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Educational - Table Topic Evaluator

Overview

Being a Table Topics Evaluator is an excellent way to start learning skills and demands of speech evaluation. The principle requirement is to evaluate some, or in some circumstances, all of the table topic speakers.

Getting Organised

• Ensure you arrive at the meeting early.
• Check the program for your role and the time allocation for the Table Topic Evaluators report.
• Check with the Toastmaster if there will be one or two Table Topic Evaluators and if there are any other changes to the program that may affect your role.
• If there are two evaluators confirm with your fellow evaluator if you are evaluating the odd or even speakers.
• Make sure you have a Table Topic Evaluators report form and a reliable pen. This form is a useful tool to help you structure your report.
• The Table Topic Evaluator does a lot of writing during the meeting so a clipboard is really helpful.
• Ensure you know the names of any guests or visitors before the meeting starts as you may need to comment on their performance if they are chosen as a Table Topic speaker. It is embarrassing and poor Toastmaster practice to evaluate someone without mentioning their name.
• Make sure you are ready when the Sergeant at Arms opens the meeting.

Writing your Report

• Remember this is a busy role particularly if you are the only Table Topic Evaluator. You could have 6 or more people to evaluate.
• You may not have time to write all you want to say. So note down key words in the Commendation and Recommendation spaces on your report form or on a separate note pad.
• When a speaker that you WON’T be evaluating is speaking use this time to add to your notes and expand on your key words.
• Try to keep your notes orderly or in a format that you can clearly understand. This will make your report delivery much easier for you and for your audience understand.
• Try not to write your evaluation comments word for word. This role is a great opportunity for you to practice delivering an evaluation from bullet points or limited notes.
• Use the guide notes listed at the bottom of the form as a reminder of the points to look for.
• Your notes should be structured in the CRC method for all of the evaluations you do. This is especially important for any new Toastmasters that may find Table Topics very challenging.

Delivery

• Address the audience in the normal manner; ‘Madam Toastmaster’ or ‘Mr Toastmaster, fellow Toastmasters and welcome guests’ (if there are any)
• If there are any guests and you are the first Table Topics Evaluator you can very briefly describe the role of the Table Topics Evaluator.
• Congratulate any club members that were Table Topic Speakers for the first time and be very supportive during your evaluation of their performance.
• Use the Toastmaster CRC protocol. It is critical that you close your comments about any errors and mistakes with a positive comment.
• Remember always delivery an evaluation in the 3rd PERSON. It is very important that you don’t deliver your comments directly to the speaker you are evaluating.
• A useful technique for 3rd person delivery is to imagine the person you are evaluating has left the room.
• Watch the time carefully. It is very easy to run over time with so many evaluations to deliver.
• Close your report by saying some encouraging comments to the Table Topic Speakers in general.
• Gesture to the Toastmaster and say ‘Madam Toastmaster’ or ‘Mr Toastmaster’ and wait for them to arrive at the lectern, shake hands and take your seat.
• Your role is complete.

Please remember the role of the Table Topics Evaluator is challenging and very busy. The Table Topic Speakers will remember your comments so it is imperative that your tone is positive and encouraging.

Please remember your CL manual when filling this role.

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