Toastmasters International

Humorous Speech Contest

JUDGE'S GUIDE AND BALLOT

JUDGING ITEMS (see overleaf for descriptions)			Suggested Points						Speakers' Names
			Excellent	Very Good		Good	Fair
CONTENT	SPEECH DEVELOPMENT: Structure, opening, body, closing, organization		15	11 to 14		6 to 10	0 to 5
	EFFECTIVENESS: Excitement created, suspense, unexpected twist, surprise, connection of humorous events, achievement of purpose		15	11 to 14		6 to 10	0 to 5
	SPEECH VALUE: Ideas, originality of thought and material		15	11 to 14		6 to 10	0 to 5
	AUDIENCE RESPONSE: Interest, attentiveness, laughter, reception		10	7 to 9		4 to 6	0 to 3
	CONTENT Subtotal		55
DELIVERY	PHYSICAL: Appearance, body language		10	7 to 9		4 to 6	0 to 3
	VOICE: Flexibility, volume		10	7 to 9		4 to 6	0 to 3
	MANNER: Directness, assurance, enthusiasm		10	7 to 9		4 to 6	0 to 3
	DELIVERY Subtotal		30
LANGUAGE	APPROPRIATENESS: To speech purpose and audience		10	7 to 9		4 to 6	0 to 3
	CORRECTNESS: Grammar, dialect pronounciation, word selection		5	4		3	0 to 2
	LANGUAGE Subtotal		15
TOTAL SCORE: MAX = 100
Judge's Official Ballot
Detach and submit to counters NOTE: Votes must be cast for first, second and third places, or the ballot will be voided
PLACE		NAME OF CONTESTANT			POINTS					Judge's Details
First					3			Name:
Second					2			Signature:
Third					1			Club / No :
								Date:

JUDGING CRITERIA

CONTENT (55%)

SPEECH DEVELOPMENT is the way the speaker puts ideas together so the audience can understand them. The speech is structured around a purpose or theme, and the structure must include a opening, body and conclusion. A good humorous speech immediately engages the audience's attention and then builds to a significant conclusion: it is not a series of jokes or a monologue.

EFFECTIVENESS refers to your subjective judgement of how the speech came across. What was the purpose or theme of the speech? Did the speech relate directly to that purpose or theme? Was humour used effectively?

SPEECH VALUE justifies the act of speaking. The speaker has a responsibility to say something meaningful and original to the audience, even in a humorous speech. The ideas should be important, even though they are presented humorously.

AUDIENCE RESPONSE reflects the audience’s reaction to the speech. Did the speech hold the audience’s interest? Did people understand and laugh at the humour?

DELIVERY (30%)

PHYSICAL presentation of a speech carries part of the responsibility for effective communication. The speaker's appearance should reinforce the speech. Body language should support points through gestures, expressions, and body positioning.

VOICE 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.

MANNER is the indirect revelation of the speaker's real self as the speech is delivered. The speaker should speak with enthusiasm and assurance, showing interest in the audience and confidence in their reactions.

LANGUAGE (20%)

APPROPRIATENESS of language refers to the choice of words that relate to the speech purpose and to the particular audience hearing the speech. Language should promote clear understanding of thoughts, should fit the occasion and should be in good taste.

CORRECTNESS of language ensures that attention will be directed toward what the speaker says, not how it is said. Proper use of grammar and correct pronounciation will show that the speaker is the master of the words being used.

JUDGE'S CODE OF ETHICS

1. Judges will consciously avoid bias of any kind in selecting first, second and third-place contestants. They will not consider any contestant's club, area, division or district affiliation. Nor will they consider any contestant's age, sex, race, creed, national origin, profession or political beliefs. They will demonstrate the utmost objectivity.

2. Judges will not time the speeches, and will not consider the possibility of under-time or overtime when judging a contestant's speech.

3. Judges will support by word and deed the contest rules and judging standards, refraining from public criticism and the contest and revealing scores and ranking only in accordance

TIEBREAKING JUDGE'S GUIDE AND BALLOT

JUDGING ITEMS (see overleaf for descriptions)		Suggested Points				Speakers' Names
		Excellent	Very Good	Good	Fair
CONTENT	SPEECH DEVELOPMENT: Structure, opening, body, closing, organization	15	11 to 14	6 to 10	0 to 5
	EFFECTIVENESS: Excitement created, suspense, unexpected twist, surprise, connection of humorous events, achievement of purpose	15	11 to 14	6 to 10	0 to 5
	SPEECH VALUE: Ideas, originality of thought and material	15	11 to 14	6 to 10	0 to 5
	AUDIENCE RESPONSE: Interest, attentiveness, laughter, reception	10	7 to 9	4 to 6	0 to 3
	CONTENT Subtotal	55
DELIVERY	PHYSICAL: Appearance, body language	10	7 to 9	4 to 6	0 to 3
	VOICE: Flexibility, volume	10	7 to 9	4 to 6	0 to 3
	MANNER: Directness, assurance, enthusiasm	10	7 to 9	4 to 6	0 to 3
	DELIVERY Subtotal	30
LANGUAGE	APPROPRIATENESS: To speech purpose and audience	10	7 to 9	4 to 6	0 to 3
	CORRECTNESS: Grammar, dialect pronounciation, word selection	5	4	3	0 to 2
	LANGUAGE Subtotal	15
TOTAL SCORE: MAX = 100

(Detach and submit to counters)

Tiebreaking Judge's Official Ballot

Note: All speakers must be ranked

First	Fourth	Seventh
Second	Fifth	Eighth
Third	Sixth	Nineth

(Signature of judge)

(Judge's Name, Please Print)

COUNTER'S TALLY SHEET

This tally sheet should be given to the Chief Judge. The Chief Judge should provide the Chairman the names of first, second, and third (if appropriate) place contestants. The balance of the information is confidential and not be made available as general information.

