Student Judges

Dear Students, Thank you so much for participating in the selection of "America's Greatest High School Speaker". You are an indispensible part of this competition. So, here's how you do it. STEP I: Click here and you will receive 3 speeches on the topic of the competition: "MY MESSAGE FOR AMERICA". STEP 2: Click on each one, watch it and then evaluate on the basis of 1) Content, 2) Delivery, 3) Overall. (see below) STEP 3: (OPTIONAL) To help your fellow students learn from this experience, you might want to send them some more specific feedback. This is totally up to you. So, if you are moved to do so, simply click the comments that apply on the I WANT TO HELP YOU BE AN EVEN BETTER SPEAKER form. STEP 4: Click SEND and you're done. You will receive a thank you from The Competition and a coupon to redeem for some free music for your time and support of the competitors. Enjoy and feel free to send the videos that you like, and even the ones you don't, to your friends. It's totally cool to do that. COMPETITION EVALUATION CRITERIA Content: 1 - Nice Try 2 - Fair 3 - Good 4 - Very Good 5 - Superb Delivery: 1 - Nice Try 2 - Fair 3 - Good 4 - Very Good 5 - Superb Overall: 1 - Nice Try 2 - Fair 3 - Good 4 - Very Good 5 - Superb So, What Does That All Mean? Some Guidelines: Content: Did they have a strong, well expressed message (whether you personally agreed with it or not!) Delivery: Did they deliver that message well? Did their voice tone and body language make the content even more compelling? (See below for the many aspects of non-verbal communication to help you analyze this even better!) Overall: Why do we need this category, you ask? Well, it is "The X Factor". Sometimes the words may be great, the delivery might be good, but the speech just doesn't, overall, work for you. And, sometimes the words can be so-so, the delivery not very strong but there is something about the overall effect that really moves you. Let your gut guide you on this one! (Optional) The "I Want You To Be A Better Speaker" Form Here are 20 different things you can check off and send to your fellow students when you evaluate their videos. Be kind, be supportive, be fair, but also, don't be afraid to tell the truth. Constructive feedback is absolutely necessary when one is learning any skill. Secret #1: Great Speakers Use Their Words, Voice Tone AND Body Language to Great Effect 1. Were the Words well chosen and effective? YES or NO 2. Was there enough variation in the Voice Tone? Enough variation in Volume? Sometimes loud, sometimes soft? YES or NO Enough variation in Speed? Sometimes fast, sometimes slow? YES or NO Enough variation in Frequency or Pitch? Sometimes high pitch, sometimes lower? YES or NO 3. Were the important words (or syllables) highlighted through effective Punc-tu-a-tion? YES or NO 4. Was the Resonance of the student's voice attractive and authoritative? YES or NO 5. Was there an effective use of "The Pause? to build the drama in the speech? YES or NO 6. Was the Body Language effective? Was their posture centered with their shoulders showing authority and presence? YES or NO If they moved, did they move in a purposeful, centered way? YES or NO Were their gestures enough, appropriate and effective? YES or NO Did you feel they were really talking with you? Did they make good eye contact, even through the camera lens? YES or NO - Secret #2: Great Speakers Have A Lasered, Compelling Message 1. Was therea definite theme or message to the speech (as opposed to a lot of rambling bits of data)? YES or NO 2. The theme, or message was so "Lasered" that you could recite it at the end of the speech? YES or NO 3. If they used a story or anecdote to illustrate their Lasered, Compelling Message, did they tell it well (present tense, as if it were happening right then, and 1st person, whenever appropriate). Was it a powerful addition to the message? YES or NO - Secret #3: Great Speakers Are Conversational: The Communication Effectiveness Continuum 1. Where did the student fit on the follwing scale? It felt like an act or a "Performance" AT the camera/audience? It felt like a 1 plus 1 plus 1 equals 3 kind of "linear" "Presentation" TO the camera/audience? It felt like a warm, personal "Conversation" WITH the camera/audience? It touched me so deeply, it almost felt like I was right there with him/her. It was raw and real. He/she was, completely, just Being themself. - Secret #4: Great Speakers Use All 4 "Languages" of Human Communication 1. Was there enough energy and excitement ("Visual Language")? YES or NO 2. Was the student articulate, easy to follow with an attractive voice? ("Auditory Language") YES or NO 3. Did the student support his message with enough detail/facts/analysis (or just make broad, unsupported assertions or argurments) ("Auditory Digital Language") YES or NO 4. Did you feel connected to this student? Was there warmth and feeling? ("Kinesthetic Language") YES or NO   Secret #5: Most Importantly, Great Speakers Have Authentic Passion (About Their Subject and Sharing It With Their Audience Was the student genuinely and authentically passionate about what he/she was talking about? YES or NO