What is an informative speech?

An informative speech uses descriptions, demonstrations, and strong

detail to explain a person, place, or subject. An informative speech
makes a complex topic easier to understand and focuses on delivering
information, rather than providing a persuasive argument.

Types of informative speeches

The most common types of informative speeches are definition,
explanation, description, and demonstration.

A definition speech explains a concept, theory, or philosophy about

which the audience knows little. The purpose of the speech is to
inform the audience so they understand the main aspects of the
subject matter.

An explanatory speech presents information on the state of a given

topic. The purpose is to provide a specific viewpoint on the chosen
subject. Speakers typically incorporate a visual of data and/or
statistics.

The speaker of a descriptive speech provides audiences with a

detailed and vivid description of an activity, person, place, or object
using elaborate imagery to make the subject matter memorable.

A demonstrative speech explains how to perform a particular task or

carry out a process. These speeches often demonstrate the following:

 How to do something
 How to make something
  How to fix something
 How something works

How to write an informative speech

Regardless of the type, every informative speech should include an
introduction, a hook, background information, a thesis, the main
points, and a conclusion.

Introduction

An attention grabber or hook draws in the audience and sets the

tone for the speech. The technique the speaker uses should reflect
the subject matter in some way (i.e., if the topic is serious in nature, do
not open with a joke). Therefore, when choosing an attention grabber,
consider the following:

 What’s the topic of the speech?

 What’s the occasion?
 Who’s the audience?
 What’s the purpose of the speech?

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What is a persuasive speech?
In a persuasive speech, the speaker aims to convince the audience to
accept a particular perspective on a person, place, object, idea, etc.
The speaker strives to cause the audience to accept the point of view
presented in the speech.

The success of a persuasive speech often relies on the speaker’s use

of ethos, pathos, and logos.
Ethos is the speaker’s credibility. Audiences are more likely to accept
an argument if they find the speaker trustworthy. To establish
credibility during a persuasive speech, speakers can do the following:

 Use familiar language.

 Select examples that connect to the specific audience.
 Utilize credible and well-known sources.
 Logically structure the speech in an audience-friendly way.
 Use appropriate eye contact, volume, pacing, and inflection.
Pathos appeals to the audience’s emotions. Speakers who create an
emotional bond with their audience are typically more convincing.
Tapping into the audience’s emotions can be accomplished through
the following:

 Select evidence that can elicit an emotional response.

 Use emotionally-charged words. (The city has a problem… vs.
The city has a disease…)
 Incorporate analogies and metaphors that connect to a specific
emotion to draw a parallel between the reference and topic.
 Utilize vivid imagery and sensory words, allowing the audience to
visualize the information.
 Employ an appropriate tone, inflection, and pace to reflect the
emotion.
Logos appeals to the audience’s logic by offering supporting
evidence. Speakers can improve their logical appeal in the following
ways:

 Use comprehensive evidence the audience can understand.

 Confirm the evidence logically supports the argument’s claims
and stems from credible sources.
 Ensure that evidence is specific and avoid any vague or
questionable information.

Types of persuasive speeches

The three main types of persuasive speeches are factual, value, and
policy.

A factual persuasive speech focuses solely on factual information to

prove the existence or absence of something through substantial
proof. This is the only type of persuasive speech that exclusively uses
objective information rather than subjective. As such, the argument
does not rely on the speaker’s interpretation of the information.
Essentially, a factual persuasive speech includes historical
controversy, a question of current existence, or a prediction:

 Historical controversy concerns whether an event happened or

whether an object actually existed.
 Questions of current existence involve the knowledge that
something is currently happening.
 Predictions incorporate the analysis of patterns to convince the
audience that an event will happen again.
A value persuasive speech concerns the morality of a certain topic.
Speakers incorporate facts within these speeches; however, the
speaker’s interpretation of those facts creates the argument. These
speeches are highly subjective, so the argument cannot be proven to
be absolutely true or false.

A policy persuasive speech centers around the speaker’s support or

rejection of a public policy, rule, or law. Much like a value speech,
speakers provide evidence supporting their viewpoint; however, they
provide subjective conclusions based on the facts they provide.

How to write a persuasive speech

Incorporate the following steps when writing a persuasive speech:

Step 1 – Identify the type of persuasive speech (factual, value, or

policy) that will help accomplish the goal of the presentation.

Step 2 – Select a good persuasive speech topic to accomplish the

goal and choose a position.

Step 3 – Locate credible and reliable sources and identify evidence

in support of the topic/position. Revisit Step 2 if there is a lack of
relevant resources.

Step 4 – Identify the audience and understand their baseline attitude

about the topic.

