Gertrude's Hot Topic Evaluation Tips

written by Dan magill

Club President Croydon Communicators

After our Sergeant-at-Arms, Gertrude Onichabor gave a stunning, note-free Table Topics Evaluation on Thursday October 24th, we caught up with her to get some quick tips on how it's done...

Do you enjoy evaluating Table Topics?
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Yes! Table Topics is a good place to work on your evaluation skills. When I evaluate prepared speeches I struggle a little. It can be overwhelming because you have to listen to many elements whilst writing notes. But, with Topics, you can relax a little more and know you just have to come up with one key commendation and recommendation for each speaker. 

So, what tips can you give us for Table Topic evaluation?

Keep it simple and don't try to recreate the speech. The audience has already heard the speech so it's not necessary to recreate the content. That goes for prepared speech evaluations too.

Anything else?

Yes. Remember to structure your thoughts. You just need one single commendation and recommendation for each speaker.  If you remember your structure it makes it so much easier to go up there without notes. 


Which areas should we focus on when giving commendations and recommendations?

Just think about what you liked most and talk about that. Evaluations are very subjective, so if there's something that you liked about a speaker, that's a good thing to tell us about. 

You might also want to think about things like, the message, their stage presence, use of the stage, content, vocal variety and eye contact. Anything you notice really.


Any advice on how we should end each individual topic evaluation?

Yes. It always good to end on your top commendation. Even it's just a quick summing up of a commendation you've already given. It's better to end on something positive so the speaker can go away feeling positive too.


And finally, what about not using notes? How do you do that with Table Topics?

​Ah, that's easy!  Practice, practice, practice!

Read Getrude's article on mentoring