1. District 26 Toastmasters
Contest Overview
District 26 Toastmasters

2. Part One
Contest Roles

3. Contest Chair Responsible for the entire contest
Make room arrangements
Make sure you have all materials needed to run a contest
Know the contest rules

4. Contestants Prepare and deliver a speech
Participate in Evaluation and Humorist (Fall) or Table Topics and International (Spring) Contests.

5. Chief Judge Appoint and brief timers, counters and tie breaking judge
Brief the judges
Provide the names of the winners to the contest chair
Knows the contest rules

6. Chief Judge Brief judges by reviewing the judges guide ballot
Remind judges that their decision is confidential
Brief timers
Brief counters

7. Chief Judge Explains to the audience that…
The contestants have been briefed
The judges have been briefed
The timers and counters have been briefed

8. Chief Judge Explains to the audience…
Contestants know where the timing lights are
No photography during the speeches
Turn all cell phones off
Announces the speaking order

9. Toastmaster Briefs contestants
Verify their presence and name pronunciation
Review rules
Review timing protocol
Review speaking area
Draw for speaking order

10. Toastmaster No opening remarks about any contestant
Announce each contestant by name, speech title, speech title, name
Observe one minute of silence between speakers

11. Toastmaster After the contest… Conduct brief interview
Have each contestant give club name and area
Present certificate of participation
Announce any disqualifications without naming any contestants names

12. Toastmaster Announcements from Area, Division and District Officers
Announce winners
Contest with five or more contestants announce 1st, 2nd and 3rd place (in reverse order)
Contest with four or fewer contestants announce 1st and 2nd place (in reverse order)

13. Toastmaster
The announcement of contest winners is final unless the list of contest winners is announced incorrectly
If the list of winners is announced incorrectly…
The chief judge or counters may immediately interrupt to correct the error

14. Judges Use the judges ballot to select a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner
All information is confidential

15. Tiebreaking Judge
Rank all the speakers numerically on the tiebreaking judges ballot
Ballot is given only to the chief judge
Ballot is only opened in case of a tie

16. Timers To record the duration of each speech
Submit the information to the chief judge
All times are confidential

17. Counters
Collect and count all ballots
All information is confidential

18. Sargent at Arms Opens meeting Introduce the Toastmaster
Ensures that no one enters or leaves during a speech

19. Part Two
Judging

20. What is the purpose of a Judge?
To Pick A Winner!!
To Select the person who has given the best speech

21. What is the difference between judging and evaluating?
Is a speech appraisal
Measures presentation against purpose
Offers improvement advice

22. What is the difference between judging and evaluating?
As a Judge:
You do not Evaluate
Your decision is confidential
Don’t explain your decision
Don’t offer contestants suggestions for improvement

23. What makes a good judge? Fair Completely impartial
Set aside - friendship, age, race, gender, etc..
Don’t let anything including disapproval of speech topic get in the way of your decision

24. What makes a good judge? Accurate
Dedicated to making the correct decision
Filling out the judges form correctly
Adding points carefully

25. What makes a good judge? Trustworthy
Understand that the contestants, contest officials and Toastmasters International is counting on you to select the best speaker

26. What makes a good judge? Knowledgeable Know the current contest rules
Be familiar with the judging form

27. What makes a good judge? Good Listener
Listen carefully to each speaker
Don’t become distracted
Don’t daydream

28. Barriers to Objectivity
Speaker position
People tend to remember the first and last contestant
May hold a slight advantage

29. Barriers to Objectivity
Champion for the underdog
Normal to want to give a break to someone with a handicap or has overcome a hardship
As a judge you do not

30. Barriers to Objectivity
Halo effect
Attributing a favorable trait because of another favorable trait
Example: “Joe’s delivery is dynamic so his content is really good”

31. Barriers to Objectivity
Reverse halo effect
Attributing a non-favorable trait to another non-favorable trait
Example: “Jane has questionable grammar, therefor her speech is weak”

