Impromptu speaking is a speech and debate consolation event that involves an eight minute speech, with up to three of

these eight minutes available for use as preparation time (known as prep time, or simply prep).

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. This is the variation in use by the NFL National Debate Tournament.

While the format is simple, it takes time to construct a speech in that time and talk on your feet. Mastery of this event is
difficult, but many enjoy it, because one does not have to prepare for the event beforehand. Similar in theory to
extemporaneous speaking, however unlike that category, impromptu speeches need not be factual and are indeed
encouraged to be humorous. In some impromptu rounds, there is a "triad" prompt, in which the participant is given three
key words to talk about and connect during the speech.

OHSSL Impromptu

OHSSL Impromptu differs from the rules provided above in the fact that you are provided with seven minutes of time to
divide at your discretion between prepping and speaking. Additionally, all topics are quotations—occasionally themed but
generally random. Ohio Impromptu is also more factual and less humor based, resembling extemp. Analysis of quotations
typically follows a general structure of:

1. Intro, Statement of Quotation, Thesis (main point)

2. First contention (main point)
3. Second contention(main point)
4. Third contention (main point)
5. Conclusion

There are other structures that can be used. Double analysis is normally used by experienced impromptu speakers.
Experienced speakers usually divide the prep and speaking time at a 1:6 ratio.

Let's work on a list of good impromptu speech topics that will help you to be prepared if ever in a situation where you
are asked to save the day by giving an impromptu speech.

This list is not all inclusive but it will grow so check on back every once in awhile if you are looking for good impromptu
topics for your next assignment or contest. I will also be expanding on some of the topics.

Remember these are ideas for impromptu speech topics which are just mini-speeches and therefore they have an opening,
body and conclusion just like any other speech.

1st 10 Good Impromptu Speech Topics

• What moral issue best defines you?

• What is the biggest effect of the internet?
• Describe your worst experience
• Discuss the most memorable event in your life
• Is capitalism the best political and economic system? Defend your choice.
• Is knowledge more important than wisdom?
• Is a glass half full or half empty? Explain your choice.
• Why are humans so fascinated with understanding the universe?
• Does technology live up to it's promise?
• Ghosts I'd like to meet

2nd 10 Good Impromptu Speech Topics

• The morality of zoos

• Three keys to a happy life
• Reality TV shows
• Beauty
• You are what you eat
• Love is a choice
 • Professional athletes are overpaid
• Dogs are better than cats
• How to become a millionaire
• Importance of communication

3rd 10 Good Impromptu Speech Topics

• Bottles versus cans

• Real or fake Christmas trees
• peer to peer technology
• Motorcycle helmets
• the assassination of a dictator can/cannot be justified
• Curfews
• Alien abductions
• The worst/best book you ever read
• All time favorite movie
• Your first memory

4th 10 Good Impromptu Speech Topics

• The best things in life are free

• Clothes make the man/woman
• Happy drugs (Prozac, Zoloft, etc.)
• Good versus Evil
• Your favorite sound
• Your least favorite sound
• Exams are/are not good forms of assessment
• Why it's important to meditate
• What are you grateful for?
• Speed dating

5th 10 Good Impromptu Speech Topics

• Your favorite relative

• Your favorite holiday
• Internet affairs
• The greatest gift we can give others is...
• If I were invisible for a day...
• What I would do if I knew I could not fail
• The most successful person I know
• Good grades matter
• Everyone should be a volunteer
• hybrid animals

Some topics:

A good parent...
A law should be made that...
Courage is...
Freedom is like the ocean because...
If I could only accomplish one thing in my life, I would like to...
If I wanted to impress someone, I'd tell them about my...
If I'd known my parents when they were teenagers...
Little Red Riding Hood should have...
Loyalty should be given to...
Other cultures...
Professional athletes' salaries...
Teenagers would be better off...
The one world event I remember most about this year is...
You can make a child feel special by...
If I could be president for a day, I'd...
Of the five senses, my favorite is...
If I played a role in a TV show, I'd play...
If I taught junior high school, I'd...
If I were an author, I would write about...
If I were the leader of a new settlement on the frontier, I'd...
If I were the opposite sex, I'd...
 If I wrote a personal mission statement, it would say...
To get respect...
It's OK to rebel when...
People often stereotype...
The strength of America lies in...
To me, success in life means...
Why people are afraid to fail...
Teenagers smoke because...

Come on back when you need more ideas for your impromptu speeches. I'll be adding more good impromptu speech
topics on a regular basis.

Impromptu speech topics are some of the most difficult topic areas to handle in the world of public speaking.

Impromptu speeches are typically only given in a contest situation. While there are many real world applications for
impromptu speaking, in most cases, you will be given a fair measure of warning before you are asked to speak on a
particular topic.

In the classroom setting, you may be assigned impromptu speech topics to see how well you have developed your
communication skills over the course period. In the competition setting, you may be given impromptu speech topics to
measure your public speaking skills against that of another speaker. Learning to deal with impromptu speeches is the key
to your success in this very difficult area of communication.

The primary goal of issuing impromptu speeches is to measure levels of communication ability. Since this is the case, the
information you offer on a topic may not be as important as the way you offer that information.

The key to making impromptu speech topics work for you is to understand the heart of a good speech - structure.

Organization is, easily, the most important part of public speaking. Because audience members are listening instead of
visually recording information, presenting concepts to them in a logical, concrete manner is essential.

