CATEGORY 5 4 3 2-1

Knows the Poem The performers know The performers know The performers know The performer could
the poem well and has the poem pretty well some of the poem, not say the poem
obviously practiced and has evidently but does not appear without using a
reciting the poem practiced reciting to have practiced. written copy.
several times. There the poem once or Refers to notes 3-4
is no need for notes twice. Refers to times, and the
and the performer notes once or twice, performer appears ill-
speaks with but the performer is at-ease.
confidence. relatively confident.
Speaks Clearly Speaks clearly and Speaks clearly and Speaks clearly and Often mumbles or can
distinctly all (100-95%) distinctly all (100-95%) distinctly most ( 94- not be understood OR
the time, and the time, but 85%) of the time. mispronounces more
mispronounces no mispronounces one Mispronounces no than one word.
words. word. more than one
word.

Posture and Eye Uses posture Uses posture Sometimes stands up Slouches and/or does
Contact appropriate for the appropriate for the straight and not look at or try to
poem, looks relaxed poem and establishes establishes eye involve audience
and confident. eye contact with all contact. during presentation.
Establishes eye members of the
contact with all audience during the
members of the presentation.
audience during
the presentation.
Volume/Voice Volume is loud enough Volume is usually loud Volume is usually loud Volume too soft or
to be heard by all enough to be heard by enough to be heard by performer mumbles.
audience members all audience all audience Audience often has
throughout the members. Performer members. Performer trouble
presentation. generally speaks speaks so fast that understanding.
Performer speaks clearly and paces audience has trouble
clearly and paces performance. Is easily understanding.
performance. Is easily understood by
understood by all audience members
audience members all most of the time.
the time.
Acting/Dialogue Performer uses Performer often uses Performer tries to use Performer recites the
consistent voice voice inflection, facial voice inflection, facial poem, but does not
inflection, facial expressions, and expressions, and use voice inflection,
expressions, and movement to make movement to make facial expressions, or
movement to make the poem more the poem more movement to make
the poem more believable, more believable, more the poem more
believable, more entertaining, and entertaining, and believable,
entertaining, and more easily more easily interesting, or clear.
more easily understood. understood.
understood.