Tips on Extemp Speaking

Here is a 6 step process for doing extemporaneous speaking (taken from Breaking
Down Barriers: How to do Individual Events):

1. CHOOSE YOUR TOPIC:

Usually, you go to an extemp prep room where topics are posted on the wall. Bring
your research materials (your “extemp tub”) to the room. Find out what speaker you
are and then listen for the announcement of your speech. For each speaker, usually
three topics are posted. These topics are almost always questions about national
political, economic, and social issues. You usually do have thirty minutes to prepare
for your speech but you should choose the topic you feel most confident about
shortly--within five to ten minutes. Pick a topic that you know you have materials on,
that you like to talk about, and that will interest your judge and demonstrate your
expertise. That will make preparing the speech much easier.

2. MAKE A THESIS STATEMENT:

This is simple! Think about the topic you’ve chosen. Now, answer the topic question.
“Was Clinton a good president?” What do you think? Yes or no? Write your answer
down on a sheet of paper or notecard to tell you what to do.

3. CREATE POINTS THAT SUPPORT YOUR THESIS:

Take a moment and think up what would support your thesis. I suggest that at most
you make three points--you only have a very short time to speak. Write the points
down on a sheet of paper, leaving room after each one so that you can add supports
for them.

COMMON ORGANIZATION FOR AN EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEECH

The key to your organization is to provide points that directly support your
answer to the question.

For a policy question (e.g. What should the U.S. terrorism policy be?)

1. Problem, 2. Current policy isn’t solving/causes this problem, 3. This policy

would solve the problem

 
 For a fact question (e.g. Will Al Gore run in 2004?)

List out 2 to 4 reasons why your answer is correct.

For an update on events type question (e.g. What is going on in Pakistan?)

List out the key events that are taking place.

Make sure you have covered the topic thoroughly

4. NOW, DEVELOP SUPPORT FOR YOUR THESIS

Now, write down supports for your points. Look in your extemp tub and write down
short quotations, summaries of key points in your articles, stories and other key points
of analysis that you have for your points. Have at least two supports for each point if
you possibly can and most extempers are expected to cite at least six sources during
their speeches. Write down the supports.

5. WRITE 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 it a sense of conclusion.

The Introduction.

1.     Start with an “attention getter”. Use a story, analogy or joke to captivate your
audience. Avoid starting a speech with a quotation if your topic is a quotation,
this may confuse your judge.

2.     In your introduction, state the question exactly as it is worded.

3.     State your answer to the question; your thesis. Even if you don’t have a clear
cut yes or no answer to the question--state why you say yes but . . . or no
but . . . (don’t leave it vague with “sometimes yes and sometimes no; you can
leave it hanging but with a clear direction “the answer is yes but there is a
critical exception which I will explain in my third point.”)

4.     why is this topic important to the audience?

5.     why are you an expert on this topic?

 6.     Preview your main points.

The Conclusion.

1.     Restate the question and your answer to it.

2.     Summarize briefly how your points and supports demonstrate that your answer
is correct.

3.     Close by referring back to your introduction.

6. DELIVER THE SPEECH

Your preparation of the key points in your speech should take 20 or less minutes. In
the last 10 minutes, you should walk to where you will present. Along the way, take
time to practice the speech. Go through the intro, the main points, the conclusion.
Think about what you are saying, make corrections. If you arrive at your room early
before other you are to speak, then take advantage of the chance to practice in the
hallway or an empty room (although keep close to the room so that when they
announce you are up next, you hear it). When the judge calls you, enter the room and
deliver away with your speech.

DEVELOP YOUR EXTEMP TUBS

Use a system that works for you, but here is a good way to organize the many extemp articles you
should have:

Have a foreign issues box: try to organize it by regions of the world (Middle East, Africa, Southeast
Asia, etc) and then alphabetically by country within each regional section. Topics will cross borders
often, but that’s why you have the option in extemp of pulling out TWO files instead of just ONE!

