I gave this lecture on March 23, 2024.
Impromptu
INTRODUCTION The New Oxford American Dictionary defines the adjective impromptu as “done without being planned, organized, or rehearsed: [as in] an impromptu press conference.” Its synonyms are “ad-lib,” “off-the-cuff,” “offhand,” “extemporaneous,” and “unrehearsed.” Giving impromptu remarks is a valuable skill for any public speaker and helpful in various situations, from casual conversations to business meetings. If you develop the skill of impromptu speaking, you need not fear being caught with nothing to say.
In Speech Club, we emphasize this skill quite a bit. We spend twenty minutes every meeting in Tabletopics trying to improve the members’ ability to think on their feet. So, if you want to practice for this speech—which you must pass to graduate—make it a point to participate in the Topics portion of each meeting.
SPS So, we need to consider the #11 Impromptu Speech. It usually hangs over us like a black cloud as we progress through the twelve speeches. None of us relishes standing speechless in front of our peers. We fear looking and sounding stupid. But there are ways we can prepare for it by changing our attitude and improving our skills in a few areas, so we will have what it takes to give one successfully.
- Mark Twain famously said, “It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.”
- When asked one day what he had been doing for so long, Winston Churchill replied, “I’m just preparing my impromptu remarks.”
- American Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress, screenwriter, and playwright Ruth Gordon once said, “The very best impromptu speeches are the ones written well in advance.”
These excellent public speakers all believed that one should never go into an Impromptu Speech unprepared, and the first element of preparation is attitudinal: A speaker must tamp down his fear/anxiety, turning that stress into a challenge. Nerves, visible and invisible, will ruin an Impromptu Speech. We must remember that we have spoken off-the-cuff casually since we were kids with family and friends. It is not a big jump to do the same thing in front of a group of friends in Speech Club. Please take it as a challenge.
Speaking of “off-the-cuff” speech, do you know where this idiom originates? It refers to public speakers appearing to give impromptu remarks while having notes written on their shirt cuffs as a cheat sheet. The phrase reminds us that a totally impromptu speech is a rarity. Usually, we are asked to speak about a subject we know at least a little about, so we draw from our knowledge and experience to give our opinion, tell a story, or explain how a thing works from what we have gathered over the years. Life prepares us.
So, other than changing our attitude, how can we prepare for a #11 Impromptu Speech?
- Read widely—and not just about things in your wheelhouse. If you prefer fiction, read some nonfiction, a biography, a history of an era, a great project, or a significant event. We should never stop learning.
- Stay up to date on world, national, and societal news, events, trends, and leaders. You do not need to know everything, but make sure to have at least a passing knowledge of what is happening.
- Engage with people. Find out what interests them. Get their opinions. Listen to their experiences. You will learn a lot—and probably develop an increased respect for them. If you are an introvert, you will need to learn to come out of your shell now and then to socialize.
- Memorize the five-paragraph essay/speech format to organize your thoughts quickly: (1) An introduction ending with an SPS, (2-4) three proofs or points from weakest to strongest, and (5) a conclusion or summary. If you are telling a story, you will need to use a modified version: An introduction, a body (the story), and a conclusion or encapsulated lesson.
CONCLUSION By the time you give your #11 Impromptu Speech, you should not have to worry too much about the technicalities of public speaking: eye contact, gestures, vocal variety, etc. So, when you are assigned this speech, do not worry about them. Concentrate on quickly organizing your thoughts on the subject you are given, relax, and give us your thoughts as if you knew what it was about ahead of time!