Evaluator

Evaluator

• Here are some tips for you to remember while evaluating a speech:

  • Before the speech, ask the speaker if there are things they would like you to be especially on the lookout for.

  • Try to avoid commenting on the subject matter, and focus instead on how the speech was delivered.

  • How relaxed was the speaker? Was he or she tied to one spot on the stage?

  • Eye contact – did she try to look people in the eye while speaking or did her eyes just 'stare out 'over the heads of the audience

  • Did the voice change from it's normal volume and tone when he needed to make a point?

    • Did it get loud or soft?

    • What about the pitch and other forms of vocal variety? Did that change much?

  • Gestures – Did she 'pray' - holding her hands in front of her as though praying. Or did she hold her hands in some other way that wasn't conducive to the presentation. Generally, hands should be at the side, not in the speaker's pocket, except when gesturing. When she did gesture, do it add to her presentation or was she 'speaking' "through" her gestures rather than using them for emphasis or dramatic effect.

  • Body language? Did he smile or use other facial gestures to make a point or put the audience at ease? What other aspects of body language affected how you felt about the presentation?

  • Did he have a good opening? Did it get your attention?

  • Was her content presented in such a way that she held your attention?

  • Did she have a conclusion that wrapped up what she said?

    • Did the presentation seem hurried?

    • Did it leave you with a 'satisfied' feeling?

  • If she didn't use or look at notes much – did the presentation seem to flow well? Did she jump around or seem to back track to get points she accidentally missed due to not using notes?

  • Did it appear as if she had rehearsed it and was familiar with the subject matter and how she was going to deliver it? Was there an "over-rehearsed" quality to the presentation?

• Here are some tips for you to remember while preparing and presenting your evaluation:

  • As you go over the list, identify the things the speaker did well and the things that he or she might have some room to improve. As you get ready to do your spoken evaluation, pick the top two – four of each and present those. After the meeting, you can give the speaker your notes which may identify additional comments to those you mention during your evaluation, so don't try to cram in so many points that you run out of time. You will have three minutes to do the evaluation – but you might be surprised by how fast the time can go.

  • Try to avoid saying 'You should not do...' instead, use phrases like '''You might consider'. In other words, you don't want to tell him what to do, just give him ideas of what you might do.

  • Try to give the kind of evaluation that you would like to receive: Helpful, supportive, insightful, and gentle.