SpeechWriters Lab · The Rostrum

Don’t just give a speech—earn the credential.

The Rostrum certifies real public speaking mastery through a rigorous three-level gate, not a participation badge. Expert coaching on every retry. AI evaluation against a 100-point rubric.

Start Level 1 — Free Evaluate Your Manuscript First
Level 1 · 4 Weeks
Find Your Voice
Foundations — For speakers who are ready to begin
Pass Threshold
60 / 100
Gate Speech
2 minutes
Core Modules
Week 1
The Foundation
Overcoming fear, understanding your why, baseline video self-assessment
Week 2
The Voice
Vocal mechanics — rate, volume, pitch, pause — breath control, filler word elimination
Week 3
The Body
Posture, gesture, eye contact, movement, the Neutral Zone starting position
Week 4
The Message
Basic structure — opening hook, 3-point body, call to action — story introduction
Competency Gates — Pass All 3 to Advance
✓
Deliver a 2-minute introduction speech — AI evaluator scores 60 or above
✓
Complete vocal mechanics self-assessment with documented improvement from Week 1
✓
Pass story identification quiz — identify story, hook, and call to action in 3 sample speeches
Expert Coaches
Dale Carnegie · Julian Treasure · Mark Bowden
Gate 1 — Introduction Speech
Paste or type your 2-minute introduction speech manuscript below
Minimum 150 words · Target 250–350 words
Words: 0
Evaluating your manuscript against the 100-point rubric…
Evaluation Rubric — 100 Points
Structure & Organization
20 pts
Opening hook, logical flow, clear transitions, strong close
Storytelling Quality
20 pts
Personal story, narrative arc, emotional truth
Clarity & Vocabulary
15 pts
Word choice, simplicity, jargon avoidance, sentence variety
Rhetorical Technique
15 pts
Repetition, tricolon, anaphora, vivid language
Persuasive Power
15 pts
Clear argument, call to action, audience-centered framing
Originality & Voice
10 pts
Distinctive perspective, authentic tone, non-generic content
Manuscript Readiness
5 pts
Formatting, speakability, delivery cues
Level 2 · 6 Weeks
Shape Your Message
Practitioner — For speakers ready to develop their style
Pass Threshold
70 / 100
Gate Speeches
5 & 7 minutes
Core Modules
Week 1
Storytelling Architecture
Story Spine, PARTS framework (Craig Valentine), beginning/middle/end mastery
Week 2
Persuasion & Logic
Ethos/Pathos/Logos, argumentation structure, handling objections
Week 3
Audience Intelligence
Reading the room, adapting tone, Q&A mastery
Week 4
Humor & Engagement
Judy Carter comedy structure applied to speeches, callbacks, timing
Week 5
Advanced Delivery
Anaphora, tricolon, chiasmus — vocal variety as deliberate tool
Week 6
Manuscript Lab
Full manuscript development, AI evaluator session, peer review
Competency Gates — Pass All 4 to Advance
✓
Deliver a 5-minute persuasive speech — AI evaluator scores 70 or above
✓
Submit a documented story analysis of one speech from the Top 20 historical speakers list
✓
Demonstrate three rhetorical devices correctly in a recorded 3-minute excerpt
✓
Receive and respond to written peer feedback on one manuscript submission
Expert Coaches
Craig Valentine · Nancy Duarte · Matt Abrahams · Bo Eason
Gate 1 — Persuasive Speech (5 Minutes)
Paste your 5-minute persuasive speech manuscript
Minimum 500 words · Target 650–750 words
Words: 0
Evaluating your manuscript against the 100-point rubric…
Level 2 Expert Techniques
Craig Valentine
PARTS storytelling framework
Nancy Duarte
What is / What could be narrative arc
Matt Abrahams
PREP & structure under pressure
Bo Eason
Physicality & personal story
Level 3 · 8 Weeks
Command the Room
Master — For polished speakers seeking professional certification
Pass Threshold
80 / 100
Gate Speeches
10 & 15 minutes
Core Modules
Week 1
Platform Mastery
Stage choreography, strategic movement, owning large and small rooms
Week 2
Signature Style
Identifying your rhetorical DNA, building a repeatable speaking identity
Week 3
High-Stakes Speaking
Crisis communication, hostile audiences, media, courtroom and boardroom scenarios
Week 4
Manuscript to Memory
Teleprompter, memorization methods, scripted-to-spontaneous spectrum
Week 5
Speaking for Revenue
Keynote structure, speaker reel, booking essentials, fee positioning
Week 6
Mission-Driven Speaking
Preaching, eulogies, ceremonial addresses — serving with personal conviction
Week 7
Advanced AI Integration
Using AI evaluator for iterative improvement, video analysis workflow
Week 8
Capstone Preparation
Full 15-minute original speech, manuscript submitted 1 week prior
Competency Gates — Pass All 5 + Capstone
✓
Deliver a 10-minute speech in a high-stakes scenario — AI evaluator scores 80 or above
✓
Submit complete speaker biography and signature talk title with positioning statement
✓
Complete a peer-coach session — give structured feedback to a Level 1 or Level 2 student
✓
Produce a 90-second speaker reel from Level 3 recordings
✓
Pass rhetorical analysis exam — annotate a full historical speech using course terminology
★
Capstone: 15-minute original keynote — AI evaluation + written rubric — minimum 80/100
Expert Coaches
Patricia Fripp · Bo Eason · Carmine Gallo · Craig Valentine
Gate 1 — High-Stakes Speech (10 Minutes)
Paste your 10-minute high-stakes speech manuscript
Minimum 1,000 words · Target 1,300–1,500 words
Words: 0
Evaluating your manuscript against the 100-point rubric…
Level 3 Expert Techniques
Patricia Fripp
Executive delivery & manuscript precision
Bo Eason
Physical commitment & primal story
Carmine Gallo
TED-style deconstruction & reconstruction
Craig Valentine
Signature story & platform mastery
Questions or issues? jeff@speechwriterslab.com