This document provides an overview of impromptu speeches. It defines impromptu speeches as presentations with little to no preparation time that are often informal. The document then outlines key features of impromptu speeches such as requiring quick thinking. It provides guidance on anticipating impromptu speaking situations and using simple organizational patterns. Examples of organizational patterns discussed include past, present, future and stating a claim and providing evidence to support it. The document emphasizes using thought speed during the limited preparation time and recommends practicing impromptu speaking.

1. Chapter 8.1
Impromptu Speeches
Copyright © 2022 W. W. Norton & Company

2. Introduction
• Impromptu speeches are presentations for which a speaker has
little or no preparation or practice time
• There are very common and are often so informal and casual
you may not recognize them as a presentation
2

3. Key Features
• Impromptu speeches require quick thinking
• Impromptu speeches can significantly enhance your credibility
• Impromptu speeches don’t need to be polished or perfect, but they
should be personal
3

4. A Brief Guide to Impromptu Speaking
• Consider the rhetorical situation
• Anticipate impromptu speaking situations
• Apply a ready-to-use organizational pattern
• Use your thought speed
4

5. Consider the Rhetorical Situation
• Occasion: Impromptu speaking occurs in response to an on-the-
spot prompt or question from someone
• Speaker: Consider your speaking strengths and utilize them
• Audience: Use your senses and your judgment to observe and
listen to them carefully before and while you are speaking, and try
to adapt to their feedback
• Purpose: Determine the purpose of the speech immediately
• Content: Spend a few seconds before speaking to identify key
points and supporting material and organize them simply
• Delivery: Maintain frequent eye contact with your listeners and
adopt a relaxed, open posture
5

6. Anticipate Impromptu Speaking Situations
• In some rhetorical situations, you might know in advance that you
could be called on to speak impromptu
• Be ready to talk about ideas and information you already know
about the topic, along with facts, examples, stories, memorized
quotations, or other supporting materials you can use
• A couple of examples and a good story may be enough to
support your central idea in an impromptu speech
6

7. Apply a Ready-to-Use Organizational Pattern
• A clear, easy-to-follow organization is indispensable to an effective
impromptu speech
• Consider one of the following simple organizational patterns
• Past, Present, Future: This pattern uses time arrangement as its
organizing principle
• Me, My Friend, and You: In this pattern, you begin by explaining
how the topic affects or has affected you and another person
and conclude with how it can affect your audience
• State It, Prove It, Relate It, Conclude It: In this pattern, you state
your claim, provide evidence that justifies the claim, state
examples demonstrating the relevance of this claim to the
audience, and explain why listeners should believe this claim 7

8. Use Your Thought Speed
• In most cases, though, you will have only a few seconds to prepare
an impromptu speech
• Manage this time by taking advantage of your thought speed
8

9. Keep in Mind . . .
• There Is No Time for Anxiety: While delivering an impromptu
speech, there is almost no time for speaking anxiety
• Buy Extra Time: Stretch the little thinking time you have by
pausing thoughtfully and by rephrasing questions and statements
• Use All-Purpose Quotations and Stories: Try memorizing a few all-
purpose quotations and stories you can apply to almost any
speaking situation, as they make you sound intelligent and also
give you a little extra time to think about what you want to say
• Practice Impromptu Speaking: When you are alone, practice
impromptu speaking on random topics to get comfortable with
the process
9

10. Credits
This concludes the Lecture PowerPoint presentation for Chapter 8.1.
For more resources, please visit The Norton Field Guide to Speaking:
http://digital.wwnorton.com/nfgspeaking.
Copyright © 2022 W. W. Norton & Company