three pillars of TBL (people, profit, planet).
  • What are the potential challenges or limitations of using a balanced scorecard to measure TBL performance?

What to Submit

In a Word document, use double-spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. This executive summary should be 2 to 3 pages in length and include references cited in APA format. Consult the for more information on citations.

Module Seven Executive Summary Rubric

Criteria	Exceeds Expectations (100%)	Meets Expectations (90%)	Partially Meets Expectations (70%)	Does Not Meet Expectations (0%)	Value
Advantages and Disadvantages	Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner	Identifies the advantages and disadvantages of adopting the TBL model	Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include identifying one advantage and one disadvantage of adopting the TBL model	Does not attempt criterion	20
TBL and Balanced Scorecard	Exceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner	Accurately analyzes how a balanced scorecard can assist a company in measuring its TBL performance	Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include explaining how a balanced scorecard is used as a success measurement tool	Does not attempt criterion	60
Clear Communication	Exceeds expectations with an intentional use of language that promotes a thorough understanding	Consistently and effectively communicates in an organized way to a specific audience	Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but communication is inconsistent or ineffective in a way that negatively impacts understanding	Shows no evidence of consistent, effective, or organized communication	20
Total:					100%

Jeffry; Unit 6 Assignment Directions: Reflection Ethical Dispositions

Purpose

A crucial aspect of entrepreneurship is personal assessmenta critical look at your personal disposition, mindset, and skillset and how they relate to your possible entrance into a new venture. For this assignment, you are considering your ethical leanings. To do that, this unit you will engage in a self-assessment and personal reflection.

Task

• Take this short assessment;
• Reflect: Write a 250-word personal reflection on your results.
  • What is your reaction to the results of this assessment?
  • Do your results support your interest in a new venture?
  • Do your results surprise you in any way?
  • Do they present anything you could work on?
  • Do they steer you toward what you could or will do?

see attached. stick to 1 page

Unit 6 Discussion: Business Plan Peer Review

Purpose

In this unit, you will delve into the intricate world of entrepreneurship, refining and enhancing your business plan while critically evaluating ethical and social responsibility aspects.

Participating in this discussion will allow you to demonstrate critical thinking, business planning, interpersonal communications, ethical standards and conduct, customer relations and management, social responsibility, and employee relations.

Task

For this discussion board, you will continue to work on the business plan that you created in Unit 5 with the goal of perfecting your own personal plan. For this dialogue, you will review, critique, and make suggestions on each other’s business plans. In order to do this, you will be posting your business plan and offering it up for suggestions. You will also be reflecting on ethical and social responsibility issues regarding your business plan and reflecting on those of your classmates.

At this point, you have already developed a business plan that should be somewhat complete. However, like any plan, it can always get better. As in previous units where we alternated between creative and analytical phases, this unit will primarily be analyticalevaluating previous work while adding discussion of ethics and social responsibility.

Your initial post should include the following:

• Briefly describe your venture (for context).
• Reflect on the ethical principles and their application to your venture.
• What ethical principles are applicable to your venture?
• Which social responsibility issues are relevant to your venture?
• What core stakeholders could be affected by your venture?
• What could be done to create the most positive social and ethical outcomes?

You should also attach your completed business plan as a Word document

Unit 6: Entrepreneurship vs. Intrapreneurship

Due on Mar 25, 2026 2:59 AM

Purpose:

The purpose of this discussion is to explore the concepts of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, focusing on the challenges and motivations associated with each.

Tasks:

Challenges and Motivations of Intrapreneurship:

Describe some of the challenges faced when trying to affect change within an existing organization. Consider factors such as organizational culture, resistance to change, and resource limitations. Provide real-life examples.

Challenges and Motivations of Entrepreneurship:

Describe the challenges of being an entrepreneur within an existing organization. How do these challenges differ from those faced by traditional entrepreneurs starting their own businesses?

Pros and Cons of Owning Your Own Business vs. Working Within an Existing Business:

Compare the benefits and drawbacks of owning your own business versus working within an existing business. Consider aspects such as autonomy, financial risk, stability, and growth opportunities. Provide real-life examples.

Reflect on your personal preferences and career goals. Which path do you find more appealing and why?