32. Barriers to Objectivity
Second time around
Longer you are in Toastmasters the more likely you are to see a speaker more than once
Imagine you are hearing the speaker for the first time

33. Barriers to Objectivity
Give someone else a chance
Betty won last year, let’s give Bob a chance this year
Never let past performance effect your decision

34. Barriers to Objectivity
Not the norm
Social behaviors that are not common to you
Behaviors differ from club to club

35. Common Misconceptions
Speeches must to be serous
Contestants can use humor
Speeches must be motivational or inspirational
Contestants can give any kind of speech they wish

36. Common Misconceptions
Contestants CAN use props, visual aids or music
As long as they are in good taste
Must place them on the stage and clean up right after the speech

37. Disqualifications Contestants can only be disqualified for Eligibility
Timing
Originality

38. Disqualifications Eligibility
Member of good standing in a club of good standing
Maintain eligibility at ALL levels
Check eligibility with Word Headquarters prior to the contest

39. Disqualifications Timing 30 second grace period
Clock starts with the first definite verbal or non-verbal communication with the audience

40. Disqualifications Originality No large amounts of quoted material
Properly cited sources
No plagiarizing

41. Disqualifications Protest For originality only
Must protest in writing to the chief judge before the winners are announced
Only contestants or judges can protest

42. Judges Guide and Ballot
Part Three
Judges Guide and Ballot

43. Judges Guide and Ballot
Is laid out in two parts
Top portion to help you pick a winner
Is not given to the counters

44. Judges Guide and Ballot
The bottom portion is the official ballot
Will be given to the counters and must be complete
Three different names for 1st, 2nd and 3rd
Must signed by the judge
Chief Judge will throw out if not filled out correctly

45. Judges Guide and Ballot
Not only one way to fill out the ballot
Use a notebook to take notes then fill in ballot
This way you are focused on the speech not the ballot
You must break your own tie

46. Judges Guide and Ballot
Three main categories
Content
Delivery
Language

47. Judges Guide and Ballot
Content
Worth 50% of the speech points
Determines the quality of the speakers message

48. Judges Guide and Ballot
Content
Speech development
Structure – defined opening, body and conclusion
Organization – purpose clear and defined
Support material

49. Judges Guide and Ballot
Content
Effectiveness
Achievement of purpose – Subject matter clear to audience
Audience interest – Subject relevant to the audience
Reception – How does the audience react

50. Judges Guide and Ballot
Content
Speech Value
Ideas – Does the speaker have something to say
Logic – Have a clearly defined message
Original Thought – Stimulate listeners thinking

51. Judges Guide and Ballot
Delivery
Worth 30% of speakers points
The way the content of the speech represented
Delivery is both verbal and physical

52. Judges Guide and Ballot
Delivery
Physical
Appearance – Does the speaker look neat and appropriate
Body Language – Gestures have purpose, facial expression match the message
Speaking Area – How well the area is used

53. Judges Guide and Ballot
Delivery
Voice
Flexibility – Good quality, modulate to show feeling and emotion
Volume – adequate for the room, words clear, easy to understand

54. Judges Guide and Ballot
Delivery
Manner
Directness – Does the speaker believe in their message
Assurance – Clear and confident in sharing the message
Enthusiasm – Speak with enthusiasm conveying the message

55. Judges Guide and Ballot
Language
Counts for 20% of the speech points
Is about the speakers word choice and grammar

56. Judges Guide and Ballot
Language
Appropriateness
To speech propose – Does the language fit the speech
To audience – Promote understanding of the speakers message

57. Judges Guide and Ballot
Language
Correctness
Grammar – Is the speakers grammar good
Pronunciation – Enunciation good
Word Selection – diction and word choice effect, show study and preparation

58. You are now ready for a successful contest! Have fun and enjoy
Contest Overview
You are now ready for a successful contest! Have fun and enjoy