Role Objective

Description of Role

Preparation

* Contact the speaker a week before the meeting and ascertain:-
The correct project number, his/ her topic, and the particular objectives the speaker hopes to achieve.
Whether the speaker wishes you to comment, orally or in writing, on any aspect of speech construction, content or delivery.

* Read the project carefully and make a list of important objectives so that you know what to watch for during the speech..

Timing

Procedure

One of the most responsible tasks asked of members of Toastmasters Clubs is that of evaluating another member's prepared assignment. When a Toastmaster presents an evaluation of a speech the full circle of the communication process is completed.

Have a word with the speaker before the meeting commences to ensure that everything is in order for the assignment. Obtain the speaker's manual to enable you to complete the written evaluation. Read it and review previous evaluations.

When you are called to deliver your evaluation, bear in mind that you are yourself giving a mini-speech. you should employ all the speaking skills of a proficient speaker and structure your presentation to have a discernible opening, body and close.

Open your presentation with the usual address to the Toastmaster and the meeting and specifically the speaker.

Refresh the audience's memory by reading the speech objectives.

After reading the speech ojectives, use the CRC technique to deliver your evaluation:

• Commend
  
  
• Recommend
  
  
• Commend

Consider stipulating the number of points you are going to make as
Recommendations as a professional touch, thus dispelling the notion that you are making it up as you go - eg "There are two things you might like to look at..."

Then give the last of your Commendations. A useful close for your material is a summary of the main points you have raised.

Remember, the evaluation you give is your opinion only and it is as well to remind your audience of this when addressing potentially contentious matters.

Your evaluation is for the benefit of the audience as well as the speaker and you as evaluator. One useful method of delivery is to address your initial comments and commendations to the audience at large referring to the speaker in the third person eg "John used no notes..." Then direct your recommendations to the speaker by engaging them with eye contact, establishing rapport and addressing the speaker by name eg "John, consider using more vocal variety...".

Your summary can then revert to an audience-wide delivery. Avoid switching backward and forward between speaker and audience repeatedly though, as this can be confusing. There are differing opinions on the best method of doing this and there is no golden rule cast in stone. The above is strongly recommended but you should use the approach that you feel will give best value to the speaker and your audience.

The effectiveness of your evaluation is dependant upon active listening combined with a good knowledge of speech objectives.

There is much written about evaluation of speeches in Toastmaster Magazine and elsewhere and as time permits inceasing numbers of the better examples will be available on this web site.

The notes on this site about the Evaluation Contest are a valuable resource.

Key points

• Use of the CRC principle is very important.
  
  
• Timing is a discipline, when you see the yellow light you should be ending your summary.
  
  
• Your presentation should be objective but positive and encouraging.
  

Check List

Read the manual chapter and objectives and talk to the speaker before the meeting.

Desirable Outcome

Whilst not everyone will necessarily agree with your opinions, the speaker and other members should agree that your delivery was clear, objective and friendly and thus of use to everyone present in the development of their speaking skills.