presentation mastery level 1

Westside Toastmasters, For Public Speaking and Leadership Education

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Pathways - Presentation Mastery Projects Overview

The Presentation Mastery path helps build your skills as an accomplished public speaker. The projects on this path focus on learning how an audience responds to you and improving your connection with audience members. The projects contribute to developing an understanding of effective public speaking technique, including speech writing and speech delivery. This path culminates in an extended speech that will allow you to apply what you learned.

Presentation Mastery Competency Levels

Path: Presentation Mastery

This path helps you build your skills as an accomplished public speaker. The projects on this path focus on learning how an audience responds to you and improving your connection with audience members. The projects contribute to developing an understanding of effective public speaking technique, including speech writing and speech delivery. This path culminates in an extended speech that will allow you to apply what you learned.

Level 1 Requirements: Complete four speech projects and an Evaluation

Ice Breaker

This foundational project is designed to introduce you to your club and the skills you need to begin your Toastmasters journey. This project includes a 4- to 6-minute speech.

Evaluation and Feedback

This project addresses the skills needed to give and receive feedback. You will learn about giving, receiving and applying feedback. This project includes a 5- to 7-minute speech, incorporating feedback from your first speech into a second 5- to 7-minute speech, and serving as a speech evaluator.

Researching and Presenting

This project addresses topic selection strategies, suggestions for research and methods for producing a well-organized speech. This project includes researching a topic, the Research Worksheet, the Speech Outline Worksheet, and a 5- to 7-minute speech.

Level 2 Requirements:  Complete the Understanding Your Communication Style , Effective Body Language , and mentoring projects. A total of three presentations are required.

Effective Body Language

This project focuses on how to recognize body language used when speaking publicly and how to use gestures to enhance speech content. This project includes a 5- to 7-minute speech.

Understanding Your Communication Style

This project focuses on recognizing your preferred communication style and understanding how your style impacts your interactions with others. This project includes the Discover Your Communication Style questionnaire and a 5- to 7-minute speech.

Introduction to Toastmasters Mentoring

This project introduces the value of mentorship and the Toastmasters view of mentors and protégés. This project includes a 5- to 7-minute speech.

Level 3 Requirements: Complete the  Persuasive Speaking  project and any TWO of the electives. Note that because Effective Body Language was required in Level 2, it is not available as an elective for Level 3 in this path.

Persuasive Speaking

This project focuses on helping you to develop and support a viewpoint, and identify the most appropriate type of persuasive speech for your topic. This project includes the Persuasive Speech Outline Worksheet and a 5- to 7-minute speech.

Deliver Social Speeches

This project addresses the skills needed to compose a speech for a social occasion including a toast, eulogy, an acceptance speech and a speech praising an individual or group. This project includes the Social Speech Basics resource abd two 3- to 4-minute speeches.

Using Presentation Software

This project addresses the use of presentation software—from identifying topics that benefit from the use of technology to effective slide design and presentation. This project includes developing presentation slides and a 5- to 7-minute speech.

Connect with Storytelling

This project addresses storytelling techniques and descriptive skills to help make every speech relatable and interesting. This project includes a 5- to 7-minute speech.

Creating Effective Visual Aids

This project addresses effective methods for choosing the best visual aid for your presentation along with the creation and use of each type. This project includes creating one to three visual aids and a 5- to 7-minute speech.

Using Descriptive Language

This project addresses the difference between literal and figurative language along with how to determine when to use each to create vivid descriptions. This project includes a 5- to 7-minute speech.

Connect with Your Audience

This project focuses on different audience types and how to address them effectively. This project includes a 5- to 7-minute speech.

Make Connections Through Networking

This project focuses on how to network effectively and understanding the importance of being a professional ally to people in your network. This project includes the Prepare to Network resource, attending a networking event, the Project Completion Form, and a 5- to 7-minute speech.

Focus on the Positive

This project addresses strategies for improving your personal interactions by understanding the impact of your attitudes and thoughts on daily interactions. This project includes recording your daily moods and attitudes for a minimum of two weeks, a 2- to 3-minute report or a 5- to 7-minute speech, and the Project Completion Form.

Inspire Your Audience

This project addresses the skills you need to identify and speak about personal strengths and present yourself well in an interview of any type. This project includes the Identifying Your Skills Worksheet, the Interviewer Instructions resource, and a 5- to 7-minute role-play interview at a club meeting.

