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Statement grade
The average of Signal, Relevance and Clarity. Average 60 / 100
Signal
60 / 100
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Relevance
42 / 100
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Respect
–
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Clarity
77 / 100
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A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.
Procedure 8% Anecdote 18% Claims 47% Positioning 12% Reasoning 14%
Structure · 9 steps
Claims · 0
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. Chair, Procedure · 4 words just a final comment. Procedure Anecdote · 24 words I know somebody who bought a company, and he informs me that he found out that probably half of his white-collar employees were unnecessary. Anecdote Claims · 21 words I think if you get around this town and talk to people, you will certainly find a lot of anecdotal evidence. Unearned certainty Positioning · 16 words I think it is kind of amazing that the Democratic Party is afraid of a study. Positioning Reasoning · 18 words Maybe the study will come back and show it is tight as a drum. I don’t think so. Off point Claims · 40 words I am just kind of shocked that at a time when we are asking for tens of billions--hundreds of billions of dollars more for our Department of War, we are not going to do a study on our civilian employees. Mr. Chair, Procedure · 7 words I reserve the balance of my time. Procedure
At a glance
Lost points for Off point ×6 Procedure ×2 Anecdote ×2 Unearned certainty Positioning
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 60
5 of 12 deductions are Signal
Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “just a final comment.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “I know somebody who bought a company,” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “and he informs me that he found out that probably half of his white-collar employees were unnecessary.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “I think it is kind of amazing that the Democratic Party is afraid of a study.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “I reserve the balance of my time.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · 42
6 of 12 deductions are Relevance
Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue. Measured against the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “I know somebody who bought a company,” An anecdote about a private company, not the bill’s defense policies or funding.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and he informs me that he found out that probably half of his white-collar employees were unnecessary.” A story about unnecessary white-collar employees, unrelated to the bill’s provisions.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “I think if you get around this town and talk to people, you will certainly find a lot of anecdotal evidence.” General anecdotal chatter around Washington, not the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “I think it is kind of amazing that the Democratic Party is afraid of a study.” A partisan jab at the Democratic Party in place of engagement with the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Maybe the study will come back and show it is tight as a drum.” Speculation about a study’s outcome, not a provision of the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “I don’t think so.” A bare rhetorical assertion continuing the study argument, not the bill.
Respect · no score
Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.
Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.
Clarity · 77
1 of 12 deductions are Clarity
Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.
Unearned certainty Something stated as certain with nothing to back it. What the tags mean → “you will certainly find” Asserts with certainty what a survey of people around town would show, offering no source.
Claims · 0
This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.
No checkable claims.
