Competition Rubric and Rules

• Clarity: Did the speaker provide adequate background knowledge to make the talk and the importance of the project understandable?

• Organization: Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?

• Language matches audience: Was the topic and its significance communicated in a language appropriate to an interested, but non-specialist audience? (For example, did the speaker avoid or explain discipline-specific jargon?)

• Significance: Did the presenter explain why the project mattered, addressing the impact and results of the research?

• Delivery: How was the delivery, including pace, enthusiasm, confidence, body language, and dynamism of vocal delivery?

• Visual: Did the slide enhance the presentation and help to emphasize the primary points of the talk? Was the slide well designed, clear, legible and concise?

• Engagement: To what extent did the talk speak to your intellectual curiosity? Did it make you want to learn more about the topi

This rubric is based on a 1-5 scale, with 5 being “Excellent.”

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any kind; the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration).

• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.

• No props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.

• Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum. Competitors exceeding three minutes will have point deductions.

• Presentations are to be delivered in traditional presentation style.

• Presentations are considered to have commenced when presenters start their presentation through movement or speech.

• Each presentation will be judged using the rubric outlined above.