Submission

Ensure that your substantive initial post includes supported evidence from reliable sources, including the textbook and other required readings as well as your own research. Remember to reference these sources using in-text citations and a references list.

Write a three-page paper using the five-step consumer decision-making model, describing a complex purchasing decision you have made in the past. Explain each step of the decision-making process in a separate paragraph, and analyze how human motivation theories, such as Maslows hierarchy of needs, influenced your decision.

Expand All

Introduction

Consumer behavior is one of the most intriguing topics in marketing, offering insights into why consumers buy certain products but not others and what drives specific items to become must-haves. To understand these behaviors, it’s essential to grasp the role of consumer behavior within the discipline of marketing and various approaches to decision-making. While pinpointing exact reasons behind every consumer action can be challenging, recognizing overarching themes like convenience provides valuable insights.

The complexity in consumer behavior creates numerous categories of customers and a wide range of product choices. Understanding how consumer behavior has evolved and anticipating future trends is crucial for marketers aiming to meet customer needs and enhance profitability. One such approach involves examining the standardized process consumers often follow during complex purchasing decisions, as detailed in theories related to models for consumer decision-making.

For this assessment, you will review and describe the five-step consumer decision-making model. Using this framework, you will also detail a complex personal purchasing experience, breaking down each step into separate paragraphs. Additionally, reflect on how human motivation theories, such as Maslows hierarchy of needs, influenced your decision process.

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate proficiency in analyzing consumer behavior within complex purchasing decisions, applying a consumer decision-making model, describing the influence of the decision process on behavior, and evaluating how human motivation impacts consumer decision-making.

Preparation

To prepare for this assessment, please review the following about the consumer decision-making process.

Consumer Decision-Making Process

Although there can be great variation in the types of goods and services consumers purchase, most consumers employ some version of a fairly standardized process for certain types of complex purchasing decisions. Understanding the theories related to models for consumer decision-making is a first step for marketers who want to make sense of consumers’ actions.

Many variables affect the type of decision processes a consumer will use, but patterns in decision-making do emerge. For example, when a consumer is buying their first car or first home, the consumer is likely to fully engage in each of the steps in the consumer decision-making process. In contrast, when a consumer becomes loyal to a particular brand of cars and is about to buy their eleventh vehicle, they may truncate the decision-making process.

Overview

Consumer behavior is one of the most interesting topics in the discipline of marketing. Attempting to understand why consumers buy certain products, but not others, or why a particular product becomes a must-have item requires some detective work. To engage in these types of activities, it is necessary to understand the role of consumer behavior within the discipline of marketing, as well as the different approaches to consumer decision-making. Although understanding precisely why consumers behave the way they do is not always possible, it is generally possible to understand themes or the overarching rationale for certain types of behavior. For example, convenience is a theme that pervades an enormous number of goods and services.

The wide range of consumer preferences creates many different categories of customers and a large number of choices of products. Because of the variability within consumer behavior, it is important to know how consumer behavior has evolved and what trends may appear in the future. By understanding how consumer decision-making impacts the products that are available now and in the future, marketers may help direct their companies to decisions that meet customer needs and bring greater profitability.

Instructions

As consumers, we all undergo a decision-making process when considering which products to purchase and use. Some consumer decisions are more complex than others, and the more complex a decision, the more likely it is the consumer will utilize the steps in the process.

• Review the consumer decision-making model in the course textbook or research online resources about the five-step consumer decision-making process, then describe the steps in the model.
• Use the consumer decision-making model in a step-by-step fashion to describe how you experienced a complex purchasing decision in your personal life.
• For clarity, describe each step in a separate paragraph.
• Include additional comments at the end of the submission describing how a clearly defined theory of human motivation, such as Maslows hierarchy of needs, impacted the process of your consumer decision-making.

Use proper APA style and formatting. The content of your assessment should determine its length. Visit for help with APA.