Have a domestic issues box: again, organize by major general topics, and then alphabetically within
each general topic. Domestic issues will be tougher to fit entirely under general topics, so don’t force
things that don’t fit because you will lose them. Instead, stick to simple generalizations (like sticking
all politicians in a single general category, arranged alphabetically) and try to avoid filing things in
ways that might obscure them later.

RESEARCH!!!

You need to stay up on the latest news events and policy issues. What’s the latest in the war on
terrorism? What are the arguments for and against expanding social programs? Who is likely to win the
next election? Suggestions for doing this:

1. Purchase the West Coast E-News Package. This is an amazing resource with hundreds of pages of
great background information as well as the very latest news. Click here for more information
 2. Research on the web using West Coast’s extemp resources page: Click here for West Coast’s
extemp web resources

3. Listen to the news each evening

4. Read the newspaper each day; Read a news magazine or two each week

5. Discuss news issues with friends, family, and teammates

6. Work with your coach to setup assignments so a variety of issues get researched

7. Do Checks! Have other people ask you news questions and then see if your tubs have the material
you need. If they don’t, then do research to fill in the gaps!

Source: http://www.wcdebate.com/3ie/39extemp.htm

Extemporaneous, the most natural method of delivery,

involves glancing at notes while maintaining crucial eye
contact with the audience.
Key Points

 There are two popular methods for organizing ideas to create a graphical
representation for speaker notes--outlining and mind or concept mapping.

 An outline is a list of items with each item divided into additional sub-items. Each
level in an outline has at least two subcategories. There are three basic types of
hierarchical outlines--sentence, topic and phrase.

 Topic and phrase are the most useful for speaker notes since they allow the speaker to
quickly glance at the notes while maintaining eye contact with the audience.

 Mind mapping and concept mapping are visual representation of ideas and concepts.
Both mind maps and concept maps can be used to graphically show the relationship
between ideas for a speech and as speaker notes for delivery.

 A mind map diagram starts with a single word as a central branch node and lesser
categories as sub-branches going off from the central node. A concept maps can have
multiple hubs or nodes with clusters of concepts labeled to show the kind of
relationship.

 While extemporaneous speaking may be free of the constraints of memorization and

manuscript speaking, it is not careless talk; the speaker prepares notes in advance in
order to deliver an organized speech.

Terms
  extemporaneous

A type of speech delivery which involves preparation of speaker notes prior to

delivery, associated with conversational style of delivery.

 mind map

A diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or other items linked to and arranged
radially around a central key word or idea.

 concept map

A diagram showing the relationships among concepts, with the concepts drawn in
rectangular boxes, which are connected with labelled arrows that denote the
relationships between concepts, such as "is a", "gives rise to", "results in", "is required
by," or "contributes to".

Source: https://www.boundless.com/communications/delivering-the-speech/methods-of-
delivery/extemporaneous-speeches/

II. MAIN POINT:

You follow the formula listed under
MAIN POINT I for each main point
in the body of your speech. If you have more than one piece of evidence for a main point,
follow the formula for each piece of evidence:
A. State sub-point of main point here
1. give evidence for sub-point
2. give reasoning for sub-point
3. show relationship of sub-point to main point and to the thesis.
B. State second sub-point of main point here.
1. give evidence
2. give reasoning
3. show relationship
III.
MAIN POINT:
You must have three main points, and
at least three forms of evidence, for
the body of each speech. You may have as many as five main points.
CONCLUSION
I. SUMMARY STEP:
This step is similar to the preview step in the introduction. It reiterates
the main points of argument. "Tell them what you have told them."
II. RESTATEMENT OF THESIS:
Repeat the thesis often during the speech. It is the
statement that you want your audience to remember and accept.
III. APPEAL:
This step is much like the interest step
in the introduction. The final appeal is the
lasting impression that you leave on your audience.
It uses the same type of technique as the
interest step. You must list the technique that you use.
TECHNIQUE:
List the one used.
NOTE: Until you have mastered the structure
of an extemporaneous speech outline, you should
follow these guidelines exactly
.
EACH SEGMENT OF THE OUTLINE MUST BE WRITTEN IN
COMPLETE,
DECLARATIVE SENTENCES.

