How to Give an Extemporaneous Speech

An extemporaneous speech is a speech which is created quickly and is spoken without written notes and without being memorized. For an extemporaneous speech, a speaker has a very short amount of time to create, practice and deliver their speech.

Instructions

1. Once you learn what the topic of your extemporaneous speech is, think your topic through. Think of some main points which you need to address in your speech. Focus on a few aspects which you can talk about, because within the short amount of time you'll have to prepare, you may not be able to focus on many topics.

2. Think about the three parts of your speech: introduction, body and conclusion. For your introduction, think of something that will grab the audience's attention. Whether you use a quote, joke, or attention-grabbing statement, you'll need to grab your audience's attention at the beginning of your extemporaneous speech.

3. Think about the body of your speech. This is where you will include the main points of your extemporaneous speech. Choose about three main points to discuss during your extemporaneous speech. Choosing fewer topics for your extemporaneous speech may not give you enough material to discuss, and choosing more topics may become distracting or give you too much material to discuss.

4. Piece together the conclusion of your extemporaneous speech. If you can, summarize your points. This way, even if your audience did not hear everything that you said during your extemporaneous speech, they can at least retain the key points which you will reiterate at the end of your speech. At the end, conclude with a solid, definitive conclusion.

5. Do any necessary research about your topic. Focus only on your intended topics and do not get distracted. Write down key points so you can reference them one last time before your speech begins.

6. If you have time, practice your speech. Practicing will make you more comfortable with the timing and flow of your extemporaneous speech. Practice your speech and see how long it lasts. Have you used enough time? Did you use more time than was allotted for your extemporaneous speech? Public speaking is a challenge, but with some practice and confidence, you can do it.

7. Before your speech begins, breathe deeply and try to relax. Make sure that you are prepared to speak to your audience. Make an effort not to fidget while you speak. If you begin to lose your train of thought while speaking, take a deep breath and continue to the best of your ability. When in doubt, talk about something on topic. Avoid long silences if possible, because silence during an extemporaneous speech can become awkward.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• How to Be Good At Public Speaking