Additional Requirements

Your paper should also meet the following requirements:

• Written communication: Written communication is free from errors that detract from the overall message.
• Page length: Minimum of three pages.
• APA format: Use appropriate APA format for a clear, concise presentation of information. Communicate information and ideas accurately, utilizing peer-reviewed sources, including proper APA reference citations.
• Number of resources: Use at least three APA-formatted in-text citations and accompanying congruent APA-formatted references.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 2: Explain human motivation and the relationship to the consumer decision making process.
  • Analyze consumer behavior within a complex purchasing decision.
  • Apply a consumer decision-making model to the purchasing decision.
  • Analyze how human motivation impacts consumer decision-making.
• Competency 5: Communicate effectively using professional standards embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Describe how the decision process influenced consumer behavior.

My topic would be “The Benefits of Pets for Mental Health.” I would like to discuss how animals aid in the recovery of people hospitalized for various health issues, and how they can assist children and adults on the autism spectrum. Generally, individuals with autism are averse to physical contact; however, through their interactions with animalsspecifically cats and dogsthey often begin to accept affection and physical touch. I also intend to cover how animals provide support to people suffering from depression and anxiety.

AI and Library Research Assignment

Information Literacy is the ability to locate, evaluate, and use information efficiently and ethically. In a world of generative AI, it has become increasingly difficult to achieve information literacy. Sorting real information from fake information or AI-generated information is often challenging. This is true not only when viewing news reports, images, and social media posts, but also when conducting research for papers, speeches, etc. Students often rely on Large Language Model sources like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Co-Pilot, etc. to find the information needed for these projects. While these sources can certainly be helpful, they are not infallible, and over-reliance on them can lead to many problems. This assignment is designed to help you understand both the benefits and potential drawbacks of AI research and compare it to more traditional research methods.

This assignment requires the use of both an AI source and traditional library resources to conduct research on a topic that might be used for a speech. You will follow the steps below to find the requested sources, evaluate them on the requested criteria, properly cite them in MLA format, and compare the research methods. NOTE: If you use the same topic you plan to use for your Informative with Presentational Aid or Problem-Solution Persuasive speech for this assignment, you may be able to use some of the research found here in the development of that speech (thus, saving yourself some time in the long run).

Instructions

Step 1: Review the 6 Things to Know about AI Infographic from the News Literacy Project and the AI-related documents from your textbook publisher, McGraw-Hill (20-25 minutes)

This 6-Things to Know about AI infographic, developed by the News Literacy Project, provides an overview of some of the benefits and challenges of AI-use. The AI: What It Is and When to Use It and AI: Using the Tools Ethically documents, developed by McGraw-Hill (your textbook publisher) provide a deeper look into some of those benefits and challenges. Review these documents carefully, you will be asked to highlight a key takeaway in your deliverable for this assignment.

Step 2: Choose a Topic (10 minutes)

Choose a topic you are interested in and that is broad enough to yield multiple sources. (As noted above, if you choose a topic that you plan to use for one of your future speeches (Informative with Presentational Aid or Problem-Solution Persuasive) you may be able to use the research you find here in that speech.) If you’re stuck on a topic, I’ve created a list of topics/research questions that you can choose from for this assignment. Note that some of these lend themselves to informative speeches, while others are more persuasive… so keep that in mind if you choose to develop a speech on one of these topics. You are NOT required to use one of these topics… the list is just a resource if you need it. It can be found here:

Step 3: Conduct TWO research sessions (see below)

Research Session A: Using AI Tools (30-45 minutes)

• Use an Large Language Model AI tool like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Co-Pilot.
• Create a prompt asking the AI for sources related to your topic. Example: I am doing a speech on the significance of graphic novels and need at least 4 good research sources.”
• Locate two of the suggested sources provided by the AI (not just the AIs response). This means going to the original source (link, article, book, etc.). IMPORTANT NOTE: If the AI provides invalid links or sources you cannot verify or locate, you should make note of this as it will be important in step 6 of this assignment.

Research Session B: Using Traditional Library Resources (30-45 minutes)

• Use one of OCC’s general library databases (e.g., Academic One File, JSTOR, Academic Search Complete, etc.). You can find these by clicking: and choosing the appropriate database from the list. Note you will need your OCC login information if accessing databases off campus.
• Locate two credible sources on your topic (not just the abstract in the database). This means going to the original source (link, article, book, etc.). NOTE: If you check the “Full Text” option in your search your results will include only those documents that can be found online (thus eliminating the need to find hard copies in library).