Prepare for an Interview

This project addresses the skills you need to identify and speak about personal strengths and present yourself well in an interview of any type. This project includes the Identifying Your Skills Worksheet, the Interviewer Instructions resource, and a 5- to 7-minute role-play interview at a club meeting

Understanding Vocal Variety

This project addresses the importance of vocal variety when giving a speech and provides activities to develop and nurture its use. This project includes a 5- to 7-minute speech.

Active Listening

This project covers the difference between hearing and listening, and steps for exploring the ways listening helps build strong, lasting connections. This project includes serving as Topicsmaster at a club meeting.

Level 4 Requirements: Complete the  Managing a Difficult Audience  project and at least any ONE of the electives. Because Managing a Difficult Audience is required for this level, it is not available as the elective for Level 4 of this Path.

Managing a Difficult Audience

This project covers common behaviors of difficult audience members and how to address each behavior in a calm, effective and professional way. This project includes a role play assignment for club members and a 5- to 7-minute speech.

Create a Podcast

This project addresses the skills you need to develop a podcast, create interesting content and organize a cohesive program. You will learn how to record and upload it to the internet. This project includes recording 60 minutes of podcast content and a 2- to 3-minute introduction speech.

Building a Social Media Presence

This project addresses how best to use different types of online communication. You will create and maintain an online profile to promote yourself or an organization. This project includes establishing or enhancing a social media presence, a project completion form, and a 5- to 7-minute speech.

Write a Compelling Blog

This project addresses the basics of developing a compelling blog and successfully engaging a readership. This project includes maintaining a blog and posting at least eight times in one month, the Blog Evaluation Form, the Project Completion Form, and a 2- to 3-minute speech

Manage Online Meetings

This project addresses how to effectively conduct online meetings and webinars, prepare and organize necessary visual aids, and lead with confidence. This project includes the Online Meeting Agenda resource, the Online Meeting Basics resource, and planning and conducting a 20- to 25-minute online meeting or webinar.

Question-and-Answer Session

This project addresses how to prepare to answer questions and provide information clearly, concisely and with confidence. This project includes a 5- to 7-minute speech and a question-and-answer session after the speech.

Public Relations Strategies

This project focuses on how to promote awareness of an organization, formulate a public relations strategy and use various public relations tactics. This project includes creating a public relations strategy and a 5- to 7-minute speech.

Manage Projects Successfully

This project focuses on skills needed to effectively manage a project, develop rapport with stakeholders and cultivate strong relationships with a team. This project includes building a team, creating a project plan, the Project Plan resource, a 2- to 3-minute speech about your plan, completing the plan with your team, and a 5- to 7-minute speech about your experience.

Level 5 Requirements: Complete the  Prepare to Speak Professionally  and Reflect on Your Path projects and at least any ONE of the electives.

Prepare to Speak Professionally

This project is designed to help you define the attributes of professional speakers and apply that understanding to your own skills as a speaker. This project includes the Speech Outline Worksheet and an 18- to 22-minute keynote-style speech.

Reflect on Your Path

This project is designed to give you an opportunity to share your experience at the end of your path. This project includes the Your Toastmasters Journey resource and a 10- to 12-minute speech.

Lessons Learned

This project addresses how to identify the discussion points of a large group meeting, encourage a culture of contribution and voicing opinions, and facilitate productive discussion that yields results. This project includes facilitating a lessons learned meeting, documenting the results of the lessons learned meeting, the 360° Evaluation resource, the Lessons Learned Response Log, the Metrics Log, and a 5- to 7-minute speech.

Moderate a Panel Discussion

This project addresses the skills needed to successfully moderate a panel discussion and how to be an effective participant on a panel. This project includes planning and moderating a 20- to 40-minute panel discussion, the Panelist Basics resource, and the Project Completion Form.

Ethical Leadership

This project addresses the importance of recognizing the effect of decisions that impact ethics, best practices for making ethical decisions and developing an ethical framework. This project includes the Ethical Framework resource and organizing and moderating a panel discussion as well as a question-and-answer session.

Leading in Your Volunteer Organization

This project focuses on the skills required to lead in a volunteer organization and the importance of recognition and reward in motivating volunteers. This project includes serving in a volunteer leadership role for a minimum of six months, conducting a 360° evaluation of your leadership skills, creating a succession plan, the Succession Plan resource, the 360° Evaluation resource, and a 5- to 7-minute speech.

