Impromptu speech.

An impromptu speech is a presentation delivered spontaneously,

with little or no preparation, often on a given topic or quotation, and
without notes or visual aids.

Characteristics:

 Unrehearsed:
The speaker doesn't have time to prepare or rehearse the speech
beforehand.

 Spontaneous:
It's delivered on the spot, often in response to a request or
unexpected situation.

 No Notes/Aids:
Impromptu speeches are typically given without notes, outlines, or
other visual aids.

 Focus on Delivery:
The emphasis is on clear and concise communication, rather than
memorization or perfect structure.

Structure and Delivery:

 Basic Structure: While impromptu speeches are spontaneous,

they still benefit from a basic structure: introduction, body, and
conclusion.
 Introduction: Briefly introduce the topic and establish the
speaker's perspective.
 Body: Develop the main points of the speech, providing relevant
information or examples.
 Conclusion: Summarize the key points and provide a
memorable closing statement.
 Effective Delivery: Use clear and concise language, speak at a
moderate pace, maintain eye contact, and use appropriate body
language.
 PREP Method: You can use the PREP method (Point, Reason,
Example, Point) to structure your impromptu speech.

Tips for Success:

 Practice:
Regularly practice speaking on a variety of topics to improve your
fluency and confidence.

 Listen Actively:
Pay attention to the context and audience to tailor your speech
accordingly.

 Think on Your Feet:

Develop the ability to think quickly and express your thoughts
clearly under pressure.

 Stay Calm:
Maintain a calm and collected demeanor, even if you feel nervous.

 Use a Credible Voice Tone:

Go slowly, take your time, and breathe deeply to deliver your
words slowly and confidently.

 Demonstrate Powerful Body Language:

Stand tall, resist the urge to slump or fiddle, use big gestures,
smile, and get eye contact with your audience.

Neither the AFA nor NFA regulate specific speech formats to be used
by competitors, however there are two formats that are
predominantly used:

Two point format:

I. Introduction (Attention getter, interpretation of prompt,

argument/thesis)
II. First main point
A. Supporting example
B. Supporting example
III. Second main point
A. Supporting example
B. Supporting example
IV. Conclusion

Three point format:

I. Introduction
II. First main point
A. Supporting example
III. Second main point
A. Supporting example
IV. Third main point
A. Supporting example
V. Conclusion

1. The 5 Ws

Useful for when you’re speaking about a person or specific

event

Following the 5 Ws provides instant structure to your speech, and

you’ll be able to organise your thoughts in an easy-to-follow way.
You don’t even need to change the order – starting with ‘who’ gives
context to the speech and ending with ‘why’ leaves the audience
with the most important, relatable point.

Who – who is involved in the event or who is attending

What – what event are you at and what are the common goals?
Where – where is the event, how did the initiative the event
revolves around start?
When – is the timing of the event important? What does the future
hold?
Why – why is everyone there? Why are you there?

2. Diplomatic framework

Useful for formal occasions such as a business conference.

For this impromptu speech, start by talking about the advantages
and disadvantages of the subject topic, then end with a conclusion.

3. Storytelling

Useful for informal events such as weddings and book

launches.

Storytelling is a powerful method of speaking and is an easy way

of connecting with the audience. When having to speak when you
aren’t prepared, start off small, then medium, and end large.
Basically, talk about the event from an individual perspective, then
a group or national perspective, and end with the bigger picture.

For example, if you’re asked to give a speech at a wedding, you

could talk about when you met the couple and your experiences
with them (small), what their relationship and marriage means to
the rest of the wedding guests (medium), and end with the future of
their relationship and their family legacy.

Tips on giving an impromptu speech

If you are about to make an impromptu speech and have a few

minutes to prepare, follow these two tips:

1. Make some quick notes

The first thing you should do when asked to speak is to grab a pen
and a piece of paper (or napkin – whatever you can find to write on).
Jot down a few initial ideas, or even just a few words that you can
expand upon during your speech.

If you don’t write anything else, make sure you’ve written down
your starting and ending sentences, as these are the most
important.

