How-to-Make-an-Impromptu-Speech

IMPROMPTUSPEAKING:SpeakingWithoutPreparationWarm-upProgram:“PickItUpfromHere”SpeechTimeLimit:1MinuteperspeakerNumberofSpeakers:3pertopic1stSpeaker:a.Determinesthetopicorsubjectb.Beginsthespeechandspeaksforthefirstminute2ndSpeaker:a.Continuesfromwherethefirstspeakerleftoffb.Speaksforthesecondminute3rdSpeakera.Continuesfromwherethesecondspeakerleftoffb.Speakersforthethirdminuteandconcludesthespeech“Itusuallytakesmemorethanthreeweekstoprepareagoodimpromptuspeech.”—MarkTwainWhatisanimpromptuspeech?Animpromptuspeechisdeliveredwithlittleornoimmediatepreparation.Whylearntospeakimpromptu?Fewpeoplechoosetospeakimpromptu,butsometimesitcannotbeavoided.Manyofthespeechesyougiveinlifewillbeimpromptu.Youmightbecalledonsuddenlyto“sayafewwords”or,inthecourseofaclassdiscussion,businessmeeting,orcommitteereport,wanttorespondtoapreviousspeaker.Ifyouparticipateinspeechcompetitionsandwanttofinishnearthetop,youhavetoreceivehighscoresfortheImprompturound.ObjectivesInmostspeechcompetitions,theimpromptuspeechfollowsthepreparedspeech.IntheCCTVCupfinals,eachcontestantreceivestheimpromptutopiconstageandhas15secondstopreparehisorherremarks.Inthe21stCenturyCup,competitorsreceivetheimpromptutopicbackstage,20minutesbeforepresentationofthepreparedspeech.Oncetheyareonstage,theydeliverthepreparedspeech,followedimmediatelybytheimpromptuspeech.IntheECNU-ACCCupChinaAustraliaFriendshipEnglishContest,competitorsreceivetheimpromptutopicbackstage,10minutesbeforepresentationofthepreparedspeech.Oncetheyareonstage,theydeliverthepreparedspeech,followedimmediatelybytheimpromptuspeech.KeytoSuccessPrecisethoughtClearorganizationAfundofknowledgePreparationIftimeallows,sketchaquickoutlineofyourremarksonapieceofpaperbeforeyourisetospeak.Usethesamemethodofjottingdownkeywordsandphrasesfollowedinamoreformalspeakingoutline(seePPTNote“AworkingOutline”).MaximumadvantageAWorkingOutlineMySpeechTopic:StatetheSpecificPurposeofYourSpeechIdentifytheCentralIdea:LabeltheIntroduction,Body,andConclusionINTRODUCTIONBODYPoint1:Support1:Support2:Support3:ShortSummaryofpoint1:Point2:Support1:Support2:Support3:ShortSummaryofpoint2:Point3:Support1:Support2:Support3:ShortSummaryofpoint3:CONCLUSIONSummarizewhyyouransweristhebest:MaximumadvantageSettledownontwoorthreemajorpoints;Discusseachpointclearlyandprecisely;Supportyourpointsasnecessarywithexamples,statistics,ortestimony.PresentationDon’ts(×)Don’trambleorrepeatyourself.Don’tstumblearoundsearchingforwords.Don’tpanicifyoumisspeakorloseyourtrainofthoughtduringthespeech.Never,neverapologizeormakeexcuses.PresentationDos(√)Onceyouhavemadeapoint,moveontothenextone.Maintainstrongeyecontactwiththeaudienceandavoidvocalizedpauses.Ifyoumakeasmallmistake,chancesarethatnoonewillnotice;justcontinueasifnothinghappened.Ifyoumakeabiggermistake,saysomethinglike“Imeant/intendedtosay/WhatImeant/intendedtosayis….”andthenmoveon.Ifyouarepronetotalkingrapidlywhenyouarenervous,concentrateonspeakingataslower,clearerandmoredeliberatepaceandmaintainyourcomposurethroughoutthespeech.PresentationDos(√)Helptheaudiencekeeptrackofyourideaswithsignpostssuchas“Myfirstpointis...;second,wecanseethat...;inconclusion,Iwouldliketosay....”Ifyouhavehadtimetopreparenotes,sticktowhatyouhavewritten.Bystatingyourpointsclearlyandconcisely,youwillcomeacrossasorganizedandconfident.DevelopaFundofKnowledgeBeinganeffectiveimpromptuspeakerismorethanamatteroftechniqueanddelivery.Substantial,well-developedcontentrequiresknowledgeabouttopicsrangingfromcurrentevents,economics,science,philosophy,literature,popularculture,history,andtheenvironment,etc.Knowasmuchasyoucanincomparisonwithyourpeers.DevelopaFundofKnowledgeBearegularconsumerofthemassmedia,includingEnglish-languagenewspapers,magazines,andtelevisionnewscasts.Getinthehabitoftakingnotesonstoriesdealingwithmajorissuesoftheday.PayattentiontowordsandexpressionsthatarefrequentlymentionedinthesestoriessoyouwillknowhowtosaythemproperlyinEnglish.Readbooksandothersourcestodevelopabroadstockofgeneralknowledge.DevelopaFundofKnowledge“Itisthedutyofthetrueoratortoseekout,hear,read,discuss,handle,andpondereverythingthatbefallsinthelifeofman.”—CiceroSampleAnalysisASampleOne-minuteImpromptuSpeechThetopic:WouldrebuildingtheOldSummerPalacebeacelebrationofpastgloryorabetrayalofhistory?Watchthevideoclipandbereadytocommentontheorganization,creativity,languageuseanduseofsupportingmaterials.SampleAnalysisCommentary:Thespeakerstartedherspeechbystatingherpositiononthetopicclearlyanddecisively.Thespeaker’sfirstmainpointbuildstoacompellingantithesisbetweentheoldSummerPalaceasanornamentandasaMonument.Thisisanexcellentexampleofmicro-creativity.Thespeaker’ssecondmainpointalsobuildstoastrongclimax.Heruseofrepetitionandparallelismaddsrhythm,force,andartisticflair.Herdeliveryisequallyimpressive.Poisedandconfident,shespeakswithconviction.It’sYourTurnNow!Format:ClassWorkTimefordelivery:2minutesProcedure:1.Eachstudentwritesatopiconapieceofpaper.2.Theteachercollectsthetopics,andplacestheminapaperbag.3.Theteacherbeginst