Department of English: ENG3U

SOUL STORY ASSESSMENT

Assignment Parameters (Learning Goals)

Storytelling can be a powerful tool. When done effectively, oral narratives can inspire, connect,
influence and motivate. Throughout this year, you will examine several origin or soul stories.
You will explore what makes an origin or soul story memorable, relatable, and how these stories
can convey truths about the culture, values, and history of both the speaker and the audience.
Author and activist Rebecca Solnit in her memoir The Faraway Nearby explains the power of
storytelling: “What's your story? It's all in the telling. Stories are compasses and architecture; we
navigate by them, we build our sanctuaries and our prisons out of them, and to be without a
story is to be lost in the vastness of a world that spreads in all directions like arctic tundra or sea
ice.”

Through this assignment, you are invited to imagine the ways in which your own stories serve as
compasses, guide you, misdirect you, and ground you in who you are and your place in the
world.

Origin/Soul Story Assignment Expectations (Success Criteria):

You will develop an original origin story that depicts the truths about your own culture, values,
and history. You will make a video recording of your story, save it on Google Drive, and share
the link with me. You also have the option to deliver your story live in class if you would
prefer. Your story should:
- Identify at least 3 specific, significant details that shape who you are and your
experiences in the world. You should explore both your personal and your social
identity
- Include your clearly identifiable “mission”. What guides you through life and shapes the
choices that you make?
- Connect to your personal beliefs. These may relate to your culture, family or individual
values, and/or history. These beliefs may connect to your “mission”
- Use direct or indirect characterization to describe your values, strengths and flaws
- Have a clearly defined narrative point of view
- May be read, but known well, so delivery will be fluent and the speaker will look up
from the page often.
- An electronic copy must be submitted through turnitin.com

Your delivery should be clear, fluent and include effective use of:

- Facial expressions, eye contact, tone, and pace in order to enhance the overall audience
appeal of your content

Length: 3 to 5 minutes

Due Date:
You should upload your video to Google Drive and share the link with me before Thursday,
September 28th
 Pickering College – ENG3U – Soul Story Rubric
Category Level 1
Unsatisfactory (50-59%)
Knowledge & Story is missing required
Understanding components
Introduction and
Familiarity Most of story is not known
Delivery in keeping to reader (errors make
with theme and audience uncomfortable);
intention of story time of performance is far
______/10 below the assignment
requirements
Thinking/ Story displays very poor
Inquiry development of ideas and/or
▪ Story is creative, there was limited to evidence
original, audience of process work for story
appeal completed in class
Story elicits little to no
engagement; audience
______/10 reaction is indifferent and/or
negative
Little to no connection to
audience
Application Opening lacks clarity
▪ Ideas are organized
in a compelling, Body of speech is presented
logical way with lapses in logic and/or
contradictions
▪ Composition/arrang
ement for a specific Conclusion lacks clarity
effect
______/10
Communication Little verbal or vocal use;
Quality of use of voice is monotone,
Performance inaudible and/or
Manipulation of inappropriate to speech
voice, body language,
movement, facial Facial expressions are flat
expressions, and/or contradictory to the
pronunciation and context
enunciation to
speech Vocabulary is unintelligible
or not accessible to the
listener
______/20
Tone and pace sometimes
inappropriate to the topic
Level 2
Adequate (60-69%)
Story is underdeveloped
and/or inadequate
Some stumbles detract
from performance; time
requirements are not met
Story generally develops
ideas relevant to the topic
and some process work was
developed in class to support
these ideas
Story elicits some
engagement; audience
reaction is lukewarm
A sense of audience is
created but not sustained
Opening introduces topic
Organization of speech’s
body is not consistently
effective
Conclusion is discernible but
ineffective
Occasionally demonstrates
some variety in volume,
tone, pitch, and voice
quality
Some facial expressions are
not in keeping with the
context
Vocabulary spoken is often
unclear, inaudible or
mispronounced
Tone and pace are sometimes
uneven or inconsistent with
topic
Name: _____________________________
Level 3
Satisfactory (70-74%)
Good (75-79%)
Story indicates a good
understanding of story
purpose and components
Most of story is known
(stumbles are barely
noticeable), and meets
time requirements
Story contains a good
development of original ideas
that have been developed
through process work
Story elicits good audience
engagement and draws a
positive audience reaction
Mostly maintains a sense of
audience
Opening is engaging and
clearly introduces topic
Body of speech is organized
in logical sequence
Conclusion is clear, effective
Demonstrates variety in
most of volume, tone,
pitch, and voice quality
appropriate to speech
Facial expressions are
consistent with the context
Vocabulary spoken is clear,
accessible, and well-
pronounced
Tone and pace are consistently
appropriate to audience, topic
Level 4
Very Good (80-89%)
Excellent (90-95%)
Outstanding (96-100%)
Story indicates a thorough
and sophisticated
understanding of origin
story purpose and
components
Known thoroughly and
meets time requirements
Story contains highly creative
and original ideas that have
been thoroughly developed
through process work
Speech is highly engaging;
audience reaction is
overwhelmingly positive
Consistently maintains a sense
of audience
Opening is engaging,
compelling, and creatively
introduces topic
Organization of speech’s body
is intricate and compelling
Conclusion is clear, effective
and compelling
Creative variety in volume,
tone , pitch and voice quality
enhances the scene and
brings life to the speech
Facial expressions bring life
to the context
Vocabulary spoken is
precisely pronounced and
lively enunciated
Tone and pace skilfully
manipulate the audience’s
reaction to the topic