Step 4: Evaluate the Sources (45 minutes)

For each of the four (4) sources you have (2 AI-located sources + 2 library database-located sources), evaluate the following criteria by considering posed questions:

• Credibility: Who is the author and/or publisher? Is the author qualified to write on this topic? How do you know? Is the publication a credible source? How do you know?
• Objectivity and Bias: What perspective does the source represent? Is it objective or slanted? Does the publication and/or author have a bias? How do you know?
• Reliability and Thoroughness of Coverage: Is the information backed by evidence? Can it be verified? Are sources and a bibliography provided? Is the topic covered in significant depth? Is it missing any important information?
• Currency: Check the publication date of the source to ensure its currency and relevance. Some topics evolve rapidly, and older sources may not reflect the most current information. How long ago was the article published and does the date matter for this topic?
• Usefulness for Purposes: If you were doing a speech on this topic would you use this source, why or why not?

Format your information similar to the table below (see sample completed assignment below):

Topic:	Identify your topic
Source #1- Found Via AI:	Identify tool used		Source #3- Found Via Library Database:	Identify database used
Source Title and Publication:			Source Title and Publication:
Credibility:			Credibility:
Objectivity and Bias:			Objectivity and Bias:
Reliability and Thoroughness:			Reliability and Thoroughness:
Currency:			Currency:
Usefulness:			Usefulness:
Source #2- Found Via AI:	Identify tool used		Source #4- Found Via Library Database:	Identify database used
Source Title and Publication:			Source Title and Publication:
Credibility:			Credibility:
Objectivity and Bias:			Objectivity and Bias:
Reliability and Thoroughness:			Reliability and Thoroughness:
Currency:			Currency:
Usefulness:			Usefulness:

Step 5: MLA Citations (15 minutes)

Create a correctly formatted MLA Works Cited list of your four sources (see and/or for examples of proper source citation sources). ALSO, include an MLA citation for your AI interaction (see below). Thus, your Works Cited list should have 5 citations.

Example MLA citation for ChatGPT:

ChatGPT. Response to I am doing a speech on the significance of graphic novels and need at least 4 good research sources. OpenAI, 8 August 2025, chat.openai.com.

Step 6: Reflect in Writing (30 minutes)

In a 1- to 2-page reflection (5 paragraphs as detailed below, about 250-350 words), respond to the following (please write in complete sentences):

• 1- paragraph: What was one key point you took from the 6 Things to Know About AI infographic and one key point you took from the AI: What it is and When to Use it and AI: Using the Tools Ethically documents?
• 1-paragraph: What were the strengths and weaknesses of each method of research (AI and Library)?
• 1-paragraph: Based on your analysis in Step 4, which sources do you think are more reliable or useful? Were any of the AI sources “hallucinations”, i.e were there any with invalid links or articles/books, etc. that you could not locate? Use examples to support your claims.
• 1-paragraph: What surprised you about using AI tools and/or library databases for research? Use examples to support your claims.
• 1-paragraph: How might this experience influence your future research process?

Deliverables for this Assignment

To be clear on what you need to submit. You should have 3 things in your submission:

1. A table with your analysis of the 4 sources you located (2 AI and 2 Library database) in the format shown above.
2. An MLA format Works Cited with a total of 5 entries – the 4 sources + your AI interaction citation.
3. A 5-paragraph (1-2 pages) reflection as indicated in step 6 above.

Sample Assignment

Below is a sample assignment for your review:

Informative Speech with Presentational Aid Guidelines

Informative speaking is the most common type of public speaking, and the one you are most likely to do as you progress in your career. Presentational Aids, including visual and audio aids, help convey information to audiences in unique and interesting ways.