2. Decide on the tone

Next, think about what tone to speak in. This will depend on the
type of event you’re at. For example, at a wedding, you would speak
informally, and you can have fun with the speech, whereas at a
business conference you would speak more formally and stick to a
professional tone.
Tips for picking an impromptu speech topic

Here are some quick tips and considerations for picking an

impromptu speech.

o Pick a topic you are familiar with, have knowledge of and want
to talk about. Personal experience on that topic is a bonus as
you’ll be able to speak more naturally about it.
o Your organisational skills will be tested to come up with a
powerful introduction and conclusion in your preparation to back
up your argument.
o Pick a topic where the scope is limited (or you can easily limit it)
as you’ll only have 5 minutes to discuss it.
o Your goal is to either inform or persuade your audience so
choose a topic that suits these criteria

IMPROMPTU SPEECH TOPICS.

 If you could switch lives with any fictional character, who would
it be and why?
 What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
 Describe your perfect day from start to finish.
 If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
 What is the most important invention of all time?
 If you could instantly become an expert in anything, what would
it be and why?
 What’s your favorite holiday and how do you celebrate it?
 If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
 What is your favorite childhood memory and why does it stand
out to you?
 If you could be famous for something, what would it be?
 Should social media be regulated?
 What’s more important: having a job you love or a job that pays
well?
 Is it better to be too early or too late?
 What is the role of failure in success?
 Does technology make our lives better or more complicated?
 How can we better handle conflict in today’s society?
 Do we need to rethink how we approach education in the
modern world?
 Is it better to focus on strengths or work on weaknesses?
 What does it mean to lead a successful life?
 Should people be more responsible for their impact on the
environment?
 What is the impact of remote work on traditional office culture?
 How can we improve mental health awareness in society?
 What are the pros and cons of online learning?
 Is climate change the biggest challenge facing the world today?
 How do you feel about the rise of artificial intelligence in daily
life?
 What role should governments play in healthcare?
 How do you think the world will change in the next 20 years?
 What impact does fast fashion have on the environment?
 Should voting be mandatory?
 What are the consequences of the rise of "fake news" in the
media?
 Is it ever okay to lie?
 Should there be a universal basic income for everyone?
 Is it ethical to use animals in scientific research?
 Should people be held accountable for actions taken in the past?
 Do the ends justify the means?
 Should we prioritize individual rights over the common good?
 Is it more important to be kind or truthful?
 Should schools focus more on academics or life skills?
 Can there be justice without forgiveness?
 Should we always be honest with our friends, even if it hurts
their feelings?
 What is your opinion on reality TV shows?
 Is social media doing more harm than good?
 Should people be required to take a gap year before going to
college?
 Is it better to have a few close friends or many acquaintances?
 What is your opinion on the role of celebrities in politics?
 Do you believe in the concept of destiny or free will?
 What’s your take on the importance of physical appearance in
society?
 Should public transportation be free for everyone?
 What’s your opinion on global tourism?
 Should we be more focused on space exploration or solving
problems on Earth?
 If you could design a new national holiday, what would it be and
how would people celebrate it?
 What would you do if you found out you had one week left to
live?
 Imagine you could speak every language in the world. What
would be the first thing you would do with this ability?
 If you could change one rule in society, what would it be and
why?
 What would you do if you could instantly solve one of the world’s
major problems?
 If time travel were possible, where and when would you go?
 What would a perfect world look like, and how do we achieve it?
 If you were the leader of your country for a day, what would you
change?
 How would you explain the concept of time to someone from
another planet?
 What would life be like if humans could live forever?
 How does ROI (Return on Investment) improve?
 Social media marketing and its importance
 Management strategies to increase productivity
 Ways to decrease production costs
 Best small business ideas
 How to avoid financial scams?
 Importance of dress code policy for a professional workplace
 Students should have the option of choosing their own
roommates
 Why are on-campus crimes on the rise?
 Scholarships are not always fair
 Most professors have a biased attitude
