Comments on: Speech Analysis #5: Toastmasters Evaluation Contests

By: shera cohen

shera cohen — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:39:31 +0000

hi
what is the eligibility to compete? have to complete 6 speeches prior?
thanks.

By: How to Win a Toastmasters Evaluation Contest « Gilbert Toastmasters

How to Win a Toastmasters Evaluation Contest « Gilbert Toastmasters — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:11:44 +0000

[...] consummate Toastmaster mentor, Andrew Dlugan for his article on Evaluation Contests available at http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/2008/01/25/speech-evaluation-5-toastmasters-contests/. Read this article if you’re planning to [...]

By: Speech Evaluations « Manner of Speaking

Speech Evaluations « Manner of Speaking — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:49:00 +0000

[...] analytical quality (40); recommendations (30); technique (15); and summation (15). Study the judges ballot and make sure you nail each point. Many excellent evaluations do not win because the contestant [...]

By: At Last, Qdoba Scores Taste Points with Pork Quesadilla in Indianapolis

At Last, Qdoba Scores Taste Points with Pork Quesadilla in Indianapolis — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:29:38 +0000

[...] of our husbands were home — they were, in fact, together at a Toastmasters speech evaluation contest, which proves there are worse ways to spend an evening than pasting [...]

By: Swaroop

Swaroop — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:37:51 +0000

I’m competing as evaluator, and contest speaker at my own club’s contest, and have also been invited as a test speaker by an advanced club..Thanks for these well thought out tips!

By: Darren Fleming

Darren Fleming — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:57:58 +0000

Great post!!!

Another factor that i haev used to win evaluation contests is to give reasons for what you are saying. For example, if you are saying, “Rob used great eye contact”, don;t just leave it at that. Add why it was great and what it achieved. For example, “Rob used great eye contact which bought the audience in adn helped us to connect with him and his message”. This shows a greater l;evel of analysis that judges (should) be looking for.

Cheers

By: Linda Schellenberg

Linda Schellenberg — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 07:04:08 +0000

You’ve made some really good points here.
The one thing I never considered before is to look for suggestions other might overlook. In order to win, your evaluation has to “stand out”.
Therefore, it’s very important to not only point out areas for improvement but to also show how that might be achieved by giving very specific examples.

I also like to use different words to suggest areas to work on. e.g. Instead of saying “Mike could have used more vivid images to describe the scene” you could change to “What if Mike had painted us a picture of the scene, the color of the ocean, the strength of the wind, described the physical characteristics of the old lady who came to his rescue? I feel that would have helped put the audience right there on the beach with him.”
Evaluations can be done in many different ways and it takes a lot of experience to be able to be a top-notch evaluator. Entering a contests helps you get there faster!