General Presentation Parameters

• Educate us on a topic of your choosing and use presentational aids to help convey information.
• You accomplish this goal through clear organization, good support materials, well-developed presentational aids, and engaging delivery.
• Teach, don’t preach. Educate, don’t advocate.
• Pick a topic you would like to share with the audience (it should be something you find interesting)
• Decide which type of informative speech you will be delivering (Definition, Demonstration, Description, or Explanation). See Chapter 15 for reminders on the parameters of each.
• Research your topic and find a minimum of 3 credible sources.
• Develop clear purpose and central idea.
• Keep your audience (the class) in mind while preparing.
• Develop 2-4 clear main points with transitions and strong support materials, including examples, stories, testimony, statistics, etc.
• Develop strong introduction and conclusion.
• Prepare your presentational aids – this can be physical objects or an electronic presentation (PowerPoint, Google Slides, Prezi or other electronic presentation slides). You might also use audio aids like music, or videos. See Chapter 9 for more information on what makes a good presentational aid.
• Create a Full-Sentence outline following the format in Chapter 12, including Specific Purpose and Central Idea and Works Cited/Bibliography.
• Practice your speech at least 4 times before your speech date. TIME YOURSELF. The time limit for this speech is 5-8 minutes.

Specific Content Guidelines:

• The purpose of an informative speech is to educate your audience. You should not be convincing the audience to do, believe or change anything you should be teaching them about something.
• Develop a clear purpose for your presentation and use your presentational aid to help you achieve that purpose.
• Visual aids are often used to clarify technical information or numerical information; to project visual images and/or to demonstrate how to do something.
• Visuals can bring information to life for your audience, but they need to be used effectively and they need to be neat and professional.
• You will need to conduct research on your topic using credible sources and recording all needed information, as you will need to cite your sources in both your speech and your bibliography.
• This may be a speech of Definition, Description, Demonstration or an Expository speech.

Audience:

• The class is your audience for this speech you cannot “pretend” to be speaking to another audience.
• Therefore, think about what you know about your audience already.
• Ask yourself all those important questions about this audience: how can you get them interested in your topic? What do they know already? What will you have to explain more thoroughly? How can you engage them in the speech? What concerns or objections might they have to your information? What types of support materials will help enhance your credibility with them?
• The week before the speech we will have a workshop during which you will have further opportunity to talk to your audience so you can speak more directly to them.

Sources:

You need a minimum of 3 sources for this speech. They should be credible and cited in your presentation.

Time Limit:

5- to 7-minutes

Organizational Guidelines:

• You should have a fully developed introduction, body, and conclusion. See chapters 10-11 if you need guidance. Organization is a critical component of success in informative speaking.

Delivery Guidelines:

• Put notes on cards, not paper.
• Practice your presentation at least 4 or 5 times, preferably standing up in front of other people.
• Strive for conversational style, fluency, energy, and eye-contact.
• Try moving around a little- take a step at transition points try to get comfortable .

Written Portion:

• You need to submit a typed, full-sentence outline, including bibliography to me BEFORE you speak. You may submit this outline in hard copy format or you may submit it to the relevant dropbox, but it MUST be in the dropbox before class time on the day of your speech.

Grading Criteria:

• Organization how well you organized your thoughts into main points, use of transitions, logic of organizational structure 10 points
• Introduction/Conclusion How well you grabbed the audience’s attention, previewed your main points, reviewed your points at the end and “wound up” the presentation 10 points
• Effective Preparation of and Use of Visual Aid 16 points
• Content and Use of Support Materials clarity of information; clear purpose; use of examples, etc. to bring information to life; source citations 24 points
• Audience Adaptation – how well you connected with your audience – 5 pts
• Delivery vocal and physical 10 points
• Overall Presentation/Effectiveness Including establishment of Need to Know- 5 points
• Adherence to Time Limits – 5 pts
• Outline– inclusion of all required elements, proper numerical structure/format and full-sentence format, submitted BEFORE presentation 5 points

• Rubric Name: Informative with Presentational Aid Speech Rubric

  Intro and Conclusion	0 points	Needs work2.5 points	Fair3.5 points	Good4 points	Excellent5 points	Criterion Score
  Introduction: Well developed, memorable introduction that includes good attention-getter, audience adaptation statement, clear topic statement, credibility statement and preview of main points	Did not meet requirements	Missing many requirements	Met some requirements	Met most requirements	Met all requirements	/ 5
  Conclusion: Full, memorable conclusion including review of main points, clear signal of ending	Did not meet requirements	Missing many requirements	Met some requirements	Met most requirements	Met all requirements	/ 5

