The

process
of
receiving,
constructing meaning from, and
responding to spoken and/or
verbal messages.

Appreciative listening
discriminative listening
comprehensive listening
empathic listening
critical listening

Paying attention to what the

speaker is saying regardless of
extraneous inferences.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Get physically and mentally ready to

listen.
Suspend judgment while you hear
the speaker out.
Adjust to the listening goals of the
situation.
Identify the benefits of attending to
the speaker's words.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Determine the speakers organization.

Ask yourself questions.
Silently paraphrase key information.
Attend to nonverbal cues.
Take good notes.

Understanding the ability to

accurate meaning to what was said.

assign

Remembering being able to retain and

recall information that you have heard.
Active
listening

identifying
the
organization of ideas, asking questions,
silently paraphrasing, attending to nonverbal cues, and taking notes

Evaluating and responding assessing

quality of content, structure, and delivery.

Effective critiques
communicate specific observations
begin
with observations about what a
speaker did well
follow
observation
statements
with
explanations about how and why the
observed behavior affected the speech

are phrased so that its clear they reflect

your personal perceptions, not truth.

1.

2.

3.

Does the speaker establish common ground

and adapt content to the audiences
interests, knowledge, and attitudes?
Does the speaker seem to have expertise in
the subject areas?
Does the speaker have high-quality sources
for the information given in the speech?

4. Does the speaker reveal the sources of

information?
5. Are the sources relevant? Recent? Varied?
Distributed throughout the speech?
6. Does the information presented explain
or support each of the main points?
7. Are presentational aids appropriate and
well used?
8. Is each main point supported with Depth?
Listener relevance?

1.

2.

3.

Does the introduction of the speech get

attention, establish listener relevance
and credibility, and lead into the topic?
Has the speaker stated a clear goal for
the speech?
Are the main points of the speech clearly
stated, parallel, and meaningful?

4. Do transitions lead smoothly from one

point to another?
5. Does the speaker use language that is
appropriate, accurate, clear, and vivid?
6. Does the speaker use a compelling style?
7. Does the conclusion summarize the main
points and end with a clincher?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Does the speaker sound intelligible?

Conversational? Expressive?
Is the presentation fluent?
Does the speaker look at the audience?
Does the speaker use appropriate facial
expressions?
Were the pronunciation and articulation
acceptable?

6. Does the speaker have good posture?

7. Does the speaker have sufficient poise?