Any good speech begins with a very basic introduction. Make sure that you capture the audience's attention while also
offering listeners a glimpse at the reason you are speaking to them. Canned introductions, or those that work well for any
situation, are the perfect lead in for impromptu speeches.

For example, you could decide to start any impromptu speech with a personal example that is adaptable to any situation.
You might decide to talk about an experience you had in the grocery store the other day. This anecdote would work well
for impromptu speech topics like food stamps or waiting in line as well as a host of others.

Once you've polished your introduction off with a strong thesis statement, you are ready to move into the body of your
speech.

Be sure that you not only state your main ideas in a clear, identifiable format, but you should also offer the audience clear,
consistent transitions between ideas. Supporting information is essential in the body of your impromptu speech. Your
conclusion should tie all of your ideas together for your listeners. Offer the entire conclusion with a sense of
summarization and finality.

You may not have the option of choosing your impromptu topics, but if you are given any options at all, be sure to choose
topics that you feel you have some level of knowledge about. This will save you a bit of time, and it may help you to offer
audience members a tone of authority with regard to your subject matter.

Dealing with impromptu speech topics is never an easy task, but approaching the assignment with basic speech
organization in mind should help you to attack your project with a degree of professionalism.

What if You Draw A Blank?

If you have time before your speech, create an outline of the major themes or points and commit it to memory with a
memorization trick, like an acronym. Don't try to remember the entire speech in detail like this; just remember the order of
important points.

If you suddenly lose your train of thought or draw a complete blank, there are a few you can do to keep from panicking.

1. Pretend like you're pausing on purpose. Walk back and forth slowly, as if you're letting your last point sink in.
2. There is always a joker or popular person who will stand out in the crowd. Stare at someone like this and try to
draw a response from him or her while you think.
 3. If you need more time to think, you may want to ask the audience a question. Have a few prepared ahead, like
"Do you have any questions," or "Can everyone hear me okay?"
4. If you still can't remember what to say, make up a reason to pause the speech. You can say, "I'm sorry, but my
throat is very dry. Can I please get a glass of water?" Someone will go to get you a drink, and you will have time
to think of two or three points to talk about.

If these tricks don't appeal to you, think of your own. The trick is to have something ready ahead of time.

Some guidelines for impromptu speaking from Toastmasters International

Here are some techniques to help you think clearly and effectively on your feet.

1. Define the purpose and objectives of your speech.

* Stop, stay calm and cool in order to formulate your talk.

* Get your goal clearly in focus by defining your purpose
or viewpoint.
* Decide your starting and finishing points.
* State the reason why you are speaking on the subject.
* Open strongly

- "I believe that ....... the reason being....."

- "My experience shows ...... because ........."

* Remember if you don't know where you are going, any road
will get you there!

2. Choose a Specific Illustration, Experience or Example.

* Speaking about personal experiences will give you courage

and confidence.
* Helps you to be clear, convincing and believable.
* Just tell about a specific event, example or experience

- when it happened.
- why it happened
- where it happened
- what caused it to happen
- who was involved
- how it happened

3. Conclude:

* Summarise by stating or restating

- your overall speech purpose

- main point or beliefs.

* Close strongly

4.Other Points

* Don't try to cover too much

- Be short, succinct and to the point. The audience will

love you!

* Never apologize

There will be times when you need to stand and answer a question or talk on a
subject such as in our Table Topics session or when you are in a meeting and
have to report on a subject or give an opinion. It is in situations such as these
 where no time is given for preparation that the following is a helpful
framework which you can use to think quickly and organise your thoughts.

Think of the "PREP" system.

* P >Point

- "The point I want to make is .........."

* R >Reason

-"The reason I say this is ............"

* E >Example

- "For example ............"

- "My experience ..........."

* P >Point

- "In summary my point is ......."

Rules for Impromptu Speaking (Wisconsin Forensic Coaches' Association)

Purpose of the Category:

To develop the skills necessary to quickly provide a responsive statement to a variety of everyday words, phrases and
topics.

Definition of the Category:

The impromptu speaker should deliver an original, creative and imaginative interpretation of the designated topic,
supported by varied materials. An impromptu speech should reveal the student's ability to organize thoughts quickly and
logically. The contestant should be held accountable for strict adherence to the topic drawn and discounted severely for
shifting to some other topic of personal preference. The information presented should be well-chosen, pertinent, and
sufficient to support the central thought of the topic. The material should be organized according to some logical plan to
produce a complete speech with the time allowed. Delivery should be free from marked defects in speech mechanics --
poise, quality and use of voice, enunciation, fluency, bodily expressiveness -- and should be effective in enlisting and
holding the audience's attention. The best impromptu speech combines clear thinking, good speaking and interesting
presentation with respect to the topic chosen. Impromptu topics will be chosen form proverbs, objects, abstract words,
events, quotations, and famous people.

Criteria for Evaluation:

1. The extent to which a direct and well-defined response to the topic chosen was provided.

2. The extent to which the ideas were analyzed and organized.

3. The extent to which the content (a) supported the response with worthwhile example, data, and personal insight; and (b)
employed effective language skills including such items as the use of transitions and clear, vivid and appropriate word
choices. Individual judges may lower the rank due to use of profanity or vulgarity.

4. The extent to which vocal interpretation contributed to the clarity and effectiveness of the presentation including such
items as articulation, pronunciation, volume, rate, pitch, and vocal quality.

5. The extent to which the physical presence contributed to the clarity and effectiveness of the presentation, including
such items as facial expression, eye contact, gestures, bodily movement, and poise.