High-Performance Leadership

The focus of this project is to design and complete a project with well-defined goals, lead a team and be accountable to a guidance committee. This project includes selecting, leading, and completing a project with a team, forming and meeting with a guidance committee at least five times, several project and planning resources, the 360° Evaluation resource, and two 5- to 7-minute speeches.

District One

Presentation Mastery

Competencies: 1 5

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• Path: Presentation Mastery
• Pathways Paths and Projects

Presentation Mastery

This path helps you build your skills as an accomplished public speaker. The projects on this path focus on learning how an audience responds to you and improving your connection with audience members. The projects contribute to developing an understanding of effective public speaking technique, including speech writing and speech delivery. This path culminates in an extended speech that will allow you to apply what you learned.

LEVEL 1 (10/2021)

Level 1 (pre 10/2021), level 1: mastering fundamentals, level 1 projects (required).

This foundational project is designed to introduce you to your club and the skills you need to begin your Toastmasters journey.

Purpose:  The purpose of this project is to introduce yourself to the club and learn the basic structure of a public speech.

Overview:  Write and deliver a speech about any topic to introduce yourself to the club. Your speech may be humorous, informational, or any other style that appeals to you.

This project includes:

■  A 4- to 6-minute speech

WRITING A SPEECH WITH PURPOSE

This foundational project is designed to help you write and deliver your first Toastmasters speech or the first speech in your new path.

Purpose:  The purpose of this project is to learn or review basic methods for writing a speech with a defined purpose and to present a well-organized speech on any topic.

Overview:  Select a topic that appeals to you. It can be anything. Be sure your topic is narrow enough to be an effective 5- to 7-minute speech.

Clearly define your topic and consider your goal for your speech. Before you organize your speech, identify and express your purpose in a single sentence. Practice your speech and refine its organization. Present your speech at a club meeting.

■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

INTRODUCTION TO VOCAL VARIETY AND BODY LANGUAGE

This foundational project is designed to help you learn the basics of presenting with engaging vocal variety and compelling body language.

Purpose:  The purpose of this project is to practice using vocal variety or body language to enhance a speech.

Overview:  Learn or review the importance of vocal variety and body language. Present a 5- to 7-minute speech on any topic at a club meeting. The primary focus of the evaluation is your vocal variety or your body language and gestures. You will identify the skills you are working on for your evaluator before you deliver your speech and be evaluated on those skills.

EVALUATION AND FEEDBACK

This project addresses the skills needed to give and receive feedback. You will learn about giving, receiving and applying feedback.

Purpose:  This project comprises three assignments – the delivery of two speeches and an evaluation. The purpose of this project is to present a speech on any topic, receive feedback, and apply the feedback to the second speech.

Overview:  Choose any topic for your first 5- to 7-minute speech. After your speech, carefully review your feedback. At a different club meeting, present a second 5- to 7-minute speech in which you incorporate feedback from your first speech. You may choose to present the same speech again or a new speech. Your second speech should reflect some or all of the feedback from your first speech. To complete this project, serve as an evaluator at a club meeting and deliver constructive feedback about another member’s presentation.

This project includes: ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech ■  Another 5 – 7 minute speech that incorporates feedback from the first speech ■  Serving as a speech evaluator

RESEARCHINIG AND PRESENTING

This project addresses topic selection strategies, suggestions for research and methods for producing a well organized speech.

Purpose:  The purpose of this project is to learn or review basic research methods and present a well-organized, well-researched speech on any topic.

Overview:  Select a topic that you are not already familiar with or that you wish to learn more about. Be sure your topic is narrow enough to be an effective 5- to 7-minute speech. Research the topic and begin organizing the information, as described in this project. Practice your speech and continue to refine its organization. Present your speech at a club meeting.

■  Researching a topic ■  The Research Worksheet ■  The Speech Outline Worksheet ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

Level 2: Learning Your Style

Level 2 projects (required).

This project focuses on recognizing your preferred communication style and understanding how your style impacts your interactions with others.

Purpose:  The purpose of this project is to learn about different communication styles and identify your primary style.

Overview:  Complete the Discover Your Communication Style questionnaire to help you identify your style. Deliver a 5- to 7-minute speech at a club meeting about your communication style and its impact on your professional and/or personal relationships. If you are uncomfortable discussing your communication style, you may speak about the communication styles you have encountered and how they impact you. Your speech should not be a report of the content of this project.

