Impromptu Presentation

Presented by:
Shivani thakur
H.(B.Tech.)-2010-02-22
 What is impromptu presentation?

• A speech & debate consolation event that involves a five to eight

minute speech with a characteristically short preparation time of 1
to 3 minutes.
• You may be called on in class or at work to answer a question or
share an opinion.
• You may be inspired to speak at a public meeting, religious
gathering, or celebration.
• Usually made at the end of a discussion or meeting (in school or any
organization)
• Also popular as one evaluation step in the recruiting process in
large corporations; the applicant is observed participating in or
conducting a meeting and is then asked to give an impromptu
presentation to summarize the meeting
 3 main points for a good impromptu presentation

1. Stick to the basics.

 Refer a date, a person or a place, set your subject
into this context.
Keep topic to main points. Ensure that each of
them is self-standing.
Your speech's conclusion should bring everything
together–wrap up, re-define, re- emphasise and
confirm.
2. Build understanding.
Don't leave your audience in the dark. If you want
them to understand something then spell it out.
3. Pace and pauses.
Be alert to your pace and pauses..With a slower
delivery pace you can aim for your audience to
reflect on your words and be prepared for your
next point.
 How one can deliver a successful impromptu speech?

Anticipate the impromptu speaking

- Listening to others’ remarks will enable you to build
and form your presentation.
Have a Ready-to-Use Organizational Pattern
- Try to come up with your main points or at least a
central idea that you would like to focus on before you
begin.
Manage Your Time
- Think ahead to your next point while you are speaking
because you can think faster than you can speak.
- Buy some time to think about what you will be
speaking about.
-Pausing sounds professional and gives a moment to
think.
-Paraphrase or restate the question.
Try to be brief
• You didn’t have long to prepare, so your audience won’t expect a long
speech.
Don’t apologize
• You might bring attention to something that the audience didn’t
notice and it can also damage your credibility. Just “go with the flow!”
Have a Positive Attitude
• Try to enjoy the experience because your audience knows that you
haven’t had long to “perfect” your speech.
Practice Impromptu Speaking
• Practice impromptu speaking about some general topics that may
come up in conversation so that you will already have an idea of what
you may like to say.
Be Passionate
• Use your knowledge and interest in the topic to show the audience
how passionate you are.
 Impromptu presentation
 2 Messages in every Speech:
– Message delivered by speaker
– Message received by listener

– Goal of Speaker—intended
message is clearly communicated

– How message is received by

audience:
– Depends on Verbal Message
(what speaker says)
– Depends on Non-Verbal
Message (how it is said)
 Organize the message
• Identify Purpose and Goal
– Why a speech?
– What do you hope to accomplish?
– Inform? Persuade? Instruct?

• Identify Central Idea

– Must be relevant to audience: Why should they listen?
– Not overly broad
 Select purpose & central idea
• Choose 2-3 Points-
 Reinforce your Central Idea
 Highlight Central Idea through Examples
• Plan Intro & Conclusion
 Intro audience to topic
 Reiterate Central Idea at end
 EASY TO OVERLOOK CONCLUSION
• Example- Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that
online voting should not be approved.
• Central Idea: We should not approve online voting because
it will increase voter fraud and disfranchise voters without
Internet access.
Scripting Body of Speech

• Choose 2-3 Main Points

• Balance Main Points

• Distinguish Sub-points

• Use Stories & Examples

 Scripting body
• Chronological
– Narrate a sequence of events, explain a process

• Spatial
– Follow a directional pattern--top to bottom, left to right

• Causal or Problem-Solution
– Shows a cause-effect relationship or issue-resolution

• Topical
– Divides into sub-topics
 Transitions

• Show relationship between language,

cue audience and enhance flow of
speech
• First, second, third…
• Now that you understand the problem,
I want to tell you about a solution…
• In contrast to…; Similar to the first
point…
• Maybe you are wondering….
• The key to this point is…
• The bottom line is…
 Plan Introduction & Conclusion
• Introduction
– Get Attention!
– State your purpose
– Relate to your audience
– Establish credibility
• Preview your main points
• Conclusion
– Cue the end
– Review your main points or central idea
– Vivid ending
 Final Tips on Delivery of impromptu
presentation
• Don’t rush your
introduction
• Make eye contact with
your audience before you
begin to speak
• Smile, look happy to be
here
• Pause at transitions
Tips to Avoid Panic and Embarrassment
 Grab a pen and a piece of paper & list
down interesting or significant points.
 Hijack the topic
 Begin with your introductory sentence,
elaborate, then start working your way
to your ending sentence.
 Concentrate on pronunciation and
tone.  intelligibility
What If You Draw a Blank
 Pretend like you're pausing on purpose
 Ask the audience a question
 References
 Lucas, S.E. (2001) The Art of Public Speaking (pp. 302-
303) Nelson, P., Tits worth, S., & Pearson, J. (2007)
Public Speaking A Guide for the Engaged
Communicator

http://www.speech-topics-help.com/impromptu-speec
h-topics.html
 http://k6educators.about.com/cs/helpforteachers/a/i
mpromptuspeech.htm
 http://www.creativekeys.net/PowerfulPresentations/ar
ticle1015.html