 Should you do something about students who seem depressed?
 How to look for good internships while studying?
 The death penalty shouldn’t be legal
 Should students learn how to code from a young age?
 How can we make the internet a safer place?
 How to save money in college?
 How to choose a college major?
 Are professional athletes paid too much?
 Why do earthquakes happen?
 The minimum age must be doubled
 Fast food’s popularity relies on marketing
 Snooker is a boring sport
 Being a vegetarian is healthier than eating meat
 Renting a house is better than buying
 What is it to be young?
 Effects of climate change and global warming
 Why do teenagers start smoking?
 Why should every citizen vote?
 When is it ok to lie?
 What is the difference between intelligence and wisdom?
 Why is humor an important life skill?
 How are self-driving cars the future of transportation?
 What is the role of CCTV cameras?
 Use of the Internet without any geographical restrictions
 Importance of medication
 Why do good grades matter?
 Everyone should become a vegetarian
 Will technology save or destroy the world?
 Social media has done more damage than good
 Parents should be able to pick the gender of their child
 Women have always been smarter than men
 People should live on Mars
 Euthanasia is justified
 Effects of Peer-to-peer technology
 Intelligence is not enough
 Goals are good for you
 When I grow up…
 If I ruled the world…
 Laughter is the best medicine
 Importance of Manners
 Why should the government cut all the foreign aid?
 Why should girls be allowed in the football teams?
 The need for Calorie counts on the fast-food menu list
 How is the current tax system harming the working middle
class?
 Need for cybersecurity protocols
 Is it true that uniforms take away individuality?
 Introverts or extroverts
 Real learning occurs outside the classroom
 Social media destroys a person's self-esteem
 Paying more taxes is a good thing
 Humans should have had control over the weather
 Immigration laws should be less rigid
 Nonsmokers should be at the top when receiving organs
 It is impossible to go back to living without technology
 The use of painkillers should be limited
 Child abuse turns people into psychopaths
 Can thriller movies increase your stress levels?
 Children should have the freedom to pick their own religion
 Motherhood is still valued in today’s society
 Colors affect the way how we feel
 Discipline is not a dirty word
 Team sports build strong individuals
 Children learn what they live with
 How can money make the world go round?
 Your favorite nickname and how you got it
 Three things you are scared of
 Favorite cartoon character
 How to impress your boss?
 Ways to overcome phobias
 Procrastinating is beneficial for psychological health
 Why do people hate Monday?
 How to make your parents proud?
 Important reasons to laugh
 How love differs from romantic movies?
 If I could time travel...
 The worst household chore
 There is no such thing as normal
 Famous people who have been fashion victims.
 Fools are always broke
 Laughter is the best medicine
 Plants have feelings just like us
 Things cartoon characters taught us
 My most profitable mistake
 How to deny reality?
 Cities are for people, not cars
 A good sense of humor is essential
 Tell us how to become a millionaire
 If cats/dogs ruled the world
 If I could design a school
 Peace is possible
 Art is essential to life
 Tips to prevent fraud
 Uniforms stifle individuality
 Victims of the fashion industry
 Being young is overrated
 Plants have feelings too
 Conservation is survival
 Funny terms and phrases
 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
 Summer is the best of times. Why?
 Children should not watch television
 Who is an average person?
 The most important lesson of my life
 Explain the best way to teach an old dog a new trick
 Describe the life cycle of a frog or butterfly
 My three favorite animals
 What would you find in my closet?
 Three things that scare me
 Great things about snow days
 Things you can make out of the snow
 How to spend a rainy day?
 How to walk a dog?
 Great things about the sea
 The best parts of a parade
 The economic growth of China
 Role of market research before starting a business
 How to handle dissatisfied customers?
 How to start a conversation?
 Deaf people use emotions to communicate
 Enlist famous parliamentary debates
 Global leadership is an unrealistic dream
 Progressive taxation in social services
 Disastrous economic crisis
 Tax saving knows it all
 Buying a house? A complete process
 Effective strategies for smart investments
 Tips and tricks to save money in college
 How to deal with money problems?
 History of currency
 Insomnia and its types
 Is the media biased to the left-wing?
 What is Photojournalism?
 Role of artificial intelligence in rehabilitation
 Role of the family during the process of rehabilitation
 The morality of zoos
 Three keys to a happy life
 You are what you eat
 Why is it important to meditate?
 What are you grateful for?
 How to confuse someone?
 The story of the perfect husband