This project includes: ■  The Discover Your Communication Style questionnaire ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

EFFECTIVE BODY LANGUAGE

Purpose:  The purpose of this project is to deliver a speech with awareness of your intentional and unintentional body language, as well as to learn, practice, and refine how you use nonverbal communication when delivering a speech.

Overview:  Prepare a 5- to 7-minute speech on a topic that lends itself to expression through your movement and gestures. Video record your presentation and get feedback from your mentor or another reviewer before speaking to your club. If you do not have access to a recording device, perform your speech in front of a mirror and make adjustments before your scheduled speech.

This project includes: ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

INTRODUCTION TO TOASTMASTER MENTORNG

This project introduces the value of mentorship and the Toastmasters view of mentors and protégés.

Purpose:  The purpose of this project is to clearly define how Toastmasters envisions mentoring.

Overview:  Write and present a 5- to 7-minute speech about a time when you were a protégé. Share the impact and importance of having a mentor. This speech is not a report on the content of this project.

Note: Every member in Toastmasters Pathways must complete this project.

Level 3: Increasing Knowledge

Level 3 project (required), persuasive speaking.

This project focuses on helping you to develop and support a viewpoint, and identify the most appropriate type of persuasive speech for your topic.

Purpose:  The purpose of this project is to understand the types of persuasive speeches and deliver a persuasive speech at a club meeting.

Overview:  Choose any topic that lends itself to speaking persuasively and prepare a speech. Present your 5- to 7-minute speech at a club meeting. If your vice president education approves a non-club event or group, your evaluator must be present for your speech.

This project includes: ■  The Persuasive Speech Outline Worksheet ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

LEVEL 3 ELECTIVES [CHOOSE 2]

Active listening.

This project covers the difference between hearing and listening, and steps for exploring the ways listening helps build strong, lasting connections.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to demonstrate your ability to listen to what others say.

Overview: At a club meeting, fulfill the role of Topicsmaster. As Topicsmaster, comment on each speaker’s Table Topics® speech to demonstrate your active listening skills. For example, you might say, “Thank you. That was a compelling opinion on the benefits of gardening. I understand you feel strongly that everyone needs to spend some time doing something they love.”

This project includes:  ■  Serving as Topicsmaster at a club meeting

CONNECT WITH STORYTELLING

This project addresses storytelling techniques and descriptive skills to help make every speech relatable and interesting.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice using a story within a speech or giving a speech that is a story.

Overview: Choose an established story, a story about your life, or a fictional tale of your own creation. Deliver the 5- to 7-minute speech at a club meeting.

This project includes:  ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

CONNECT WITH YOUR AUDIENCE

This project focuses on different audience types and how to address them effectively.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice the skills needed to connect with an unfamiliar audience.

Overview: Develop a 5- to 7-minute speech on a topic that is unfamiliar to the majority of your audience. Because you deliver this speech in your Toastmasters club, you are familiar with the audience members’ preferences and personalities. Selecting a topic that is new or unfamiliar to your club members will allow you to practice adapting as you present. As you speak, monitor the audience’s reaction to your topic and adapt as necessary to maintain engagement.

CREATING EFFECTIVE VISUAL AIDES

This project addresses effective methods for choosing the best visual aid for your presentation along with the creation and use of each type.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice selecting and using a variety of visual aids during a speech.

Overview: Choose a speech topic that lends itself well to using visual aids. Create at least one but no more than three visual aids to enhance your presentation. Deliver your 5- to 7-minute presentation at a club meeting.

This project includes:  ■  Creating one to three visual aids  ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

DELIVER SOCIAL SPEECHES

This project addresses the skills needed to compose a speech for a social occasion including a toast, eulogy, an acceptance speech and a speech praising an individual or group.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice delivering social speeches in front of your club members.

Overview: Develop two different social speeches—each 3 to 4 minutes—and present them at two separate club meetings. You may choose any two types of social speeches that appeal to you or that you would like to practice.

This project includes: ■  The Social Speech Basics resource ■  Two 3- to 4-minute speeches

FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE

This project addresses strategies for improving your personal interactions by understanding the impact of your attitudes and thoughts on daily interactions.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice being aware of your thoughts and feelings, as well as the impact of your responses on others.

Overview: Keep a daily record of your moods and attitudes for a minimum of two weeks, noting when you feel positive or negative, your successes and efforts, and three things for which you are grateful. Record and evaluate any changes in your behavior or the behavior of those around you. At a club meeting, share some aspect of your experience. You may choose to schedule a 2-to 3-minute report or a 5-to 7-minute speech. After completing your speech, submit your signed Project Completion Form to your vice president education to indicate you completed the journal.

