Judges Training

1. Judges Training 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? 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. 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