Modes of Delivery

Impromptu speaking is a speech and debate consolation event that involves an eight minute speech, with up to three of these eight minutes available for use as preparation time (known as prep time, or simply prep).

At the college level, the speaker is granted seven minutes to divide as he or she sees fit, as stipulated by the National Forensics Association and the American Forensics Association.
Another variation exists in which the speaker must speak for five minutes and half of a minute is given for preparation time. The speaker receives a slip of paper, which provides three choices for their speech. The topics can be abstract or concrete nouns, people, political events, quotations or proverbs.

Another variation still, is where the speaker is given an envelope with slips in it, each with a quotation. They draw three slips of paper, choose one, and then put two back. They then have five minutes to prepare a five minute speech on the subject.

While the format is simple, it takes time to construct a speech in that time and talk on your feet. Mastery of this event is difficult, but many enjoy it, because one does not have to prepare for the event beforehand. Similar in theory to extemporaneous speaking, however unlike that category, impromptu speeches need not be factual and are indeed encouraged to be humorous. In some impromptu rounds, there is a "triad" prompt, in which the participant is given three key words to talk about and connect during the speech.

Rules for Impromptu Speaking (Wisconsin Forensic Coaches' Association)
Purpose of the Category: To develop the skills necessary to quickly provide a responsive statement to a variety of everyday words, phrases and topics.

Definition of the Category: The impromptu speaker should deliver an original, creative and imaginative interpretation of the designated topic, supported by varied materials. An impromptu speech should reveal the student's ability to organize thoughts quickly and logically. The contestant should be held accountable for strict adherence to the topic drawn and discounted severely for shifting to some other topic of personal preference. The information presented should be well-chosen, pertinent, and sufficient to support the central thought of the topic. The material should be organized according to some logical plan to produce a complete speech with the time allowed. Delivery should be free from marked defects in speech mechanics -- poise, quality and use of voice, enunciation, fluency, bodily expressiveness -- and should be effective in enlisting and holding the audience's attention. The best impromptu speech combines clear thinking, good speaking and interesting presentation with respect to the topic chosen. Impromptu topics will be chosen form proverbs, objects, abstract words, events, quotations, and famous people.

Rules:
1. The speech must be original to the student and must be developed during the round. No pre-written or memorized speeches are allowed.

2. Once in the contest room, the student will be given a choice of three topics designated for that section by the judge in that room. The student will then be given a total of 6 minutes in which to prepare and speak. How the time is divided is totally up to the student but is subject to critique by the judge.

3. Auxiliary visual materials are not permitted.

4. No student may enter the contest room until his/her designated speaking time as determined by the speaking order scheduled for that room. The student will wait outside the room until the previous speaker leaves. Then, the student will enter and announce his/her code to the judge.

5. Maximum time limit: 6 minutes. There is no minimum time requirement. A contestant should not be penalized for brevity unless she/he fails to cover the subject adequately. A 30-second grace period is allowed. Any entry exceeding the grace period may not be ranked first in the round. If all entries in a round exceed the grace period, there shall be no first rank given in that round.

6. The use of notes is optional, but limited to both sides of a 4 x 6 card.

7. Vocal music, if used, must be incidental and consist of no more than 30 seconds total. Any entry exceeding this limit may not be ranked first in the round. If all entries in a round exceed the music time limit, there shall be no first rank given in that round.

Criteria for Evaluation:
1. The extent to which a direct and well-defined response to the topic chosen was provided.
2. The extent to which the ideas were analyzed and organized.
3. The extent to which the content (a) supported the response with worthwhile example, data, and personal insight; and (b) employed effective language skills including such items as the use of transitions and clear, vivid and appropriate word choices. Individual judges may lower the rank due to use of profanity or vulgarity.
4. The extent to which vocal interpretation contributed to the clarity and effectiveness of the presentation including such items as articulation, pronunciation, volume, rate, pitch, and vocal quality.
5. The extent to which the physical presence contributed to the clarity and effectiveness of the presentation, including such items as facial expression, eye contact, gestures, bodily movement, and poise.

Appropriate Gestures: The Impromptu Speaking contest rules include the following instructions: Responsive use of the body (i.e., spontaneous changes in posture, gesture, and place-to-place movement) are permissible. However, this active use of the body should:(A) be appropriate to the demands of the selection;(B) be a natural outgrowth from the literature to be performed;(C) not call attention to itself; and(D) be limited in scope.The judge’s opinion in this matter is final.



Extemporaneous Speaking, also known as "Extemp," is a high school and college speech event in which students speak persuasively about current events. In Extemp, a speaker chooses a question out of three offered, then prepares for thirty minutes with the use of previously prepared articles from magazines, journals and newspapers before speaking for seven minutes on the topic.

Basic information and format
The actual speech is delivered without the aid of notes and, at top levels, is a smooth, dynamic performance that incorporates research, background knowledge, humor, and opinion. A successful extemp speech has an introduction that catches the listener's attention, introduces the theme of the speech, and answers the question through three, or sometimes two, areas of analysis which develop an answer to the question. The preview of the three or two areas of analysis to come is called the "menu". The conclusion summarizes the speech and ties everything together, relating back to the introduction and body of the speech.