This project includes:  ■  Recording your daily moods and attitudes for a minimum of two weeks  ■  A 2- to 3-minute report or a 5- to 7-minute speech  ■  The Project Completion Form

INSPIRE YOUR AUDIENCE

This project addresses how to present a speech in an enthusiastic and inspiring fashion to establish a strong rapport with your audience.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice writing and delivering a speech that inspires others.

Overview: Select a topic with the intent of inspiring your audience and prepare a 5- to 7-minute speech for your club.

KNOW YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR

This project focuses on understanding what makes you laugh and how to share that with an audience.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to begin developing a collection of humorous stories and to present a speech that includes humor.

Overview: Give a 5- to 7-minute speech on a topic of your choosing. Your speech should include at least one anecdote or story intended to entertain or bring humor into your presentation.

This project includes: ■ A 5- to 7-minute speech

MAKE CONNECTIONS THROUGH NETWORKING

This project focuses on how to network effectively and understanding the importance of being a professional ally to people in your network.

Purpose:  The purpose of this project is to develop and practice a personal strategy for building connections through networking.

Overview:  Prepare for and attend a networking event. After the event, present a 5- to 7-minute speech to your club. Your speech can include a story or stories about your experience, a description of what you learned, or a discussion on the benefits of networking. Your speech may be personal to you or informational about networking. If you attend a non-Toastmasters event, you must sign the Project Completion Form and give it to your vice president education.

This project includes: ■  The Prepare to Network resource ■  Attending a networking event ■  The Project Completion Form ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

PREPARE FOR AN INTERVIEW

This project addresses the skills you need to identify and speak about personal strengths and present yourself well in an interview of any type.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice the skills needed to present yourself well in an interview.

Overview: Determine which type of interview you would like to practice, such as a job or expert interview. Prepare by reviewing your skills and abilities. Complete the resources in the project and give them to your interviewer before your presentation. You determine which member of your club interviews you, but your interviewer must be someone other than your evaluator. In a 5- to 7-minute role-play presentation at a club meeting, practice answering interview questions to promote your skills, abilities, and experience.

This project includes:  ■  The Identifying Your Skills Worksheet  ■  The Interviewer Instructions resource  ■  A 5- to 7-minute role-play interview at a club meeting

RESEARCHING & PRESENTING (10/2021 became elective)

Understanding vocal variety.

This project addresses the importance of vocal variety when giving a speech and provides activities to develop and nurture its use.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice using vocal variety to enhance a speech.

Overview: Learn or review the importance of vocal variety. Use the exercises in this project to improve your vocal variety skills. Then, present a 5- to 7-minute speech on any topic at a club meeting. The primary focus of the evaluation is your vocal variety.

USING DESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE

This project addresses the difference between literal and figurative language along with how to determine when to use each to create vivid descriptions.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice writing a speech with an emphasis on adding language to increase interest and impact.

Overview: You may speak on any topic. Develop a 5- to 7-minute speech describing the topic in detail and present it at your club meeting.

USING PRESENTATION SOFTWARE

This project addresses the use of presentation software—from identifying topics that benefit from the use of technology to effective slide design and presentation.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to introduce or review basic presentation software strategies for creating and using slides to support or enhance a speech.

Overview: Select a speech topic that lends well to a visual presentation using technology. Use the content of this project and your own research to help you develop your slides. Give a 5- to 7-minute speech using the slides you developed. Your speech can be humorous, demonstrative, or informational, and it may include stories or anecdotes.

This project includes:  ■  Developing presentation slides  ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech 

Level 4: Building Skills

Level 4 project (required), managing a difficult audience.

This project covers common behaviors of difficult audience members and how to address each behavior in a calm, effective and professional way.

Purpose:  The purpose of this project is to practice the skills needed to address audience challenges when you present outside of your Toastmasters club.

Overview:  Prepare a 5- to 7-minute speech on a topic of your choosing. You may write a new speech or use a speech you presented previously. You will be evaluated on the way you manage audience disruptions, not the content of your speech. Before your club meeting, send the Role Play Assignments resource to the Toastmaster and vice president education. As you present your speech, respond to different types of difficult audience members that disrupt you. The process of speaking and responding to audience members will take 12 to 15 minutes.

