Q Your evaluation needs to be NOT LESS than 250 words. To write a successful evaluation, you will need to watch the videotape of your performance. Review the comments your classmates have made online, as well as feedback you have received from your instructor. Take a critical eye and examine those things that you need to improve on. Set goals for yourself, and you can track your progress the next time you evaluate yourself. Below are some sample questions you may want to answer. You do not have to confine yourself to these topics, as they are for guidance only; feel free to discuss any aspects of your performance not covered here. Do not devote your comments to one category either—you should discuss a wide range of aspects of your delivery. DO NOT restate the questions in your critique—that’s a waste of space. Also, do not simply provide yes or no answers to these questions. The self-critique should be a thoughtful examination of things you are doing well and things you can improve on. There is a sample self-evaluation in the appendix to your Survival Guide. Self-evaluations are due online by 11:59 PM on the Sunday following the last speaking day for that group of speeches. Eye Contact • How was my eye contact with the audience, overall? • What were the positive aspects of my eye contact? • What were the negative aspects of my eye contact? • How can I improve my eye contact? Speaking rate/Pausing • How was my speaking rate? • What were the positive and negative aspects of my rate? • How can improve my speaking rate? • Did I have any awkward or excessive pauses? • How can I improve pausing in future presentations? Volume • Was I loud of enough for the audience to hear? • Did I command the room? • What aspects of my volume can I improve upon? Movement • How were my gestures overall? • Was I standing up straight? • Do I make any repetitive/distracting movements or gestures? • Did I plant my feet hips distance apart at the start of the speech? • Was my face animated? • How can I improve my performance in this respect? Tone • How did I sound? • Was I speaking in monotone? • Did I speak with a lot of energy? • In what ways can I improve my performance on these aspects in the future? Pronunciation • Did I have any mispronunciations? • Were my words clearly articulated? • In what ways can I improve my performance in this respect? Fluency and Preparation • Did I use a lot of filler words? (um, ah, er, so, well, alright, ok, etc.) • What filler words do I use most often? • How can I improve in this respect? Introduction/Conclusion/Signposts • Did the attention getter grab my audience? • Was my thesis stated clearly? • Did I have a source in my introduction? • Did my justification give the audience clear motivation to continue listening? • Did my preview contain signpost language? • Was my introduction the required 1-2 minutes? • Did I use internal previews, reviews, summaries and signposts to tie everything together? • Did my review contain signpost language? • Did my speech end with a bang and not a whimper? • Did my tie-in genuinely tie-in with the attention getter? • Did I violate any of the cardinal rules of introductions? • Did I violate any of the cardinal rules of conclusions? Visual Aids • Were my visual aids well handled? • Did I make eye contact with the audience while showing my visual aids? • Did I violate any of the rules for the creation of visual aids? • Did I use a two-fingered point when referring to my visual aids? • Were the words and images on my visual aids easy for everyone to see clearly?