  Body Organization	0 points	Needs work6 points	Fair7 points	Good8 points	Excellent10 points	Criterion Score
  Main Points – Clarity and logic: 2-4 Main points; transitions or parallel language used to clarify and keep audience on track; Main points are organized in a logical way to achieve purpose of speech; sub-points develop and support them	Did not meet requirements	Missing many requirements	Met some requirements	Met most requirements	Met all requirements	/ 10

  Content and Support materials	0 points	Needs significant work6 points	Needs work7 points	Fair8.5 points	Good9.5 points	Excellent12 points	Criterion Score
  Central Idea/Thesis and Purpose: Purpose of the speech is clear; Thesis/Central Idea is clearly stated and fully developed in each point; clear evidence between thesis, assertions and evidence	Did not meet requirements	Did not meet requirements	Missing many requirements	Met some requirements	Met most requirements	Met all requirements	/ 12
  Support Materials: Used strong support materials including examples, stories, statistics, testimony, etc. effectively to support and clarify claims and information; sources are cited throughout speech	Did not meet requirements	Did not meet requirements	Missing many requirements	Met some requirements	Met most requirements	Met all requirements	/ 12

  Audience Adaptation	1 point	Needs work2.5 points	Fair3.5 points	Good4 points	Excellent5 points	Criterion Score
  Relation to audience: Techniques are used to capture audience; appeals are directed specifically to the audience; topic appropriate for audience	Did not meet requirements	Did not meet requirements	Met some requirements	Met most requirements	Met all requirements	/ 5

  Delivery	2 points	Needs some work6 points	Fair7 points	Good8 points	Excellent10 points	Criterion Score
  Delivery: Strong delivery; good vocal inflection, rate, volume, etc. Good energy level. Fluent, engaging and enthusiastic. Good use of extemp style, facial expressions appropriate; nervousness not apparent	Did not meet requirements	Did not meet requirements	Met some requirements	Met most requirements	Met all requirements	/ 10

  Effective Use of Presentational Aid	0 points	Needs work4.5 points	Fair5.5 points	Good6.5 points	Excellent8 points	Criterion Score
  Used presentational aid to support and develop content of presentation; enhanced presentation	Did not meet requirements	Did not meet requirements	Met some requirements	Met most requirements	Met all requirements	/ 8
  Presentational aids were chosen/designed effectively; neat, clean designs that follow standards for good visual aids	Did not meet requirements	Did not meet requirements	Met some requirements	Met most requirements	Met all requirements	/ 8

  Effectiveness and Time Limits	0 points	Needs work2.5 points	Fair3.5 points	Good4 points	Excellent5 points	Criterion Score
  Overall Effectiveness of presentation, including establishment of Need to Know: Well developed presentation that achieved its goal; clear need to know established and maintained throughout presentation	Did not meet requirements	Did not meet requirements	Met some requirements	Met most requirements	Met all requirements	/ 5
  Time limit	Did not meet requirements	Did not meet requirements	Met some requirements	Met most requirements	Met all requirements	/ 5

  Outline	0 points	Partially correct0.5 points	Partially Correct0.75 points	Included and Correct1 point	Criterion Score
  Specific Purpose is included at top of outline and is in proper format	Not included	Included but not in proper format	Included but not in proper format	Included and in proper format	/ 1
  Central Idea is included at top of outline and is in proper format	Not included	Included but not in proper format	Included but not in proper format	Included and in proper format	/ 1
  Numbering is consistent and follows requirements as stated in text; proper subordination of points	Nomenclature and subordination not correct	Nomenclature and subordination partially correct	Nomenclature and subordination partially correct	Nomenclature and subordination correct	/ 1
  Full Sentence Format is used throughout the outline; bibliography in proper MLA format	Full sentence format not used and bibliography not included	Full sentence format not consistently employed and/or bibliography not consistently in MLA format	Full sentence format not consistently employed or bibliography not consistently in MLA format	Full sentence format employed and bibliography in proper MLA format	/ 1
  All parts of outline included (Intro, Body, & Conclusion labeled; transitions included.)	Missing more than 2 parts of the outline	Missing 2 parts of the outline	Missing one part of the outline	All required parts of outline (as discussed in chapter 12) included	/ 1

  TotalScore of Informative with Presentational Aid Speech Rubric,/ 90