This project includes: ■  A role play assignment for club members ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

LEVEL 4 ELECTIVES [CHOOSE 1]

Building a social media presence.

This project addresses how best to use different types of online communication. You will create and maintain an online profile to promote yourself or an organization.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to apply your understanding of social media to enhance an established or new social media presence.

Overview: Use this project and your own research to build a new social media presence or enhance an existing presence. You may focus on a personal goal (such as connecting with old friends or promoting a blog) or on a professional goal (such as promoting a business or organization). Use the tools you identify as best for you and your purpose. After you achieve your goal, deliver a 5- to 7-minute speech to your club about your results, experience, and the benefits of social media. Submit the Project Completion Form to your vice president education to receive credit for completing the project.

Note: With the vice president public relation’s approval, you may choose to create a social media presence for your Toastmasters club.

This project includes:  ■  Establishing or enhancing a social media presence  ■  The Project Completion Form  ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

CREATE A PODCAST

This project addresses the skills you need to develop a podcast, create interesting content and organize a cohesive program. You will learn how to record and upload it to the internet.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to introduce you to the skills needed to organize and present a podcast.

Overview: Use this project and your own research to create a podcast. Record a minimum of 60 minutes of content. You are free to divide the episodes as you choose. Each separate episode must be at least 10 minutes, but may be longer if it fits your topic and style. After you record all content, play a 5- to 10-minute segment in your club. Introduce the segment in a 2- to 3-minute speech..

This project includes:  ■  Recording 60 minutes of podcast content  ■  A 2- to 3-minute introduction speech

MANAGE ONLINE MEETINGS

This project addresses how to effectively conduct online meetings and webinars, prepare and organize necessary visual aids, and lead with confidence.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice facilitating an online meeting or leading a webinar.

Overview: Conduct a 20- to 25-minute online meeting with fellow Toastmasters or a 20- to 25-minute webinar with visual aids for fellow Toastmasters. You determine the topic of your meeting or webinar. Research and use software that best fits your needs and geographic area. Invite your evaluator to participate in the online meeting or webinar. If you complete your assignment with non-Toastmasters, you must receive approval from the vice president education and invite your evaluator to attend.

This project includes:  ■  The Online Meeting Agenda resource  ■  The Online Meeting Basics resource  ■  Planning and conducting a 20- to 25-minute online meeting or webinar

MANAGE PROJECTS SUCCESSFULLY

This project focuses on skills needed to effectively manage a project, develop rapport with stakeholders and cultivate strong relationships with a team.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice developing a plan, building a team, and fulfilling the plan with the help of your team.

Overview: Form a team of three to four people and choose a project. Create a plan for your project and present the plan to your club in a 2- to 3-minute speech. Work with your team to complete your project. Present a 5- to 7-minute speech about your experience. This speech may be humorous, informational, or any type of speech that appeals to you. It should not be a report about the content of this project, but a reflection of your experience applying what you learned.

Note: When considering projects to complete, refer to future projects on your path. You may be able to use the assignment in this project to help you prepare for the completion of an upcoming project.

This project includes:  ■  Building a team  ■  Creating a project plan  ■  The Project Plan resource  ■  A 2- to 3-minute speech about your plan  ■  Completing the plan with your team  ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech about your experience

PUBLIC RELATIONS STRATEGIES

Purpose:  The purpose of this project is to practice the skills needed to effectively use public relations strategies for any group or situation.

Overview:  Create a public relations plan for a real or hypothetical group or situation. If it involves your club, it must be hypothetical unless you communicate with the vice president public relations and club president. Share your plan in a 5- to 7-minute speech at a club meeting. This speech is not a report on the content of this project, but an example of how you will or might apply what you learned.

This project includes: ■  Creating a public relations strategy ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION

This project addresses how to prepare to answer questions and provide information clearly, concisely and with confidence.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to learn about and practice facilitating a question-and-answer session.

Overview: Select a topic of which you are particularly knowledgeable. Prepare and deliver a speech on this topic, followed by a question-and-answer session. Together, the speech and question-and-answer session must be 15 to 20 minutes. Use your time effectively to ensure both segments are completed.

This project includes:  ■  A 5-to 7-minute speech  ■  A question-and-answer session after the speech

WRITING A COMPELLING BLOG

This project addresses the basics of developing a compelling blog and successfully engaging a readership.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to review or introduce the skills needed to write and maintain a blog.

