The Evaluation

Evaluation is the unique feature of Toastmasters. Like everything in Toastmasters it is done with several intentions:

• To give the speaker the audiences view of the speech, because the speaker is too busy, perhaps even too scared, and definitely too involved to see clearly.
• To teach the evaluator to listen, clearly, precisely and attentively.
• To show the audience points that one member finds significant and the advice one member recommends.

Do not fear the evaluator, but remember that this is only one person's opinion. Take it with a grain of salt. Consider it, adapt it, and if necessary ignore it.

As evaluator
1. Start by finding out what the speaker is trying to do. If the speech is a manual speech, as most should be, start by reading the manual's list of objectives.
2. Listen to the speech. What strikes you? These can be either great things, things you love, or not so great things, things that bother you. Look for things that are missing. Especially consider the goals.
3. Make short notes
4. After the speech organize your notes, write useful comments in the speaker's manual for future reference. Use your notes when you give your oral evaluation.
5. Fair game topics:Evaluators must give constructive criticism. This does includes things to improve; but if it is something they could do better, but isn't covered in the speeches they've done yet you may not criticize. They'll get to it.
   A person giving an icebreaker should only be told what they are doing well. What the speaker should keep and do more of is just as important and more encouraging.
   Always feel free to tell a speaker what was particularly good.

Do not featherbed or give a fluff evaluation. Tell what is good and if fair tell how to improve. People are at Toastmasters to learn, not to have their ego massaged, especially when they probably saw things they could do better; tell them how to do better.