Evaluator

Purpose		Many believe this is the most important job in Toastmasters. It is where most value can be gained from participation, for the speaker, the evaluator and the rest of the audience.
		A good evaluation will be firm, fair and friendly, focussing on HELPING the speaker progress. The main purpose is to make the speaker want to speak again. This is done by showing WHY certain aspects of the speech were good, and HOW other aspects can be improved.
		There is ample direction on how to give good evaluations in this website (see these guidelines) and other places. Most of this material will not be repeated here.

When preparing		Talk with the speaker preferably a few days before the speech. Find out which speech they are giving, their objectives, and any concerns they may have.

Before the meeting begins		Study the evaluator's guide to the speech you are to evaluate. This is found in the appropriate Communication and Leadership Manual.
		Draw up a page to help take notes more efficiently. Assemble headings to guide your thinking. Include space for positives and areas for improvement.
		Should the speaker be a last minute apology, then you may find yourself evaluating someone else. Check the program on arrival to see if this has occurred and make necessary changes to your preparation.

What to do during your assignment		Your assignment starts in earnest the moment the speaker's name is called.
What to do during your assignment		Make precise and concise notes during the speech. For positives, state what was good and why. Give examples. For points for improvement, state what could be improved and how to fix it.
		Assemble your notes into a speech, focussing on the objectives of the assignment and whether or not they were met. Use the formula Commend, Recommend, Commend. Finish with a positive and encouraging summary.
		Avoid commenting or adding to the content, unless it is part of the evaluation criteria. Also, avoid negative sounding words like "fault", "problem", "wrong". Remember at all times there are no absolutes - the whole evaluation is your opinion which you are offering.
		There are three aspects to your evaluation task. The presentation to the whole meeting should focus on helping the speaker and the audience learn from the presentation. The written evaluation in the manual enables you to go into detail on some aspects of the objectives that perhaps are not appropriate for your talk, noting that the manual should never be taken to the lectern or made part of your spoken evaluation. Finally, you should have a one on one discussion with the speaker at the end of the meeting.
		When finished, hand back to the General Evaluator.
		Write up your comments in the speaker's manual.
		That is the end of your assignment.

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