Overview: Post a minimum of eight blog posts in one month. Your blog may be new or one you have already established. You must receive approval from the vice president education to blog on behalf of your club. Deliver a 2- to 3-minute speech at a club meeting about the impact of your blogging experience. You may choose to have your blog evaluated by members of the club. Submit your signed Project Completion Form to the vice president education to receive credit for this project.

This project includes:  ■  Maintaining a blog and posting at least eight times in one month  ■  The Blog Evaluation Form  ■  The Project Completion Form  ■  A 2- to 3-minute speech

Level 5: Demonstrating Expertise

Level 5 projects (required).

This project is designed to help you define the attributes of professional speakers and apply that understanding to your own skills as a speaker.

Purpose:  The purpose of this project is to practice developing and presenting a longer speech

Overview:  Write and present an 18- to 22-minute keynote-style speech. Exemplify the point of view or message you would convey as a professional-level speaker. You may choose to use visual aids if they fit your speech and your style. Your speech may be humorous, informational, or any style that appeals to you and supports your speech content. If you receive advance approval from the vice president education, you may present your speech to a non- Toastmasters group.

This project includes: ■  The Speech Outline Worksheet ■  An 18- to 22-minute keynote-style speech

REFLECT ON YOUR PATH

This project is designed to give you an opportunity to share your experience at the end of your path.

Purpose:  The purpose of this project is to reflect on your growth during the completion of an entire path.

Overview:  At a club meeting, present a 10- to 12-minute speech to share your experience completing your path. Use this as an opportunity to reflect on how far you have come, summarize the skills you have learned and developed, and to celebrate your achievements. Your speech can be humorous, informational, or any style that that appeals to you and supports your speech content.

This project includes: ■  The Your Toastmasters Journey resource ■  A 10- to 12-minute speech

LEVEL 5 ELECTIVES [CHOOSE 1]

Ethical leadership.

This project addresses the importance of recognizing the effect of decisions that impact ethics, best practices for making ethical decisions and developing an ethical framework.

Purpose:  The purpose of this project is to develop a clear understanding of your own ethical framework and create an opportunity for others to hear about and discuss ethics in your organization or community.

Overview:  Define an ethical framework for yourself. To do this, you may need to complete personal research beyond the contents of this project. Then, organize and moderate a 20- to 40-minute panel discussion about ethics, followed by a question-and-answer session. If you have never facilitated a panel discussion, review the “Moderate a Panel Discussion” elective project.

■  The Ethical Framework resource

■  Organizing and moderating a panel discussion as well as a question-and-answer session

HIGH PERFORMANCE LEADERSHIP

The focus of this project is to design and complete a project with well-defined goals, lead a team and be accountable to a guidance committee.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to apply your leadership and planning knowledge to develop a project plan, organize a guidance committee, and implement your plan with the help of a team.

Overview: Select a project to complete with a team of at least three other members. Form a guidance committee and meet at least five times through the duration of the project. Deliver a 5-to 7-minute speech at a club meeting to introduce your plan and vision. After you implement the plan, deliver a second 5- to 7-minute speech at a club meeting to share your experience developing and completing your plan.

This project includes:  ■  Selecting, leading, and completing a project with a team  ■  Forming and meeting with a guidance committee at least five times  ■  The Guidance Committee Introduction resource  ■  The Meeting Agenda resource  ■  The Project Plan Overview resource  ■  The Project Plan resource  ■  The Vision Plan resource  ■  The Event Planning Worksheet  ■  The 360° Evaluation resource  ■  Two 5- to 7-minute speeches

LEAD IN YOUR VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION

This project focuses on the skills required to lead in a volunteer organization and the importance of recognition and reward in motivating volunteers.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to apply the skills needed to successfully lead in a volunteer organization.

Overview: Serve in a leadership role in Toastmasters or another volunteer organization for at least six months. You may complete this project based on your employment, but a volunteer organization is preferable. Ask members of the organization to complete a 360° evaluation of your leadership skills. Create a succession plan to aid in the transition after you leave your position of leadership. After your six-month term, deliver a 5- to 7-minute speech at a club meeting to reflect on your personal experience.

This project includes:  ■  Serving in a volunteer leadership role for a minimum of six months  ■  Conducting a 360° evaluation of your leadership skills  ■  Creating a succession plan  ■  The Succession Plan resource  ■  The 360° Evaluation resource  ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

LESSONS LEARNED

This project addresses how to identify the discussion points of a large group meeting, encourage a culture of contribution and voicing opinions, and facilitate productive discussion that yields results.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to learn about and apply the skills needed to run a lessons learned meeting during a project or after its completion.

