Tutorial for Speech Evaluator
From Austin Toastmasters (Balcones, Club #3407)
Tutorial for Speech Evaluator doc
You are scheduled to be a Speech Evaluator for the first time at next week's club meeting. Serving as an Evaluator is one of the best ways to stretch yourself as a new Toastmaster.
The purpose of an evaluations is two-fold: (1) to provide the speaker with insightful and constructive feedback so that they can improve the next time, and (2) to hone your skills as a listener. Some of the basic points are:
Evaluate the delivery, structure, and appropriateness of the speech, not the content itself. Your opinion on the subject matter needs to be put on hold. Your task is to help the speaker deliver his message/speech in a more effective way. Provide both positive feedback and suggestions for improvement. Tell the speaker what they did well, and give them a challenge for the next speech. Every speaker needs both in order to grow. Finally base your evaluation on the objectives of that particular speech. Each project has a set of objectives to guide the speaker. They should also guide your evaluation. How well did the speaker meet those objectives?
PLANNING
Review the Evaluate to Motivate Handout document It has two sections - WHAT a good evaluation is and HOW to plan and deliver a good evaluation. This document is not only a good starter document but also a good future reference.
Read p64-65 in your Competent Communicator (CC) manual - the section on Evaluator. This write-up is excellent, addressing preparation, the meeting, and after the meeting/speech.
Read the Effective Evaluation pamphlet that came in your New Member kit. A lot of the information is a repeat from the CC manual, some is not.
Consider using the Evaluation Grid tool from our website. The Evaluation Grid is used by some of our members to help take notes in an organized way to help you prepare your extemporaneous oral evaluation.
Read/scan Projects 1, 2, 3, and 8 in your Competent Leader (CL) manual. Each of those projects has a sub-project which can be completed by being a Speech Evaluator. Each one of those skills is mentioned in the CC manual section on evaluation: Listening, Critical Thinking, Giving Feedback, and Motivating People. Read the project section, and take the self-examination in each project to establish a baseline of your skills. See what each Project says about the Evaluator assignment.
Call the speaker a day or two before the meeting and find out what they are speaking on, and if they have any particular items that they want to you evaluate them on (gestures, eye contact, vocal variety, organization, etc.) Then be sure you comment on those areas in your evaluation. Be sure to address the requirements in the Manual project they are speaking from in any case.
DURING THE MEETING
Listen carefully to the speech. Take notes either on the Evaluation Grid or however you choose. Notice not only your reactions but the audience's reactions.
Organize and deliver your evaluation. Like all speeches, it should have an Opening, Body, and Conclusion.
Begin and end with praise. A suggested organization
- A) Brief recap of the the speech and the speaker's purpose. Don't summarize the speech. Just give, for example, the title and the purpose.
- B) Comment on whether the speech accomplished the purpose
- C) Explain what the speaker did well. I suggest limiting it to 3 things
- D) Provide examples of how the speaker could have done things better. Also limit this to 2-3 things. Do not include comments about things for which the speaker has not completed in a Manual Speech project. For example, refrain from commenting on gestures if the speaker has not completed Project #5 Body Language
- E) Conclude/end with praise
Like any other Toastmaster role, giving effective Evaluations will take time and practice. As your listening and analytical skills improve, and as you get feedback from the General Evaluator and others in the club, you will see improvement in your evaluation technique.
Feel free to discuss this with your mentor or VP Education. I look forward to hearing your first speech evaluation!
