Table Topics Contest Judging

This is what the judges will be listening for, looking at and paying attention to when you are responding to the Table Topic in the contest. The Table Topics Contest Judging items and suggested point values with 100 points being the maximum possible score are listed here.

Speech Development - 30 Points - is the way the speaker puts ideas together so the audience can understand them. The Table Topics response is structured around a purpose, and this structure must include an opening, body and conclusion. The response is supported by relevant examples and illustrations, facts and figures, if appropriate, and is delivered smoothly.

Effectiveness - 25 Points - is your subjective judgment of how the response came across. Were you able to determine the speaker’s purpose? Did the speech relate to the given question or topic? Was the response clearly and logically presented.

Physical - 15 Points - presentation of the response carries part of the responsibility for effective communication. The speaker’s appearance should reinforce her or his response. Body language should support points through gestures, expressions and body positioning. The speaker makes effective use of and stays within the designated speaking area.

Voice - 15 Points - is the sound that carries the message. It should be flexible, moving from one pitch level to another for emphasis, and should have a variety of rate and volume. A good voice can be clearly heard and the words easily understood.

Language - 15 Points - refers to the choice of words that relate to the response. Language should promote clear understanding of thoughts and should fit the occasion precisely. Proper use of grammar and correct pronunciation will show that the speaker is the master of the words being used.

The Table Topics Master's Role

The Table Topics Master prepares a series of questions or concepts to which members will respond. The people selected should be those who have not, or will not, have any other opportunity to speak during the meeting.

The Topic Topics portion of the meeting has several purposes:

• To give all members the opportunity to speak
• To practice impromptu speaking, "thinking on your feet," without prior preparation, to a question or idea
• At the beginning of the meeting to “warm up” members and get things rolling, in the middle of the meeting to form a bridge between the prepared speaking and evaluation phase of the meeting
• To provide time, after the speeches, in which the evaluators can prepare their evaluations
• Table Topics has a flexible time allowance, so the number of topics presented may vary from meeting to meeting, this allows the program to get back on schedule if the primary speakers have taken longer than planned.

The skills gained in Table Topics will be useful in all kinds of situations where thinking on our feet is required including interviews, discussions, seminars as well as general conversation.

Table Topics Segment Procedure:

• Plan an introduction of the Table Topics session to take less than one minute. The purpose of Table Topics is to give all members not scheduled on the program a chance to speak
• The Table Topics segment should not take more than 15 minutes. The task is to introduce topics and guide the discussion. Avoid lengthy introductions of topics and remarks on members' answers. Give as much time as possible to members for their response.
• State the question or topic clearly and then identify the member, that way everyone is listening and constructing a reply to the topic.
• Try not to embarrass the speakers. Provide the speakers with topics and ideas that he or she likely knows something about.
• Conclude the Table Topics meeting segment in a timely manner and ask the Timer for a report on the speaker's times. Then call for a vote for "Best Table Topics Speaker" if your club awards ribbons or trophies.
• Return control of the meeting to the Toastmaster of the meeting.

This information may be printed from the Google Docs site.