Volume 2 Month 11 Day 2 – Extemporaneous Speech Topics
The goal of extemporaneous speaking – also called Extemp – is to persuade or inform an audience briefly. This is the common general definition of extemporaneous speaking. If you are asking yourself: What should I do in the extemp speech? Then keep this rule of thumb in mind: the speech must answer the question in a school assignment or tournament. Simple and easy. The best extemporaneous speaker can speak almost without any notes. But don’t do that if you feel not confident enough.
There are three types of extemporaneous speeches:
- High School And College Assignments – Always do what your teacher asks you to do! Often you have to pick out topics in the form of informative, analytical, international, domestic or economic questions about current events. Your extemporaneous speech topics should answer the question exactly. Check if some written notes are permitted in class room extemps.
- Tournaments – An event where speakers receive their topics in the form of questions. Check the tournament entry to see which format and which rules will be used. Successful extempers don’t use cards. However, if you are allowed to use notes, then use a card for each element in the form below. Just use keywords.
- Business Presentations – Considered as difficult by those who must give presentations in business. Here I limit myself to extemporaneous speech topics for school, college and tournaments.
Extemporaneous Speech Preparation In 3 Steps
These three steps for preparing extemporaneous speech topics will help you to do what you have to do: answering the question in case of school assignments or tournaments.
The First Step – Analyze what extemporaneous question you have to answer:
- Questions of fact. Characterized by is and are, or will or would.
- Questions of value. Characterized by should.
- Questions of policy. Characterized by can and could. Often used for an political speech topic.
The Second Step – Determine if the extemporaneous speech topic is informative or persuasive. The words what, which and who indicate that it is an informative issue. The words should and why indicate that it is a persuasive issue.
The Third Step – Always stay with your extemp subject. In other words: never change the extemporaneous speech topics. Now, organize your ideas and points effectively. You can use the speech topics outline below. Focus on your speech topic and think about the various angles. Now write those first thoughts quickly down. Catch them in keywords.
14 Examples Of Extemporaneous Speech Topics
Can We Blame – fill in a team – For Its Defeat?
Why Do I Play Golf? Or another kind of sports
Should – fill in an name – Win A MTV Award?
I’m Just A Paperboy Now, Will I Become A Millionaire?
Who Is The Laziest Person On The Campus And Why?
Should We All Buy – fill in a product – ?
Why Do We Celebrate Thanksgiving?
Which Moviestar Earns Too Much Money In Comparison To His/Her Merits?
Why Is Barcelona A Special Place To Be? Or any other city or region
Is The X-Box Better Than Playstation 2?
Will – fill in a name- Become Senator?
Who Is The Best Songwriter?
Could We Really Say To Our Bosses What’s On Our Mind?
What Television Program Should Be Banned And Why?
Tip: Tweak a little bit with the why’s, can’s, could’s, etcetera. That’s the way to discover your own themes and extemporaneous speech topics.
The Elements Of Your Extemporaneous Speech
Use this speech outline to prepare extemporaneous speech topics quick and properly. Remember: all information in the extemporaneous speech should answer the question.
Extemporaneous Speech Topics Outline
TOPIC
Your topic in one complete summarizing sentence: _______
INTRODUCTION
Grab the attention of your public in a oneliner that state the theme. Relate the oneliner to question. State the extemporaneous speech topics question and tell why it is important. Briefly answer it. Tease your main points.
BODY
The main points in your speech should be phrased as argumentative statements. Devote an equal amount of time at each point. Try to come up with three points. Try to come up with three sub points of the main extemporaneous speech topics. Construct your sub points with credible arguments and factual evidence. Perhaps you can add relevant statistics and references. Think about the pros and cons, likes and dislikes, advantages and disadvantages. Refer in your extemporaneous speech topics to reliable sources, it will enhance your credibility. Write down your the points in one sentence for each point. Just pick out the elements which are appropriate within the time limit!
MAIN POINT I:
SUB POINT 1:
Arguments?
