Speaking and the Impromptu Speech

Have you ever had to give an unexpected speech? Perhaps a group member did not show up for a presentation and you had to speak instead? This is an example of having to think quickly. Impromptu speeches are those done on short notice. In this unit, students will learn how to prepare quickly for an impromptu speech, as well as learn specific techniques to ensure an effective delivery.

Essential Questions

• What is an impromptu speech?
• What kind of planning can be done for an impromptu speech?
• What are key points to remember when giving an impromptu speech?

Module Minute

An impromptu speech is given when preparation time is limited. There is a priority development method to impromptu speeches that includes: a thesis/clincher, main points, preview/summary, attention grabber/tie back, and visual aid. The acronym PREP can aid in giving an impromptu speech. It stands for: Point, Reason, Example, and Point. Impromptu speeches can also use the past, present, future method, in which speakers discuss what happened in the past, what is happening today, and what could happen. Be careful not to ramble. An impromptu speech can happen at any time, such as: when a scheduled speaker is unavailable, when being interviewed, or when accepting an award or position. In these situations, speakers should state the viewpoint, choose a specific experience, stick to the point, never apologize, and finish with a strong conclusion.

Key Words

• Impromptu Speech – a speech given with little to no preparation about a topic
• PREP – a method for preparing for an impromptu speech that includes: making a point, giving a reason, presenting evidence, and making a point.

What is an Impromptu Speech?

Impromptu speaking is a speech and debate consolation event that involves a five to eight minute speech with a characteristically short preparation time of one to three minutes. The speeches tend to follow basic speech format, and cover a variety of topics, both humorous and profound.

Variations of Impromptu Speech

• At the college level, the speaker is granted seven minutes to divide as he or she sees fit, as stipulated by the National Forensics Association and the American Forensics Association.
• Another variation exists in which the speaker must speak for five minutes and half of a minute is given for preparation time. The speaker receives a slip of paper, which provides three choices for their speech. The topics can be abstract or concrete nouns, people, political events, quotations or proverbs.
• Another variation still, is where the speaker is given an envelope with slips in it, each with a quotation. They draw three slips of paper, choose one, and then put two back. They then have five minutes to prepare a five-minute speech on the subject.
• Typically in high school speech competitions, a competitor is given 30 seconds to select a topic from a set of topics (usually three). The competitor will then have 5 minutes to compose a speech of five minutes with a 30 second grace period.

The introduction begins with an attention-getter, the statement of the topic and an outline of the speech. The conclusion is usually like the introduction except backwards, ending with a profound statement, although a lighthearted ending is also accepted. For the three body points, there are many kinds of formats that can be used. For example, if the topic is a quote, a competitor may go over how the quote is true, how the quote is false, and why he or she believes what he or she believes.

Impromptu Speaking Tips

There are many ways to prepare for an impromptu speech. Review the examples below to learn about helpful ideas for speaking on the spur of the moment.

Preparation Tips for the Impromptu Speech

P = Point: State your opinion on the topic. You may agree, disagree or discuss both sides.
R = Reasons: Give your reason or reasons for your point of view.
E = Evidence and Examples: Give supporting facts and or a personal experience to prove your point
P = Point: Restate your main point to convince your audience

Example:

TOPIC- School should only run for four days a week.

P: A four-day week for school would work well in today’s society, if the fifth day was devoted to personal study.
R: A four day week would allow students time to concentrate on the subjects that they are interested in and to catch up on tasks that they need to without the distractions of social pressures. It would also allow teachers time to plan interesting and inspiring lessons for us. School could start earlier and end slightly later.
E: It has been proven that a four-day week in the workplace results in greater productivity and happier workers. This could also work in schools.
P : For the sake of students and particularly teachers, it is certainly time that a four day week was introduced into schools.

Planning the Speech

A Sample Speech

As the 2012 Republican and Democratic National Conventions fade into memory, John Zimmer was fortunate enough to come across an excellent piece of work in The Atlantic Wire  by freelance writer Dashiell Bennett.

For him, the rhetorical highlight of both conventions was Bill Clinton’s speech. Love him or hate him, Clinton is a masterful speaker. John knew that on the evening of his speech, Clinton ad-libbed a lot; however, he did not realize how much until now.

Prior to Clinton’s speech, journalists received the text of what he was (supposedly) going to say. Bennett has taken the written text and compared it with what Clinton actually said. The full result can be seen by clicking on the link to the speech in the sidebar.

It is a bit of a read, but even if you only skim it, you can see from the highlighting, the amount of on-the-spot cutting and improvising that Clinton did. (Green represents what was added and pink represents what was removed.)

Planning the Speech

So now that you’ve seen how a speech can be improvised, let’s take a look at an impromptu speech outline. While planning time for an impromptu speech is short, some basic preparation tips do assist in making the speech effective.

Some Tips

• keep your speech short
• keep to your point, i.e. be focused
• keep the speech organized – refer to the outline above
• keep your cool – do not rush, use pauses for effect

Review

Now that you have completed the initial assessments for this module, review the lesson material with the practice activities and extra resources.   Then, continue to the next page for your final assessment instructions.

The Acronym PREP stands for:

P : Point—State your point to the question.

R : Reason—State a reason why you raised your point.

E : Example—Give an illustration which supports your above-mentioned case.

P : Point—Which leads us to the next point.

Because your time is limited, it is imperative that you use brevity wisely.  Consider the following development method as you put together your notes for your impromptu speech in the time allotted. Begin by writing your thesis and if you have time, you may develop a visual.  These steps reflect in order of importance how you should spend your time as you prepare for your speech. Remember, your thesis (your main point) is the most essential!