This document provides tips for participating in a Table Topics speech contest. It discusses why members should participate in contests, including to help the club, learn new skills quickly, speak to a new audience, and gain popularity. It outlines contest eligibility rules and provides advice for both contestants and Table Topics masters. Suggestions are given for contestants to practice topics, record themselves, find a mentor, and study feedback. Tips are also provided for masters on introducing topics and putting speakers at ease. The document emphasizes preparation, structure, and tactics for responding to impromptu questions.
8. Ineligible to Contest
International officers, Director and
District officer candidates, IPDGs
Educational Presenters of sessions at
the Area, Division and District
Judges at any level of contests, still
competing
9. Points to remember
If a contestant wins more
than one Club Speech
contest he/she may
represent only one of the
Clubs at the Area level.
No contestant can
compete in more than one
Area Speech Contest even
if in different Divisions or
different Districts
Do not serveDo not serve
as a judge ifas a judge if
you are still ayou are still a
contestantcontestant
Do not serveDo not serve
as a judge ifas a judge if
you are still ayou are still a
contestantcontestant
11. Conquer Stage – Space and Microphone
Time ( Red Light ) 1 – 2:301 – 2:30
Practice Topics (AbstractAbstract )
Short stories – localize/ Personalise
RJ TipRJ Tip
Record – MP3 (Self Critic)
Find the Mentor** (Virtual/Physical)
Attend the Judges Training
Study the Ballots
Tips for TT Speaker (BeforeBefore)
12.
13.
14.
15. Tips for TT Master
Put speaker at ease
Announce topic TMI suggested way
Name – Topic – Topic - Name
Craft short and easy to understand
16. Tips for TT Speaker (JITJIT)
ListenListen to the topic
PausePause (look before you leap, pause before you
speak)
(the world looks brighter from behind a smilesmile)
Power PosturePower Posture
Salutations ??
Don’t apologizeDon’t apologize
GuerillaGuerilla Opening/Closing
Be expressiveexpressive in words and gestures
Add humorhumor if possible
Speak within timewithin time allotted
18. Opening Ideas
RepeatRepeat or summarize question
and pause
Use a quote (quote (3/5 Quotes3/5 Quotes))
Start an anecdoteanecdote
QuestionQuestion
Prepare something in advanceadvance
19. Tactics: (Tactics: (Forte on 1 or 2Forte on 1 or 2 ))
Other tips for tackling topicsOther tips for tackling topics
Opinion
Past, Present, Future
5 Wives & 1 Husband
Pros & Cons
Cause & Effect
Break ideas up and deal with
components
20. TacticTactic
PREPPREP
Point: state your point of view about the
question. Do you agree or disagree?
Reason: give a reason for your view
Example: give one or two examples (no
more the three)
Point: restate your point of view
21. Answering the Questionthe Question
Start awayaway from answer, work towards it
Prevents rambling
AutomaticallyAutomatically gives you a conclusion
22. Your StoryYour Story
First ideaFirst idea is always best - don’t self
censor
There is no wrongno wrong answer
Your own experienceexperience is the best story
23. TipTip
One kind of questions you must
practice comes in this format
“What doesWhat does __________ mean to you?”mean to you?”
For example: “What does
success/leadershipsuccess/leadership mean to
you?”, “What does winning thewinning the
titletitle mean to you?”
26. Tip - contentTip - content
How to Prepare for Table Topics
What’s Your Take on Table Topics?
Rethinking Table Topics: An Unconventional
Approach to Impromptu Speaking
The best Table Topics technique?
What are some of the BEST Table Topics ideas you
have ever had?
Table Topics Ideas
27. Tip - ContentTip - Content
Has anyone got a way or a system that they use whenHas anyone got a way or a system that they use when
answering table topics? e.g. do you prepare a certainanswering table topics? e.g. do you prepare a certain
topic and then adapt it to the topic on the night?topic and then adapt it to the topic on the night?
Table Topic Contest Question
Table Topics: What Works for You?
Table Topics and DeflectionTable Topics and Deflection
The artful doge? How to you do a Table Topic and avoid
the topic/question? 59
Free 45-minute Video Workshop on How to Answer Table
Topics 5
One word for Table Topics contest topic?
Has anyone ever won a Table Topics contest by not
answering the question?
29. Whether you think you can or think
you can’t – you are right.
Henry Ford
Editor's Notes
Growth happens when you step out of your comfort zone
Growth happens when you step out of your comfort zone
Pushed v/s Competing
Jif its not on plan Just Jump in
Growth happens when you step out of your comfort zone
Your business strategy Is incomplete without competition or customers
What is one life lesson you wish to pass along to others and why? - Gureilla
If you could bring to life one fictional character from a book or a movie; who would you choose and why?
Express an opinion, right at the start:::::Unless you’re a beginner, try not to give a long introduction. Instead, answer the question or express an opinion, and do so at the start. This is easier for closed questions (e.g. “What was your favourite holiday?”), but you can also do it for open questions (e.g. “Talk about holidays”). So long as you can seize your little idea and turn it into something concrete.
5 – Remember the rule of three:::::You can put some structure into your speech by breaking it down into three main points that justify your opinion or reinforce it. (For example, “My best holiday ever was in Tibet, and there are three reasons why.”), You don’t need them all before you start: instead, you can think of the first point while answering the question, then think of the second point while talking about the first, and so on. It’s surprising how often this works.
Prepare something in advance:::::You can often use the theme of the topic to suggest a framework for your speech, a style of delivery or a direction to take it in. When your question arrives, you can fit your answer into the framework you’ve already thought of.
Past Present Future::::::In the past, I hated grass because my Mother made me mow a huge front lawn every week.
Presently, I watch the people I pay mow the grass for me, and enjoy the fact that I’m not mowing it.
In the future, I look forward to lying in the grass and enjoying the sun while not caring if it is mowed or not.
Express an opinion, right at the start:::::Unless you’re a beginner, try not to give a long introduction. Instead, answer the question or express an opinion, and do so at the start. This is easier for closed questions (e.g. “What was your favourite holiday?”), but you can also do it for open questions (e.g. “Talk about holidays”). So long as you can seize your little idea and turn it into something concrete.
5 – Remember the rule of three:::::You can put some structure into your speech by breaking it down into three main points that justify your opinion or reinforce it. (For example, “My best holiday ever was in Tibet, and there are three reasons why.”), You don’t need them all before you start: instead, you can think of the first point while answering the question, then think of the second point while talking about the first, and so on. It’s surprising how often this works.
Prepare something in advance:::::You can often use the theme of the topic to suggest a framework for your speech, a style of delivery or a direction to take it in. When your question arrives, you can fit your answer into the framework you’ve already thought of.
Past Present Future::::::In the past, I hated grass because my Mother made me mow a huge front lawn every week.
Presently, I watch the people I pay mow the grass for me, and enjoy the fact that I’m not mowing it.
In the future, I look forward to lying in the grass and enjoying the sun while not caring if it is mowed or not.