Thinking on your own feet

Chapter 12.

Thinking on your own feet

• Being able to organize one’s own idea quickly & speak about a subject without advance time to prepare.

• Impromptu speech. • When do we make impromptu speech?• Key to make impromptu speech:

To practice giving extended responses to questions.

Respond to Question

• (p.210) • Practice giving an answer to a question. • Try to elaborate your response by anticipating

what the listener might want to know and providing the information.

Impromptu Speech

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Impromptu Speech

• An impromptu speech will unnerve even the best public speaker. One of the most daunting experiences a person can face is the request to deliver a speech without notice.

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impromptuspeech.htmhttp://www.creativekeys.net/PowerfulPresentations/article1015.html

Preparing for the Impromptu Speech

• To be well-informed about news events.• To organize thoughts and opinions quickly and

systematically. • To be familiar with different organization

patterns.

Organizing the Impromptu Speech

• Make your speech by following a certain pattern is the easiest and the quickest way for you to respond to any topic spontaneously.

• (p.212)• Past-present-future.• Time.• Problem-Solution.• Location.• Cause-Effect or Effect-Cause.• Related Subtopics.• Advantage-Disadvantage .

• Speech Topic• INTRODUCTION

Specific Purpose Statement: ______________• BODY

– Point 1: _______________________________ Support 1: ____________________________Support 2: ____________________________ Support 3: ____________________________ Short Summary of point 1:

– Point 2: _______________________________ Support 1: ____________________________ Support 2: ____________________________ Support 3: ____________________________ Short Summary of point 2:

– Point 3: _______________________________Support 1: ____________________________ Support 2: ____________________________ Support 3: ____________________________ Short Summary of point 3:

• CONCLUSIONSummarize why your answer is the best: __________

Questions you may ask…

• What to talk about and how? • Any tip to avoid panic and embarrassment?• What if you just draw a blank on the stage?

Step 1.

• Write down what first comes up in your mind.• A rhetorical question

A valueA quotationA practical exampleA solution for a problemA challenge for your class mates

• That first idea leads you to a specific speech statement - your thesis - to the point you want to make.

Step 2.

• Provide two or three points that supports your statement or thesis.

• ReasonsFactsStatisticsWays how-to-do-itPersonal experiences or solutions

Step 3.

• Provide couples of supports for each point. Two is okay. Three is best

• Bottom-line: The supports have to prove the points, and the points have to prove the statement of your impromptu speech topics.

Tips to Avoid Panic and Embarrassment

• Grab a pen and a piece of paper.• Jot down interesting or significant points.• Hijack the topic.• Begin with your introductory sentence,

elaborate, then start working your way to your ending sentence.

• As you deliver your speech, concentrate on pronunciation and tone. Intelligibility

Complete structure

What If You Draw a Blank• Pretend like you're pausing on purpose.

– Walk back and forth slowly, as if you're letting your last point sink in.

• If you need more time to think, you may want to ask the audience a question. – "Do you have any questions," or "Can everyone hear me okay?"

• If you still can't think of what to say, make up a reason to pause the speech. – "I'm sorry, but my throat is very dry. Can I please get a glass of

water?”

• There is always a joker or popular person who will stand out in the crowd. Stare at someone and try to draw a response from him or her while you think.

For your speech…

• You will give a 3 minute impromptu speech. • Your topic will be assigned randomly be drawing lots. • You may jot down notes for yourself on a small piece

of paper in the 6 minute preparation period, but you may not write out your speech.

• You may start with a one sentence attention-getter and move quickly into the main point. You might preview 2 or 3 of your main points. If you wish, you may draw a quick visual aid too.

• You would be assigned as an anonymous evaluator for two speakers. You need to provide detailed evaluations (suggestions, comments, critiques) for them, and to score them based on your judgment.

• Also, evaluate your own performance.