Most leagues offer impromptu speakers several minutes to plan their speech and a note card to write a brief outline. Any good impromptu speaker knows to take advantage of these resources and not waste them by thinking about their topic for thirty seconds and then deliver their speech. But what if you know to use these tools but are unsure of how? Relax and keep reading.
1. Know basic structure. Think of an Impromptu speech as you would an O.O. or any paper you would write for school. The basic format is Introduction, Body, and Conclusion. Once you know this, creating variation is simple. If you are trying to solve a problem, it is a good idea to vary the basic format by adding Solution after the Body (Intro, Body, Solution, Conclusion). If you are trying to prove a point, discrediting the opposing viewpoint adds strength, so add a bit on The Opposition (Intro, Body, The Opposition, Conclusion). When it comes to the the Body there are no right answers to how many paragraphs you should have. It really all depends on what works best for your speech.
2. Outlining on your note card is easy, so do not feel intimidated! When I jot down outlines I tend to stick to informal ones where I just create headers and use dashes to separate my support/specify what I wish to say:
INTRO: what is my thesis and what am I using for support?
Body1: details/examples, ANALYSIS of support 1
Body2: details/examples, ANALYSIS of support 2
(Possible) Body3: details/examples, ANALYSIS of support 3
CONCLUSION: wrap-up/clincher
Even this is a lot of labeling for an informal outline. Basically just separate the components of your speech and label the flow of it.
If formal outlines are more your thing, here you are:
INTRO: what is my thesis and what am I using for support?
I. Body 1 Topic
A. detail/example, ANALYSIS
B. detail/example, ANALYSIS
(Possible) C. detail/example, ANALYSIS
II. Body 2 Topic
A. detail/example, ANALYSIS
B. detail/example, ANALYSIS
(Possible) C. detail/example, ANALYSIS
(Possible) III. Body 3 Topic
A. detail/example, ANALYSIS
B. detail/example, ANALYSIS
(Possible) C. detail/example, ANALYSIS
CONCLUSION: wrap-up/clincher
Please be aware that a formal outline typically takes longer to write because it is highly detailed. Also, remember to write clearly so you never get lost in your notes and to not rely too much on your outline. The note card is there to help and remind you of structure, not to be your crutch. Further, create a system of outlining that you are comfortable with and which is consistent. You do not want to be delivering your Impromptu, glance at your outline, and have no idea which idea goes where.
3. Talk to O.O. people, coaches, and English teachers. All of these people should be able to offer you any and all help you might need for structuring a speech.
Remember, all Impromptus are going to be structured differently based upon the topic. Some formats work better than others. But, knowing the basics of a standard speech and outline are the tools you need to begin as a Novice and transition into a seasoned Varsity.
