How
do you do an impromptu? Doing an impromptu is just like doing any other speech.
Follow the 6 step process of invention.
1. CHOOSE
YOUR TOPIC:
You
will randomly select three slips of paper with topics. Choose one of
these three topics. Be sure to pick your topic quickly--choose the topic you
feel most confident about within thirty seconds.
2. MAKE IT
INTO A THESIS STATEMENT:
Again,
easy as pie. The topic slip you choose will lead you to the kind of thesis you
want to make. Remember, your thesis needs to make a point. If the topic you
chose is: "Registering for classes," make a thesis that says:
"Registering for class can be a real pain." Write the thesis down on
a sheet of paper or keep it in mind. NOTE: BE SURE TO EXPLAIN WHAT YOU THINK
THE QUOTATION MEANS.
3. CHOOSE
POINTS THAT SUPPORT YOUR THESIS:
Take
a minute and think up what points would support the thesis. I suggest that at
most you make two points--you only have a few minutes to speak and prepare.
Write the points down on a sheet of paper, leaving room after each one so that
you can add supports after each of them. If need be, change your thesis or
points so that the points support your thesis.
4. DEVELOP
SUPPORTS
Now,
think up good stories, personal examples, analogies, examples, humor and more
to help support the points. If you remember a source talking about that
point--add in the facts, stats, and quotations. Have two supports for each
point if you possibly can. Write down the main idea of the supports.
REMEMBER--write down IDEAS, NOT WORDS. If need be, change your points or thesis
so that that your supports prove your points.
5. PREPARE
YOUR INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION.
Write
down ideas for an introduction. Give a quick attention getter, state the
thesis, tell why it is important to you and your audience. Write down a
conclusion. Tie the speech together, build to a higher point and give the
speech a sense of conclusion.
6. STAND UP
AND SPEAK!
Keep
in mind that this is a short speech. So, you need to keep each section of your
speech short. Avoid long winded stories and drawn out introductions. Remember,
you are just presenting some information on a topic to other people who want to
hear you--just as much as you want them to do well when they speak.
HELPFUL TIPS
FOR DOING WELL IN IMPROMPTU
1. Practice!
There is no substitute for it. Work to cut back on the amount of prep time you
use; to make your speech flow more smoothly; to organize your points more
clearly.
2. Use internal
summaries that connect back to your topic. To do this, at the end of each of
your points, provide a short summary of what you have said and explain how that
is relevant to your thesis.
3. Make sure your
analysis and points are directly connected to your thesis and your topic.
4. Practice
interpreting quotations. This is not an easy task. Work with your coach and
other teachers to figure out clear, simple explanations for quotations you
might need to speak on.