Evidence?
Statistics?
References?
SUB POINT 2:
Arguments?
Evidence?
Statistics?
References?
SUB POINT 3:
Arguments?
Evidence?
Statistics?
References?
MAIN POINT II:
SUB POINT 1:
Arguments?
Evidence?
Statistics?
References?
SUB POINT 2:
Arguments?
Evidence?
Statistics?
References?
SUB POINT 3:
Arguments?
Evidence?
Statistics?
References?
MAIN POINT III:
SUB POINT 1:
Arguments?
Evidence?
Statistics?
References?
SUB POINT 2:
Arguments?
Evidence?
Statistics?
References?
SUB POINT 3:
Arguments?
Evidence?
Statistics?
References?
CONCLUSION Summarize the main points of your extemporaneous topics. State the question again. State your answer in a catchy oneliner.
Is There A Best Outline For Extemporaneous Speeches?
No. The best outline doesn’t exist. The pattern above is just a method to organize extemporaneous topics quick and efficient.
Extemporaneous Speech Topics: Open Or Closed Questions?
Mostly there are two types of questions, open and closed. Determine what type of extemporaneous speech topics you are answering.
Closed Questions – You can only state a clear Yes or No in your introduction. In the points of the body part you offer the arguments.
Example: Is Disclosure A Bad Movie? Yes, you can also choose for humorous extemporaneous speech topics.
Open Questions – State how or what will, should or can be done in your introduction. Then guide the audience to the answer in logical steps. Those steps are the major points in your extemporaneous speech.
Example: What Can We Do Against Corrupt Politicians?
How To Deliver Extemporaneous Speech Topics
Time Management – The right time management is crucial. Put a watch in front of you. If you have 30 minutes to prepare an extemporaneous speech topic, then divide that time in parts. Below are three examples of time management. Find out which one is the best for you. If you are allowed to use note cards, then the memorize part can be shorter in time, of course.
| RESEARCH 5 minutes 10 minutes 5 minutes |
WRITE 10 minutes 10 minutes 15 minutes |
REFLECT AND MEMORIZE
10 minutes |
PRACTICE AND POLISH
5 minutes |
More about practicing extemporaneous speech topics – Visualize the flow of your speech in your mind. Something like this: first I want to state this, and then I prove it by that. And so on. Learn the sequence by heart. If there’s a possibility to practice in front of a friend or classmate, then do it! And listen to their comment. Elaborate on it. Another idea is to tape yourself on audio or video. Listen and look if you are making logical steps, transitions and pauses. Another possibility is to practice out loud in front of a mirror.
Delivery – Don’t be boring, add some funny extemporaneous speech topics in your presentation. Talk easy and in a normal tempo, don’t talk to fast. Don’t speech like a talking puppet in a suit. Move a little bit, use the proper gestures to emphasize your main points.
Find Extemporaneous Speech Topics For Extemp Tubs
Many extemporaneous competitors spend hours a week to prepare files with noteworthy articles about every possible subject. They can use these so-called Extemp Tubs in tournaments. But how does a speaker fill these files with the best extemporaneous speech topics? Here are my Six Golden Tips:
1. Analyze and study current events in magazines and newspapers. Sort out the headlines, the pros and cons, reasons, statistics and sources.
2. Research extemporaneous speech topics on the Internet. Pay special attention to quotes and reports of scientific researchers. Don’t forget to find humorous quotes, to break the ice.
3. Watch interesting television documentaries and note the facts and conclusions.
4. Ask experienced competitors how they prepare themselves. Look how they practice and perform.
5. Organize and update your files in a way you can find your extemporaneous speech topics quick and easy. For instance, organize your plastic tub like a tree – four or five general extemporaneous speech topics in hanging folders. And place within those general speech topics lots of sub-topics categorized from A to Z.
6. Also use a reference book, a dictionary, a small encyclopedia, etc.
By now, you have learned how to prepare and outline your extemporaneous speech topics.
Vishal Jain
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