15/08/2026
A Division Y Workshop conducted for the members on how to tackle table topics!
Division Y kicked off the new term with our first workshop, where Shenton Sng, DTM conducted a practical Table Topics workshop focusing on content, speech development, and effectiveness.
The workshop focused on how to win and perform well in a Table Topics contest by mastering the part that carries the most scoring weight: content, speech development, and effectiveness.
Shenton reminded participants that even in impromptu speaking, within two minutes, we still need a message, a clear opening, body, and conclusion, and a structure that helps the audience and judges follow us.
Participants also learnt about the scoring criteria for a Table Topics contest, where content / speech development takes up 30% and effectiveness takes up 25%.
Several speech structures were taught for sharing one, two or three ideas in an impromptu delivery.
One key reminder from the workshop was to avoid βthirty-thousand-feet speechesβ that are too high-level, general, and abstract. Instead, speakers should come down from the abstract level into a real story, because the audience is curious β they want to know what happened to you.
The final challenge was for participants to take part in at least a club contest, gain confidence with these techniques, and eventually aim to become a division champion.