To listen carefully to the prepared presentation.
To provide HONEST feedback in appositive and constructive manner.
PRIOR TO THE MEETING:
Review the Effective Speech Evaluation manual.
Talk to the speaker and determine which manual project he/she is presenting. Discuss the goals of the speech and any personal goals and objectives that the speaker is trying to achieve. Ensure that there is a mutual understanding of the speech objectives by both yourself and the speaker.
Study the objectives of the project as well as the evaluation guide in the manual. This will ensure that you will give the speaker the best evaluation that you possibly can; one that will enhance his/her speaking skills.
AT THE MEETING:
As soon as you arrive, obtain the speaker’s manual so that you will be prepared for the evaluation before the formal speeches portion of the program.
Record your impressions of the speech in the manual, answering all the evaluation questions as honestly, and clearly as you can. Be positive, but DO NOT WHITEWASH!!! The speaker does not benefit if your feedback is not honest and constructive. Some basic suggestions for the Speech Evaluator are described in the front of the Communications and Leadership Manual and in the appendix of this manual.
Your objective as a Speech Evaluator is to draw attention to the strong points in the presentation and why they were done well, identify the weaker points to work on, and offer some suggestions for improvement that could be used effectively. If at all possible, give a suggestion for every weakness you describe. Balance the positive and the negative. It is best to start and end with a positive comment. A brief summary at the end of an evaluation makes your own presentation more effective.
DON’T EVALUATE THE CONTENT
Your evaluation should be based on the delivery. Content should be looked at only in terms of the organization and construction.
You have only three minutes to evaluate the speaker. Don’t waste time with an unnecessary preamble. Explain the areas you are dealing with in your evaluation and move directly into your evaluation of the speaker.
When speaking, address both the speaker and the audience. This way everyone will feel included in the evaluation and everyone can gain from it.
RULE OF THUMB
- A positive comment — Direct your comment to the speaker.
- A suggestion for improvement — Address the entire audience
Don’t apologize for your evaluation. Your responsibility as an evaluator is to provide your opinion as honestly as you can on your reaction to the presentation.
It is important that you talk with the speaker after the evaluation to ensure that there are no misunderstandings.
Make certain you remind the speaker to have the VP Education initial their manual.
COMPLIMENT, RECOMMEND, and COMPLIMENT.