Overview: Facilitate a lessons learned meeting for a team with which you are completing or have completed a project. This meeting is separate from your regular Toastmasters meeting. Organize and facilitate a discussion. Record the results into a document you and your team members can use to facilitate the current project or future projects. If you haven’t already, give team members an opportunity to complete a 360° evaluation of you as a team leader. (Use the 360° Evaluation resource.) Finally, present a 5- to 7-minute speech in your club about the lessons learned meeting or your leadership experience.

This project includes:  ■  Facilitating a lessons learned meeting  ■  Documenting the results of the lessons learned meeting  ■  The 360° Evaluation resource  ■  The Lessons Learned Response Log  ■  The Metrics Log  ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

MODERATE A PANEL DISCUSSION

This project addresses the skills needed to successfully moderate a panel discussion and how to be an effective participant on a panel.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to apply your skills as a public speaker and leader to facilitate a panel discussion.

Overview: Plan and moderate a 20- to 40-minute panel discussion. The panel discussion can be on any topic and may take place at a club meeting or outside of Toastmasters with the approval of your vice president education. Toastmasters who participate as panelists do not receive credit in Toastmasters Pathways. When you have the opportunity, volunteer to act as a panelist for another member completing this project.

This project includes:  ■  Planning and moderating a 20- to 40-minute panel discussion  ■  The Panelist Basics resource  ■  The Project Completion Form

Ready to Aim Higher?

Completion of this path puts you well on the way to achieving Toastmasters highest honour – the  Distinguished Toastmaster Award . To reach that goal, you need to:

• complete one more path
• serve a term as a club officer
• serve a term as a district officer
• become a club mentor or club coach
• be a club sponsor, conduct a Speechcraft Course or Youth Leadership Program

Final step to complete DTM –  DTM Project

Good luck with your journey!

• Level 1 – Evaluation Forms

For every Pathway, Level 1 projects are all the same. Below you can find PDF downloads for each of the Evaluation Forms.

Level 1 Evaluation Form – Icebreaker

Level 1 Evaluation Form – Evaluation and Feedback First Speech

Level 1 Evaluation Form – Evaluation and Feedback Second Speech

Level 1 Evaluation Form – Writing a Speech with Purpose

Level 1 Evaluation Form – Introduction to Vocal Variety and Body Language

Related Articles

• Level 2 – Evaluation Forms
• Introduction to Pathways
• How to Access Pathways

Next Meeting: In-person meeting on June 27th View our meeting schedule .

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• / Pathways learning experience
• / Pathways Presentation Mastery Path

Paths, Levels and Electives

Presentation Mastery

This path helps you build your skills as an accomplished public speaker. The projects on this path focus on learning how an audience responds to you and improving your connection with audience members. The projects contribute to developing an understanding of effective public speaking technique, including speech writing and speech delivery. This path culminates in an extended speech that will allow you to apply what you learned.

Five Levels

Mastering Fundamentals

• Ice Breaker
• Writing a Speech with Purpose
• Introduction to Vocal Variety and Body Language
• Evaluation and Feedback

Learning Your Style

• Understanding Your Communication Style
• Effective Body Language
• Introduction to Toastmasters Mentoring

Increasing Knowledge

• Persuasive Speaking

Choose 2 of the following:

• Active Listening
• Connect with Storytelling
• Connect with Your Audience
• Creating Effective Visual Aids
• Deliver Social Speeches
• Focus on the Positive
• Inspire Your Audience
• Know Your Sense of Humor
• Make Connections Through Networking
• Prepare for an Interview
• Understanding Vocal Variety
• Using Descriptive Language
• Using Presentation Software
• Researching and Presenting

Building Skills

• Managing a Difficult Audience

Choose 1 of the following:

• Building a Social Media Presence
• Create a Podcast
• Manage Online Meetings
• Manage Projects Successfully
• Public Relations Strategies
• Question-and-Answer Session
• Write a Compelling Blog

Demonstrating Expertise

• Prepare to Speak Professionally
• Reflect on Your Path
• Ethical Leadership
• High Performance Leadership
• Leading in Your Volunteer Organization
• Lessons Learned
• Moderate a Panel Discussion

Quick Links

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For public speaking help now, explore this short course.

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