 How to irritate someone?
 Inappropriate gifts by a stranger
 Ten things you better not say in court
 The biggest lie on the work floor
 Fun games to play at the beach
 Short girl problems
 Eating things you don’t like
 How to escape from trouble?
 Five ways to annoy your parents
 Three bad business slogans
 Strange New Year resolutions
 Fun houseplants in your home
 Funny facts about women
 Funny facts about men
 Why I could never be a doctor
 The ugliest fashions of today
 If women had mute buttons
 The advantages of being a man
 Love is a choice
 Ghosts I'd like to meet
 Real love is not the stuff of pop songs
 If I were an animal, I'd be a...
 How to annoy an older sister?
 Positives of social media
 Impacts of social media on youth
 Social media- a boon or bane
 Reality TV- positive or negative?
 Should school students be given homework?
 Are co-ed schools better than single-sex schools?
 Is online education as good as regular classroom education?
 Should students be allowed to grade their teachers?
 Are video games harmful or beneficial to children?
 Are beauty pageants degrading to women?
 Are celebrities good role models, for youngsters?
 How important are fathers in a child’s life?
 Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
 Is capital punishment a deterrent to crime?
 Are our schools producing good citizens?
 Are exams necessary?
 Should corporal punishment be banned in schools?
 Are private schools better than government schools?
 Should students be paid for getting good grades?
 Is cheating in exams justified?
 Are online friends as good as real friends?
 Should plastic bags be banned?
 Is ragging in colleges a menace or a way of socializing?
 Are hostel students better disciplined than day scholars?
 Is the education system in India merit-based or rote-learning
based?
 Why do people fear public speaking?
 The art of persuasion
 The power of body language
 How to be a better listener?
 The importance of eye contact
 Tips for conquering stage fright
 The benefits of taking risks
 How to handle constructive criticism?
 The value of teamwork
 The importance of a positive attitude
 Overcoming adversity
 Pursuing your dreams
 Setting and achieving goals
 Time management tips
 Making effective decisions
 The power of positive thinking
 The importance of open communication
 Dealing with stress
 Creating a healthy lifestyle
 The importance of education
 The impact of technology on society
 Managing finances
 Building relationships
 Traveling the world
 The meaning of life
 Life is what you make it- so make it something worth living!
 You only live once, but if you live right, once is enough!
 It's never too late to turn your life around and achieve success!
 Everyone has a story to tell- so make yours worth listening to!
 Don't be afraid to take risks- they often lead to great rewards!
 Learn from your mistakes and use them as stepping stones to
success!
 Persevere through the tough times and come out stronger on the
other side!
 Embrace change and use it as an opportunity to grow and
improve!
 Never give up on your dreams- they are worth fighting for!
 Live each day to the fullest and make the most of every
opportunity!
 Be kind to others and always try to make a positive difference in
their lives!
 Never take anything for granted, and always be thankful for
what you have!
 Cherish your friendships and relationships- they are priceless
treasures!
 Be true to yourself and always stay true to your values and
beliefs!
 Don't be afraid to stand up for what you believe in even if it
means standing alone!
 Be courageous and never give in to fear or adversity!
 Always strive to be the best that you can be and never settle for
less!
 Never give up on yourself- you are your own best advocate!
 Pursue your passions and let them lead you to your purpose in
life!
 Follow your heart and let it guide you to where you are meant to
be!
 Let go of the past and focus on living for today and tomorrow!
 Make each day count and never take a single moment for
granted!
 Don't be afraid to dream big- the sky's the limit!
 Never give up on your hopes and dreams- they are what make
life worth living!
 Always remember that you are never alone- you have the
support of family and friends!
 How to make a perfect cup of tea?
 How to get over stage fright?
 The benefits of meditation
 Why you should never give up on your dreams?
 The power of positive thinking
 How to deal with anxiety and stress?
 The importance of a good night's sleep
 How to stay healthy and fit?
 The importance of mental health awareness
 Why you should believe in yourself?
 How to achieve your goals?
 How to be happy and content with what you have?
 The key to success
 How to manage your time?
 The importance of taking risks
 How to deal with failure?
 How to be a good leader?
 Why is teamwork important?
 How to handle stress and anxiety?
 The importance of staying positive and motivated
 How to overcome obstacles?
 How to be successful?
 The importance of setting goals
 How to stay focused and disciplined?
 How to be a good role model for others?