Source: http://www.soapboxorations.com/educators/outlineguide.pdf

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5. How to Write an Extemporaneous Speech

How to Write an Extemporaneous Speech

By Nicholas Rossillo, eHow Contributor

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Learn how to quickly prepare an extemporaneous

speech.
An extemporaneous speech is one prepared quickly, within a half hour or less. Many schools
offer extemporaneous speaking competitions. When practiced, writing extemporaneous
speeches can improve public speaking skills as well as promote on-the-fly thinking. These
speeches are generally not very long although even five minutes can seem a long time when
you are speaking. Like all speeches, they are designed to inform, inspire or persuade.

Other People Are Reading

 How to Give an Extemporaneous Speech

 Extemporaneous Speaking Tips

Instructions
1.
o 1

Identify your topic and start brainstorming on topic details. If possible, choose
a topic with which you are familiar. If you have thirty minutes, spend the first
ten minutes brainstorming to think of everything you can about the subject in
that time. For example, if you want to persuade your audience to recycle, write
down as many reasons as you can think of to recycle. Jot down quick notes
like "reduce pollution," "setting example for future generations," "conserve
resources," "conserve land" and "create new jobs." Write everything that
comes to mind; you may later decide to delete some ideas.

o 2

Outline your speech. Start with the title, then list a few sentences for the
introduction. For example, write "This morning I had a soda, and I almost
threw away the can. But then I thought I should recycle." Then write what you
will be talking about, specifically "Everyone should recycle and today I'm
going to tell you why." Use a highlighter to stress your main point, "everyone
should recycle."

o
o 3

Create the body of your speech. Limit yourself to the most important points
you want to make and be sure they all relate directly to your subject as you do
not have time to go off topic. Choose a few notes from your initial list and
further clarify them. For example, write a paragraph about conserving land,
another about reducing pollution and a third about creating new jobs.

o 4
 Expand your main points. Take your three or four main topics and list a few
examples, quotes or statistics for each section. Provide three pieces of
supportive information for each of the three sections that are legitimate and
backed by source. For example,"recycling reduces air pollution because the
production of glass releases harmful gasses into the environment."

o 5

Write your conclusion. Use only about two or thee minutes of your
preparation time to do this; conclusions don't need to be long. Restate your
main arguments. End with an anecdote, quote or call to action. For example, "I
encourage you all to go home tonight and gather up your old bottles to take to
the recycling center tomorrow."

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_8364869_write-extemporaneous-speech.html

Your fear of speaking is all in your head.

All you have to do is find a technique that works for you. For instance, some people say imagine the
crowd in their underpants. That might not work so well. What I do is I shake my body loose before I
get up there. Whatever you are afraid of doing, just do it before you go up. if you are afraid of
stuttering, just say a few tongue twisters before you go. It gets your mind off the task at hand, and
also loosens your tongue, so you'll have less of a chance of stuttering.

In the case of your speech, I've done many extemporaneous speeches, and never had more than ten
minutes to write them. Hmm...
Anyway, For a thesis statement, you want to let it work with your grabber. Use humor, etcetera.
Make sure it relates to your topic, and just go with the flow.

your conclusion should restate all main points, and wrap up the whole speech. Remember, what
people remember most about a debate is the end, so try to put more work into a conclusion than
the intro, and you will almost always be graded higher than if you hadn't. Also, make sure you have
some memorable quote, or something, at the end, cause if the crowd loves you at the end, so will
the teacher.

I hope this wasn't too late for your speech!

-And good luck.

Source:

My speech/debate teacher.

http://ph.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091126021808AAMYJTL