Impromptu Speaking
Impromptu speaking is what many people consider an absolute nightmare - giving a speech “on the fly” with only two minutes of preparation. In impromptu speaking, the speaker draws three different topics, chooses one and then is given two minutes to prepare a five minute speech on the topic. The topic areas can vary from tournament to tournament, however in general, they are divided into three categories.
Abstract topics: Examples are Freedom, Justice, Infatuation, Intelligence.
Current Event topics: These topics are questions or phrases that deal with general current event areas. Examples are: Will there ever be peace in the Middle East? What can be done to improve America’s schools?
Quotations: Speakers are expected to elaborate on a quotation A sample quotation: “The government that governs best, governs least” —Thomas Jefferson.
During preparation time, the speakers can write notes to help them organize their thoughts but cannot take these up to speak. The current trend with impromptu speaking is to give an introduction (a story. analogy, anecdote, quote, anything to catch the judges’ interest), then divide the speech into two or three paints which develop the topic. Before the speaker moves into the body of the speech, he or she gives the judge a road map of what will be included in the speech. An example of a possible speech structure for the topic of freedom could be:
Introduction: Talk about the ideals of the American revolution—how Americans fought for their basic liberties.
Point 1) Discuss freedom in the past—how dictators like Hitler and Stalin crushed their people’s hopes and dreams by denying them their basic liberties.
Point 2) Talk about freedom in the current day—how people in some countries lack the basic freedom to speak out, to voice their opinions.
Point 3) Discuss freedom within a literary context—use a novel to give insight on the topic.
When the speaker uses examples to develop each point, the judge generally obtains a greater understanding of what the speaker is talking about. Impromptu speaking is a great event which teaches students to organize their thoughts and ideas into a coherent speech. It allows students to learn how to think and speak with little preparation and it has many real-world benefits.