Consider Using Phrases
Such as:
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I believe
My reaction was
I liked how
Excellent job with
I suggest that
What I saw/heard/noticed
Avoid Negative Phrases
Such as:
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The Center for Excellence in
Communication assists students
with practicing and developing
Communication skills with services
Such as:
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A Guide for Students
Providing an Effective
Presentation Critique
One on one presentation
practice
PowerPoint tutoring
Virtual audience preparation
Presentation outlining
Mock Interviews
Group Presentation
Mediation
You should have
I didn’t like how
You failed to
You need to
You didn’t do this correctly
A good speech looks like
Encourage Presentation Practice
The best way for a speaker to improve
is to Practice, Practice, and Practice!
When in a position to do so, suggest
to speaker that they rehearse out loud
with all equipment they plan on using.
This helps the speaker to control filler
words and become more comfortable
with the material they plan on
presenting.
CONTACT US
For additional information, check out
the Communication Center website:
www.uccs.edu/commcenter
To speak with a trained CEC Peer
Mentor or Graduate Associate,
contact us at (719)255-4770 to
schedule an appointment.
Providing an Effective
Presentation Critique
Developed by: Jesse Perez
Columbine Hall 312
(719) 255-4770
Providing An Effective
Presentation Critique
When given the opportunity to comment
on a speakers performance, you have the
power to influence, and should see
yourself as a catalyst for positive change
and improvement in communication.
When giving a critique speakers can
benefit greatly from constructive criticism.
You can offer a new perspective and help
speakers recognize and solve any
difficulties that may have been observed
during their presentation.
Ask Permission
To Offer Suggestions
Unsolicited advice is rarely wanted or
well-accepted. By asking the speaker
for permission, you have given the
speaker a chance to say no. It is
important to put yourself in the
speaker’s place.
The speaker has likely spent a
significant amount of time preparing the
presentation and has just presented,
not only to you, but also to an audience
of strangers. The speaker may be
anxious about what you have to say
which is why establishing a comfort
zone is Important if wanting to
effectively reach them.
Provide Helpful Feedback
An effective critique should reinforce
positive speaking behaviors and build
self-esteem. Begin by telling the
speaker what you liked about the
presentation and what they did well.
Be Honest But Tactful
According to national surveys, fear of public
speaking ranks among Americans' top dreads,
surpassing fear of illness, fear of flying, fear of
terrorism, and often the fear of death itself.
Avoid “sugar coating” a critique or
telling the speaker something that is not
true. Being insincere does not help the
speaker improve. This does not mean
that you should be cruel in your critique.
Always take into consideration how it
might feel to be on the receiving end of
your critique. Remind the speaker that
you are giving your opinion and not
telling them what they need to do.
Evaluate Presentation Skills
and Content, Not The
Speaker’s Character
The main purpose for giving a critique is
to support, help and encourage the
speaker. Avoid discussing conflicting
views about their speech if not appropriate
to do so. If they stated something that
challenged your beliefs, it is not your
place to discuss any disagreements.
Instead of focusing on ideals, look for
aspects such as:
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Organization
Vocal variety
Body language/gestures
Presentational aids
Use of the presentation space
Supporting material
The job of the critic is to provide the
speaker with information that can be used
to adjust and strengthen their speaking
performance to better reach their
audience.
Keep your comments positive,
constructive, and informative, and always
end on a positive note, this will ensure
that the speaker is left feeling comfortable
and knowing you have their best interest
in mind and are offering them useful
suggestions for improvement.