Rubric for

Book Talk
Criteria
Introduction
attracts audience
Maintains eye
contact
Discusses the plot,
setting, and
characters (x2)
Discusses the
theme

Excellent
10-8

Above Average
7-5

Average
4-2

Below Average
1-0

Exceptional
creative beginning
with an excellent
quote
Always maintains
eye contact and
engages audience
Thorough and
interesting
summary of these
elements.

Creative beginning
with a good quote

Not a very creative

or interesting
beginning with a
quote
Sometimes
maintains eye
contact
Average summary
of the elements

Not a very good

beginning with no
quote

Almost always
maintains eye
contact
Somewhat
thorough and
interesting
summary of these
elements
Correctly discusses Correctly discusses
theme and makes
theme but fails to
an educated
elaborate on the
argument for the
importance
theme of the novel

Conclusion makes
us want to read the
book (or not read
the book)

Very enticing
conclusion draws
the listener to read
the book

Demonstrates
enthusiasm for the
book
Audible

Very enthusiastic
and
knowledgeable
Voice is clear,
words are
pronounced
correctly and
tempo is good.
Visual aid is well
done, colorful, and
very helpful to the
presentation
Within 4:45-5:15
minutes

Visual aid

Stays within time

limit

Somewhat
interesting
conclusionlistener might
want to read the
book
Somewhat
enthusiastic and
knowledgeable
Voice is mostly
clear and audible,
Pronunciation is
mostly correct.
Visual aid is
colorful, and
helpful to the
presentation
Between 4:00-4:44
minutes

Discusses theme
but is incorrect or
not very thorough
in their
elaboration of
theme
Concluded but did
not draw the
listener to read the
book
Shows average
enthusiasm and
understanding
Sometimes hard to
understand or
hear the student.
Mispronounces
common words.
Visual aid is
completed and
might be helpful to
the presentation
Between 3:00-3:59
minutes

Never maintains
eye contact
Does not
summarize these
elements or is
missing a
component.
Does not discuss
theme or makes a
very general
statement about
the theme
Very boring
conclusion or no
conclusion at all

Not enthusiastic at
all
Spoken word is too
soft, mumble,
speaking much too
fast or slow
Visual aid is not
done or very
poorly done
Too short or too
long