Debate and public speaking (collectively called "Forensics") are generally stratified into novice, or beginning, and varsity, or experienced, levels. A varsity level extemp is expected to cite anywhere from five to ten sources within the speech to substantiate the credibility of the analysis and demonstrate ample preparation. References are often referred to as a "cite" or "citation." Quality sources include newspapers like the New York Times and Christian Science Monitor, magazines like the Economist and Foreign Policy and journals like the Fletcher Forum on World Affairs and Foreign Affairs. Also, on a speech dealing with a certain region's issues, say Africa or the Middle East, it is good to include regional sources as well.

During the speech, competitors are evaluated by way of comparison to the other speakers in a 'round' of competition. Generally, there are five to eight competitors in a given round. Judges give speakers time signals to help them pace their presentations. Judges rank all students in a room in order, with one being the best and the worst speaker ranked last (sixth, for example in a round of six competitors).

The National Forensic League (NFL), the National Christian Forensics and Communication Association (NCFCA) and the National Catholic Forensic League (CFL) host most Extemp tournaments. Both leagues have a national tournament at the end of every year, with the NFL tournament drawing a larger number of competitors. Northwestern University also hosts the Tournament of Champions in Extemperaneous Speaking each year. Other good national extemp tournaments include the MBA (Montgomery Bell Academy) Round Robin, Harvard University Invitational, George Mason University's Patriot Games, St. Mark's Heart of Texas Invitational, the Glenbrooks in Northbrook, IL a suburb of Chicago, and the Barkley Forum at Emory University.

The Different Types of Extemp
Most high school level districts offer two different kinds of Extemp Speaking. Normally, those are FX (or Foreign Extemp or IX) and DX (or Domestic Extemp or USX). Both follow the same format but have questions concentrated on either foreign or domestic political/economic topics. Some states, like Pennsylvania, offer a different event called Extemp Commentary. In Extemp Commentary the speaker, seated behind a desk, gives a five-minute speech about a topic rather than about a question. Extemp Commentary is also held at the National Speech and Debate Tournament as a Supplemental Event.

In college forensics, as well as at a number of large tournaments like the Tournament of Champions in Extemporaneous Speaking at Northwestern University, the Barkley Forum at Emory University, the Harvard Invitational and the NCFL National Championship, there is only one mixed category for Extemporaneous Speaking, referred to as simply 'Extemp' (with the event code 'EX'). Mixed extemp can prove more challenging, calling upon a speaker's broad awareness of possible topics ranging for questions about American culture to foreign policy or obscure international economic issues.

The Extemp Speech Structure
The structure of an extemporaneous speech varies widely depending on whether the competition is a high school or college tournament, and can often vary in style across the country. The most common method, exemplified in several high school and college national final rounds, follows a similar structure to the one described below.

Introduction

Attention Getter - A device used to get the attention of an audience. Some examples include quotations, statistics, history, narratives, political cartoons, anecdotes, and pop culture references. A typical attention getting device (sometimes referred to as an AGD) seeks to set the tone for an extemporaneous speech and acquaint the audiences with the particular style of the speaker.

Link - A description of how the attention getter relates to the actual topic (for example, a speaker might describe how the movie "The Godfather" applies to a topic like American foreign policy). Links can be abstract (connecting the attention getter to the topic using a one word comparison that usually employs 'like' or 'as') or concrete (making multiple connections between the attention getter to the topic).

Significance Statement - A sentence justifying the importance and relevance of the chosen topic.

Source- Most introductions include at least one source, often used to substantiate the
Significance Statement. Sources are cited orally and include the name of the publication and the date, at the minimum (e.g. "The Washington Post of October 23, 2006 reports that...")

Question - A word-for-word recitation of the question (topic) as selected (e.g. "Is Pakistani President Musharraf doing all he can to fight extremism in his country?")

Definition - A definition of any vague words that are critical to your argument (e.g. "extremism") Some definitions can be frowned upon if given in a monotone, or robotic, voice. It is a good tip for all speakers to watch how and when you give definitions.

Answer - A summary of the position to be taken on the issue.

Preview - A preview of the body areas of the speech. Each point should be a short declarative sentence. ("First, Brazil's economic performance will outweigh the alleged corruption.")

Body
It is common that Extemporaneous speeches will have good deal of structure. One of the most frequently employed speech structures will accommodate three contentions or points, each containing two or three sub-points. A popular and easy to follow method of composing contentions includes the three sub-points: Theory, Application and Case Study.

Example
In this example, the first point is illustrated in detail.

