To be successful, a speech must have engaging and well-researched content, but also be presented with grace and charisma. On the other hand, to criticize a speech, it is necessary to evaluate the abilities of the speaker both in the way in which he has formulated and written the speech and in the way in which he has presented it. Find out if the speaker used facts and anecdotes to make an argument compelling, and decide if his style was catchy enough to keep people's attention right through to the end. Also, share your views with him to help him improve.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Evaluate the Content
Step 1. See if the speech is suitable for the audience it is aimed at
The content, which includes the choice of words, references and anecdotes, should be suitable for the audience listening to the speech. For example, a talk on drugs aimed at elementary school pupils will be very different from one designed to instill awareness in college students. When you listen to a speech, try to understand if it impresses the target of the people present or if it seems a bit inappropriate.
- Don't base your criticism on your personal opinion, but on how the speaker is perceived by the audience. Don't be influenced by your prejudices.
- If you can, observe the audience's reactions to the speech. Don't they seem to understand it? Are they kidnapped? Do they laugh at jokes or do they look bored?
Step 2. Evaluate the clarity of the speech
The speaker must use grammar correctly and use understandable language, making the speech pleasant to the ears of the bystanders and developing the topic well. The main argument, in fact, should be clear within a few sentences, while the rest of the content must be constructed in a simple and understandable way in order to support the dominant thesis. Again, whether or not you agree with the speaker or whether or not he inspires sympathy is not as important as what he is saying. When deciding if the speech is clear, consider the following questions:
- Is the introduction effective? Did the speaker clarify the main topic within the first few sentences or did it take some time to figure out where he intended to go?
- Is the speech full of digressions that distract the listener and have no reference to the main topic, or is it logically constructed to the conclusion?
- If you had to repeat the speech to someone else, would you be able to report all the main points or would you have difficulty remembering what it was about?
Step 3. See if the speech is convincing and educational
In a well-written speech, arguments are expertly explained in support of a more important argument. The content of the speech must show that whoever tackles a particular topic is competent in the subject, while the audience should leave with the feeling that they have learned something new. Look for gaps in reasoning or points outlined that might have been more convincing had they been further investigated.
- Hear the names, dates, and information mentioned to support the argument. Write down any names, dates, statistics, and information pertaining to the research in the speech, so you can review them later. When the speaker has finished speaking, review the facts to make sure they have been explained thoroughly. It is very important to note the inaccuracies of the data because they can affect the credibility of the speech.
- If you need to make a criticism at the end of a speech, it can be useful to use the Internet for a quick check. Wait for the audience's questions or some other interval to review the points made in the talk.
Step 4. See if the speech has its own personality
Anecdotes and occasional jokes break the heavy tone of a speech and keep it from becoming boring. If it is too monotonous, no matter how convincing the argument is, people will not be able to hear it, as they will be distracted. When trying to determine if the speech is engaging, ask yourself these questions:
- Did he start off with a good attack? To get people involved right away, a good speech usually starts with a funny or interesting idea that grabs the audience's attention.
- Was it engaging the whole time? A good speaker spreads anecdotes and jokes all over the place to grab and keep listeners' attention.
- Do anecdotes and jokes distract people or do they contribute to the development of the basic thesis? Some listeners may miss important points by just hearing the premise. The best way to properly critique a speech is to wait for the speaker to make a joke and then listen very carefully to what they have to say next. Consider jokes and anecdotes as highlighters that highlight the main ideas.
- Does the speaker use images and illustrations judiciously? A truly superb and unforgettable image is better than three that convey nothing and are only partially connected to the main focus of the speech.
Step 5. Evaluate the conclusion
A good closure must tie all the points together and give the audience new ideas to use the information given. A poor conclusion simply summarizes the points raised or even ignores them to move on to a topic that has nothing to do with what the rapporteur said.
- Remember that the end of a speech is one of the most important parts in the speech writing process. It has to win back the audience's attention and be powerful, thoughtful, profound and concise.
- When finished, the speaker must show the highest level of confidence a person can have to bring the audience credit for what they have presented.
Method 2 of 3: Evaluate the Presentation
Step 1. Listen to the inflections in the speaker's voice
Do you speak in a way that invites you to listen or that easily deconcentrates? A great speaker knows when to pause for effect, but also when to speed up and how to adjust the volume of the voice. There is no perfect way to deliver a speech, since everyone has their own style. However, all the great speakers have in common the ability to keep the audience's attention awake. Here are some things to consider:
- A person who speaks too loudly may sound aggressive, while one who speaks too softly may have a hard time making themselves heard. See if the speaker seems to choose the volume of their voice wisely.
- Many speakers tend to speak too fast without realizing it. See if the person appears to be speaking at a natural, easy-to-understand rhythm.
