I gave this lecture to CGG’s Speech Club on March 8, 2025.
Evaluating Speeches
INTRODUCTION Reminiscing about my days in Spokesman and Ambassador Clubs when I was in my late teens and early twenties, I distinctly remember receiving each new slate of assignments and feeling relief when I found my name as an evaluator. Something like, “Whew! Just an evaluation! No biggie!” went through my mind. I can tell you, to my shame, I winged several such assignments, especially during my busy college years.
SPS But we need to do better. The role of the evaluator is perhaps the most important in any Speech Club meeting. I encourage you to take the assignment of an evaluation seriously and give it the time it deserves. Please do not take it lightly. It is brief (two minutes!) and seemingly off the cuff, but it is vital to growth in public speaking—both to the speaker and the evaluator.
When a member is assigned an evaluation, he is being asked to step into the role of CRITIC. Generally, we think of a critic as “one who expresses an unfavorable opinion of something.” That is how the word is used these days. However, an older, better usage of critic is “a person who judges the merits of something, usually literary, artistic, or musical works.” Its synonyms are “observer,” “reviewer,” “commentator,” “analyst,” and “judge.” “Critic” derives from Latin criticus, from Greek kritikos, from kritēs, “judge.”
So, when evaluating a speech, you are judging the speaker and his presentation, analyzing its merits, positive and negative. Your task is to give a critical review, a commentary on its many facets.
This could become very negative if the critic whips out a verbal sword and begins eviscerating the speaker for all his failures. I have seen it done, and it is not pretty. It usually devastates a speaker to see his work—containing his blood, sweat, and tears—thoroughly condemned in public. Do not demoralize the speaker! It could drive a member from our ranks and ruin a relationship.
No, our evaluations need to be balanced.
The Manual highlights I Corinthians 6:2 to explain the evaluator’s role: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” This is the mindset a Speech Club evaluator must have. Think of it as a short practice session to learn how to be a righteous, godly judge. We must learn how to judge truthfully and fairly toward positive growth.
It also forces us to learn to think on our feet and quickly organize a short presentation, which is more good practice!
Make sure to read the instructions in the Manual on giving an evaluation. In some places, in my opinion, it is a bit overwrought, but we can see from its instructions what we need to do.
- Consider the speaker. Because you know the speaker beforehand, you have a general idea what you will get. You probably have a general idea of his personality and life experience. If so, you already have a foundation for your evaluation. Pray for him and for guidance in helping him improve.
- Familiarize yourself with the type of speech he will give. What is its goal? What skill is he supposed to display in giving it? If he is tasked with moving the audience to action, did he? If it is designed to attack a wrong or inspire hope, enthusiasm, or nobility, did he? This should be at the core of your critique.
- Mentally review the speaker’s previous speeches. Does he have specific strengths? Weaknesses? Annoying or distracting habits? A problem with time (too short or too long)? Look for improvement or its lack in these areas.
- Prepare an evaluation sheet. The Manual recommends it contain sections like Introduction, SPS, Body, and Conclusion. Write your observations about those parts of the speech in them. However, you should also list things such as speech goals, physical appearance, note usage, eye contact, gestures, vocal variety, dynamism/confidence, idiosyncrasies, and time management. You can use a plus-minus system to mark these as the speech progresses and jot a note or two as necessary.
- In your evaluation, help the man improve! Give a quick, honest overview of the speech—a general impression: how it hit you; if it helped/taught/stirred/inspired/instructed/etc. as advertised; whether you saw a marked improvement, etc. Then, give a few specifics—at least one positive and one negative. If you can, suggest a way to overcome the negative one. Lastly, end with a note of encouragement.
CONCLUSION Do not evaluating a fellow member a throwaway assignment. Give it its due diligence and help your brothers get the most out of Club and improve as public speakers.