Question: Will Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi win his campaign for re-election? Answer: Yes, because he is seen as an effector of necessary reform.
First Point - Koizumi is placing emphasis on the privatization of the Japanese Postal System
Theory - When a candidate focuses their energies on a limited issue that the public supports, they have a greater chance for success.
Application - While Koizumi's approval rating often dips below 50%, his pledge to privatize the Postal System keeps him more popular than any other person or party
Case Study - An Economist article date June 9, 2005 notes that The Japanese Postal system currently sits at ¥386 trillion ($3.6 trillion) in assets, making it the world's biggest financial institution. It continues to explain that Mr. Koizumi is now close to getting a vote on a bill that will—eventually—turn it over to the private sector.
Impact - Because Prime Minister Koizumi will so effectively reform the postal service he will be seen as an effector of reform which will easily win him the re-election.
Second Point drama Theory Application Case Study Impact
Third Point
Theory Application Case Study Impact
Conclusion
The conclusion is an opportunity to recap the ideas discussed in the speech and contains many elements of the introduction. A conclusion may look like this:
Question - A word-for-word restatement of the question.
Answer - A review of the answer and points discussed.
Tie to Introduction/Conclusion - This should be along the same lines as the opening attention getter. The same 'vehicle' or theme (for example, an anecdote about Margaret Thatcher) is employed to conclude the speech as was used initially to introduce it. A clever closing line is common place and many strong competitors will remind the judge of the question, while simultaneously referencing the theme discussed in the introduction and conclusion.


History and Background of Manuscript

The Manuscript Division was one of several "departments" established in 1897 when the Library of Congress moved from the United States Capitol to a separate building nearby. Its staff of four assumed custody of a collection of twenty-five thousand manuscripts which had accumulated throughout the nineteenth century, chiefly through the purchase in 1867 of Peter Force's collection of Americana, the gift in 1882 of Joseph M. Toner's collection relating to George Washington and American medical history, and several small transfers from the Smithsonian Institution. In 1903, by an act of Congress and an executive order, the State Department began transferring historical papers, including several presidential collections, which had been acquired by the federal government.

Despite its early concentration upon acquiring original manuscripts for political, military, and diplomatic history, the division soon broadened its acquisition interests, especially after World War II, to include cultural history, history of science, and the archives of nongovernmental organizations. Its current holdings, nearly sixty million items contained in eleven thousand separate collections, include some of the greatest manuscript treasures of American history and culture. Among these are Jefferson's rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, James Madison's notes on the Federal Convention, George Washington's first inaugural address, the paper tape of the first telegraphic message--"What hath God wrought?", Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and second inaugural address, and Alexander Graham Bell's first drawing of the telephone.

Manuscript Reading Service

The Manuscript Reading Service is an opportunity to have your manuscript carefully read by a professional writer who will provide you with a detailed evaluation of content and technique, as well as suggestions for further development of your work. Manuscript readers will also attempt to answer any specific questions the author has regarding the manuscript. The administrative staff of the WGA will endeavour to match your manuscript with a published writer whose body of work most closely suits the manuscript you submit. All genres are eligible for this program.
To arrange for a professional evaluation of your manuscript, write to Manuscript Reading Service, c/o The Writers Guild of Alberta, 11759 Groat Road NW, Edmonton, AB T5M 3K6. Send only photocopies of manuscripts, typed and double-spaced. Include a cover letter with the following: contact information, page/word count, genre, and any other pertinent information. The author’s name should not appear anywhere on the manuscript itself.
Please enclose a cheque or money order for the appropriate amount, made out to “Writers Guild of Alberta” and clearly marked Manuscript Reading Service. No manuscript will be read unless it is accompanied by payment. Depending on the availability of suitable readers, the service typically takes six to eight weeks.

Note: The Writers Guild of Alberta assumes no responsibility for the safety of the manuscripts sent for this service. The Guild takes reasonable care and attention, but writers are advised to keep a copy of manuscripts when sending them through the mail. The Guild uses regular mail service for this program. The Writers Guild reserves the right to refuse any submission made to the Manuscript Reading Service.


When To Memorize A Speech

by Stephen Boyd February 28, 2005
Memorizing a speech creates many challenges--having a memory block, sounding mechanical in delivery, and lacking rapport with the audience, to name a few. Besides, memorizing a speech simply takes too much time. Thus I recommend: do not memorize a speech!
However, as is the case with most general rules, there are exceptions. That is true about memorization connected to a speech. There are certain parts of a speech that will make you more effective if they are memorized.

Memorize the opening lines of your presentation. This will get you off to a good start. Your language will be specific and concrete to insure that the audience will listen to you. When you get off to a good start, your nervousness lessens and you are on your way to a successful presentation.

Memorize a joke or humorous story you are going to tell. Reading a joke to an audience just does not work. You need to be able to interact with the audience nonverbally as you tell something you hope they think is funny. What you can do with a short piece of material such as a joke is to memorize it and then practice it until it does not sound memorized.

In a persuasive speech, memorize the move to action step. You should know exactly what you want your audience to do as a result of your presentation. In fact, end with "What I want you to do as a result of my presentation is…." Know those words by heart. You will have confidence in your conclusion and will make eye contact with your audience as you deliver this final line.
Sometimes you should memorize transitions. If you have an abrupt change of direction in the middle of your presentation, you might choose to memorize the transition leading to your next point. Thus the audience will receive proper direction and not be confused. For example, in a speech on oral style, I might say, "We must realize that words don’t mean--only people who use them." Each word counts; I would memorize it.

Only under rare circumstances do I recommend memorizing any part of a speech; the above suggestions, however, should make you aware of possibilities for enhancing your effectiveness as a speaker.