Step 2. Observe the speaker's body language
The way it moves should project confidence and charisma, making the audience feel involved. Those less able to speak in public may look down, forget to make eye contact, and stamp their foot on the ground, while a great speaker can do the following:
- Make eye contact with people, looking at different points, in order to involve every part of the audience.
- Stand up straight, without getting too excited.
- Gesturing naturally from time to time.
- When appropriate, walk around the stage instead of leaning on the podium.
Step 3. Listen to the interlayers
Too many "mhm", "that is" and "practically" detract from the rapporteur's credibility, since they make him seem a bit unprepared. Listen to these words and take note as often as you hear them. While using some interlayer is natural, however, these expressions shouldn't take over during exposure or be too obvious.
Step 4. See if the speech has been memorized
A great speaker should memorize the speech well in advance. It is acceptable to use a typed page of notes or a PowerPoint to stimulate memory, but looking down too many times can distract the audience.
- It was once permissible to carry a set of notes and read from them, but this is no longer the case.
- By memorizing the speech, the speaker will be able to engage the audience through eye contact and body language, and will prevent the speech from resembling reading a book.
Step 5. Evaluate how the speaker handles anxiety
Most people are afraid of the stage. Public speaking is the second largest fear in North America after death. Great speakers may be nervous before a speech, but they use techniques that help hide this mood from the audience. Look for signs of nervousness in the speaker, so you can offer a critique to help him improve next time.
- Take note of any repeated movements or gestures that may detract from the content of the speech. They could be signs of nervousness.
- Shaking voice or indistinct murmurs are also signs of nervousness.
Method 3 of 3: Give Constructive Feedback
Step 1. Take detailed notes during the speech
Bring a notebook and a pen with you so that you can make a note of any points that need improvement. By writing a brief account of what the speaker said, you can organize the material when it is time to present your critique. If you are as detailed in your notes as possible, you will also be able to make the speaker understand exactly what he or she will have to work on next time.
- If there are no restrictions and you have the time, record the speech using a video camera or tape recorder. In this way, you will have the opportunity to reproduce the speech more than once to get a clearer idea of the arguments put forward and the validity of what was said.
- Organize your notes so that you have a section for the contents and a section dedicated to how they were presented. Include a few examples to support your assessment of each part.
Step 2. Discuss your assessment of the content of the speech
Analyze the speech point by point, starting with the introduction and ending with the conclusion. Give an overall assessment of both how, in your opinion, the main points of the speech were presented and corroborated and how convincing and credible you felt as a whole. Do you think it was a well done speech or should it be revised?
- Tell the speaker which elements of the speech were interesting, which parts were confusing and which need more references to support the argument.
- If any joke or anecdote didn't work out, let them know. It's better to be honest now than to let the person repeat the same hideous joke over and over again.
- Tell the speaker if the speech seemed appropriate to the intended audience.
Step 3. Comment on the way the speech was presented
It is in this area that speakers often need more feedback, as it is difficult to assess one's body language and style. Make a gentle but honest criticism of the effectiveness of body language and the way it was used, considering the tone of the voice, the rhythm, the eye contact and the posture.
- It might be helpful to discuss the concept of emotional intelligence, or EQ, which is about the ability to interpret the audience and keep them engaged, influencing everyone's emotions. Eye contact, clarity and naturalness are important because they give the impression that the speaker is caring for the audience and wants to be understood. In this way, the listener will certainly feel involved.
- If the speaker seemed nervous, you might suggest that he try some techniques that help him reduce stage anxiety, such as practicing or laughing before the talk, or practicing in front of a small group of people.
Step 4. Emphasize the positive things too
The speaker under consideration of your criticisms will probably have taken time and effort to write and study the speech. So when you make a criticism, it's as important to point out what went well as to discuss what needs improvement. If you work with a student or someone who needs a hand to improve their presentation skills, be encouraging and reassuring so that they have the confidence to continue to hone their skills.
- Try the sandwich feedback technique. To make a constructive criticism, compliment one part of the speech, tell them what they need to improve, and then give them another compliment. This way, the pill will go down more easily. For example, you could say that he started with a brilliant attack, but that you got confused at the second point of his thesis, although the conclusion clarified the main point.
- To encourage the person to continue learning and improving, you may want to suggest that they watch videos of talks given by famous speakers. Point out the similarities and differences between the speech you are criticizing and a more famous speech.
Advice
- Use a score sheet, a rating scale, or a point system used in competitions. This will give you a score for the speech or you can decide who presented the best speech.
- If appropriate, offer suggestions for improvement. During classroom talks and competitions it is important to help students understand how they can improve their presentation skills in front of an audience. Be thorough and encouraging, with constructive criticism and praise.