NAME OF CONTESTANT

NAME OF JUDGE

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

TOTALS

1. From each ballot collected, enter on this tally sheet:

a. 3 points for FIRST place

b. 2 points for SECOND place

c. 1 point for THIRD place.

2. After results from all ballots have been entered, compute totals.

3. If tie results, refer to Tiebreaking Judge's Ballot.

4. Enter winners as follows:

1^st Place Winner ____________________________________________________________________________

2^nd Place Winner ____________________________________________________________________________

3^rd Place Winner ____________________________________________________________________________

5. On a separate sheet of paper, submit the names of the winners to the chairman or the person who will announce the results. Clearly specify first, second and third (if appropriate) place next to the corresponding names.

SPEECH CONTEST TIME RECORD SHEET

AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR TIMERS

CONTESTANT	PRESENTATION TIME
	MINUTES	SECONDS

There shall be at least two timers, one of whom shall be provided with a stopwatch by the chief judge. They shall keep the official record of the time of each contestant's presentation.

The timers shall provide warning signal lights, which shall be clearly visible to the speakers, but not obvious to the audience. Any sightless contestant may request and must be granted a form of warning signal of his or her own choosing, which may be an audible device; the contestant must provide any special device required for such signal.

Any contestant is disqualified whose presentation time is less than the minimum time or more than the maximum time indicated below. No signal shall be given to indicate that a presentation has gone into overtime. In the event of technical failure of the lights, a contestant is allowed 30 seconds extra overtime before being disqualified.

Timing will begin with the contestant's first definite verbal or non-verbal communication with the audience. This will usually be the first word uttered by the constant, but would include any other communication such a sound effects, a staged act by another person, etc.

Following are the timing rules for each contest. No more than one signal light may be on at any time.

International Speech Contest: Speech length is five to seven minutes; a speaker will be disqualified if he or she speaks under four minutes, 30 seconds or more than seven minutes, 30 seconds. The green light will be turned on at five minutes. The amber light will be turned on at 6 minutes. The red light will be turned on at seven minutes and will remain on until the speech ends.

Humorous Speech Contest: Speech length is five to seven minutes; a speaker will be disqualified if he or she speaks under four minutes, 30 seconds or more than seven minutes, 30 seconds. The green light will be turned on at five minutes. The amber light will be turned on at 6 minutes. The red light will be turned on at seven minutes and will remain on until the speech ends.

Evaluation Speech Contest: Evaluation length is two to three minutes; a contestant will be disqualified for speaking less than one minute, 30 seconds or more than three minutes, 30 seconds. The green light will be turned on at two minutes. The amber light will be turned on at two minutes, 30 seconds. The red light will be turned on at three minutes and remain on until the evaluation ends.

Table Topics Speech Contest: Speech length is two minutes; a contestant will be disqualified for speaking less than one minute or more than two minutes, 30 seconds. The green light will be turned on at one minute. The amber light will be turned on at one minute, 30 seconds. The red light will be turned on at two minutes and remain on until the speech ends.

Tall Tales Speech Contest: Speech length is three to five minutes; a contestant will be disqualified for speaking less than two minutes, 3 seconds and more than five minutes, 30 seconds. The green light will be turned on at three minutes. The amber light will be turned on at four minutes. The red light will be turned on at five minutes and remain on until the end of the speech.

Record each contestant's presentation time on the form above. Circle any time which disqualifies the contestant. Submit the completed form to the Chief Judge immediately following the last presentation.

TIME RECORD SHEET

COMPETITION	INTERNATIONAL	EVALUATION	IMPROMPTU	HUMOROUS
Contest Details:

CONTEST TIMES
Contestant	Mins	Secs	Comments

DISQUALIFICATIONS

TIMEKEEPER DETAILS
Printed name	Signed	Date

COMPETITION REPORT

1. To be submitted by the Chief Judge of the contest to the District Chief Judge.

2. Please enclose:- all judging sheets, counter's tally sheet, timekeeper's report.

Contest Details:

Date Held:

Level	Club	Area	Division	District
Category	International	Evaluation	Impromptu	Humorous

JUDGES	Name	Club Name	Number	Div/Area
Chief Judge
Judges	1.
	2.
	3.
	4.
	5.
	6.
	7.
	8.
Timekeepers	Name	Club Name	Number	Div/Area
Results	Name	Club Name	Number	Div/Area
1^stPlace
2^nd Place
3^rd Place
COMMENTS

Name

Signature

Date