Toastmasters 2016 Speeches Evaluation

Hello, everyone! I haven`t been there for quite a long time and I`ve really missed my blog.

Today there is a big post, watch out!☺ We had one more interesting task on our oratory course: we had to watch 3 best speeches from the 2016 Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking and to evaluate them. I used the Public Speaking Evaluation Chart to do it. I should say that all three speeches impressed me a lot. The contestants spoke so free and brilliantly in front of the huge audience, that I just can`t imagine how it`s possible! It was really difficult to evaluate their speeches and to choose the best one. I liked all the speeches, so I had to rely mostly on my personal preferences and feelings. Here you can see my evaluation charts. For the speech which I liked most of all I`ve made a complete analysis:

Darren Tay (1st place) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjGCetdtknU

I. Speech Content (45 points) 44/45

Organization - 19/20

Support - 15/15

Cohesion - 10/10

II. Speech Delivery (40 points) 34/40

Vocal presentation - 18/20

Physical presentation - 16/20

III. General Effectiveness (15 points) 15/15

Amount of time used: 8 min.

Adherence to time requirements - 5/5

Creativity - 10/10

Total points: 93/100

Aaron Beverly (2nd place) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoLWKMIcQm

I. Speech Content (45 points) 45/45 

Organization - 20/20 

Support - 15/15

Cohesion - 10/10

II. Speech Delivery (40 points) 37/40

Vocal presentation - 19/20

Physical presentation - 18/20

III. General Effectiveness (15 points) 13/15

Amount of time used: 7:30 min.

Adherence to time requirements - 5/5

Creativity - 8/10

Total points: 95/100

Josephine Lee (3d place) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miek-FY0flg

I. Speech Content (45 points) 34/45 

Organization - 16/20

Support - 10/15

Cohesion - 8/10

II. Speech Delivery (40 points) 35/40

Vocal presentation - 18/20

Physical presentation - 17/20

III. General Effectiveness (15 points) 11/15

Amount of time used: 8 min.

Adherence to time requirements - 5/5

Creativity - 6/10

Total points: 80/100

I liked Aaron`s speech most of all. It really touched my heart! I personally have problems with overwording. Sometimes I tend to judge people by the number of words they say which is not a 

right a thing to do. In his speech Aaron proved that we should pay attention to WHAT people actually say. A few words can change a person`s life! They can make him happy or hurt him forever. There were such examples in my life too. This topic is very important and close to me. People should definitely mind their words.

I. Speech Content (45 points) 45/45

Organization 20/20 Aaron had a very interesting and effective introduction. He gave his speech a 57 word title which was read by the presenter for a long time and everybody was laughing. Of course, nobody could remember it. This introduction proved that if you say too much, people just won`t remember your words. Besides, it was a great attention-getter, because it was funny and unusual. You become interested in the speech, feel involved in the process. This definitely make you remember and highlight the speech. There were also rhetorical questions (Are we truly judged by how much we say?) The body of the speech was very clear for me. It was structured, the main thesis was clearly formulated (Just because you say more, doesnt mean that people will remember what you say) and the support points (examples,facts,proof). The conclusion was very effective, because it was very touching, even dramatic, it had action and appeal (Let`s make the words we do say count!)

Support 15/15 Aaron used three great examples from his own experience, which were presented in a very funny and lively manner (Bus Lady in Doom, Aaron`s parents and the young lady from the Toastmasters courses). The last one was very nice and touching. The introduction was also a kind of example to proove the speaker`s point of view. And this example was actually created together with the audience, which made it very convincing. I liked this idea very much, it`s very unusual. All Aaron`s stories were appropriate and helped him to explain his position to the audience. He asked questions to the audience (You enjoyed that, didn`t you? Have you ever met anyone like this?)

Cohesion 10/10 This speech was easy to listen to, because it was an organic unity. All the elements of the speech were unified. Aaron always came back to the main idea of his speech through transistions and summaries.

II. Speech Delivery (40 points) 37/40

Vocal presentation 19/20 For me it was a pleasure to listen to Aaron because he has a very clear articulation. I understood practically everything without lots of effort. This can`t be said about the first and the third speeches, which were more difficult for me to understand. Aaron had a good volume and pitch of his voice. He emphasized the most important parts of his speech, he ranged the emotional colouring of his voice. For example in the end he spoke dramatically with lots of pauses, which had a great impact on me. It nearly moved me to tears! Aaron had a pleasant tempo too, but sometimes it was a bit too fast.

Physical presentation 18/20 There was enough eye contact with the audience. Aaron was comminucating with people throughout his speech and he was very confident. He used appropriate gestures, his postures were open. His body language and facial expressions were very active and funny, they really helped him to deliver his speech. His jokes were based on facial expressions, for example when he was copying the Bus Lady of Doom. It was a good thing that he didn`t use them too much, it didn`t look affected.  However, at the beginning of the speech he paused for a while and just looked at the audience. For me this pause was too long and strange. He moved free in different directions on th stage. He was wearing an offcial suit which was nice and appropriate for th occasion. 

III. General Effectiveness (15 points)

Adherence to time requirements 5/5 Actually I don`t know what was the time limit there, but I think that Aaron made a good use of time, his speech was neither too short, nor too long.

Creativity 8/10 Aaron`s speech was very individualized, because it contained his own life experience and real examples. He was also quite creative in delivering his speech. But maybe he could use more creative ideas to stand own. I think that he didn`t win the contest only because of it. Darren Tay was more creative and inventive.

What do you think? Who is your favourite? Do you agree with the judges of the contest? I will be glad to receive your opinion.

Good luck! See you soon✋