Step 5 – When constructing an introduction, keep the following

questions in mind:

 What’s the topic of the speech?

 What’s the occasion?
 Who’s the audience?
  What’s the purpose of the speech?
Step 6 – Utilize the evidence within the previously identified sources
to construct the body of the speech. Keeping the audience in mind,
determine which pieces of evidence can best help develop the
argument. Discuss each point in detail, allowing the audience to
understand how the facts support the perspective.

Step 7 – Addressing counterarguments can help speakers build

their credibility, as it highlights their breadth of knowledge.

Step 8 – Conclude the speech with an overview of the central

purpose and how the main ideas identified in the body support the
overall argument.

Persuasive speech outline

One of the best ways to prepare a great persuasive speech is by
using an outline. When structuring an outline, include an introduction,
body, and conclusion:

1. Introduction
1. Attention Grabbers
1. Ask a question that allows the audience to respond
in a non-verbal way; ask a rhetorical question that
makes the audience think of the topic without
requiring a response.
2. Incorporate a well-known quote that introduces the
topic. Using the words of a celebrated individual gives
credibility and authority to the information in the
speech.
3. Offer a startling statement or information about the
topic, typically done using data or statistics.
4. Provide a brief anecdote or story that relates to the
topic.
 5. Starting a speech with a humorous statement often
makes the audience more comfortable with the
speaker.
2. Provide information on how the selected topic may impact
the audience.
3. Include any background information pertinent to the topic
that the audience needs to know to understand the speech
in its entirety.
4. Give the thesis statement in connection to the main topic
and identify the main ideas that will help accomplish the
central purpose.
2. Body
1. Support 1
1. Evidence 1
1. Identify evidence
2. Summarize its meaning
3. Explain how it helps prove the support/main
claim
2. Evidence 2
1. Identify evidence
2. Summarize its meaning
3. Explain how it helps prove the support/main
claim
3. Evidence 3 (Continue as needed)
4. Transition
2. Support 2
1. Evidence 1
1. Identify evidence
2. Summarize its meaning
3. Explain how it helps prove the support/main
claim
2. Evidence 2
1. Identify evidence
2. Summarize its meaning
3. Explain how it helps prove the support/main
claim
3. Evidence 3 (Continue as needed)
 4. Transition
3. Support 3 (Continue as needed)
3. Conclusion
1. Restate thesis
2. Review main supports
3. Concluding statement
1. Give the audience a call to action to do something
specific.
2. Identify the overall importance of the topic and
position.

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Entertaining speech

Entertaining speeches aim to amuse a crowd of people. Often less formal and shorter than traditional
speeches, entertaining speeches communicate emotions rather than giving the audience facts and
figures. Rather, they often include humor or funny stories. You can often find entertaining speeches at a
birthday party or a wedding. Some examples of entertaining speeches include a best man's speech at a
wedding or a principal's speech before a school talent show.

How to Write an Entertaining Speech Step by Step

As we’ve mentioned, entertaining speeches aren’t necessarily funny. You may give an
entertaining speech at a wedding, birthday party, or Christmas party — these speeches are called
special-occasion speeches.

But this kind of speech is very specific — every company and group of friends needs an
individual approach. That’s why we’ll give you recommendations on how to write an
entertaining speech for an unknown audience, for example, for a contest.

1. Pick the topic

If the topic isn’t specified, you may pick it by yourself. We recommend you to choose a theme
that is related somehow to your experience and worldview. In such a manner, you’ll sound more
persuasive and confident.

2. Generate and select the best ideas

Brainstorming works well even if you don’t have a team, but work on your own. Think about all
the associations related to your topic. Read a few articles, or watch inspirational movies. Write
down all your ideas (even the weirdest) and then choose the best ones.

3. Make an outline

Your entertaining speech, like an essay, should be well structured. Compose an outline and think
about smooth transitions between different parts of your entertaining speech.

4. Think of examples

Examples make any speech more understandable and exciting. Think about real-life stories or
episodes from popular movies/books that may help to illustrate your speech.

5. Write jokes and test them

Entertainment isn’t only about laughter; entertaining speeches are mostly aimed at amusing your
audience. And jokes are an effective way to make someone smile. Before giving a speech, we
recommend you to test your jokes and make sure that they are fun not only for you.

6. Practice and note the time

Public speeches have time limits — you can’t talk forever. Read your speech out loud and write
down the time. Make sure that you don’t go beyond the specified limits.

7. Mind your gestures and body language

Your speech might be brilliant, but you won’t be able to make a good impression if you don’t
control your body and gestures. Practice in front of the mirror and mind your gestures.

8. Use various intonations

Your voice is your main tool. Slow down, make emphasis on concrete phrases, or talk quietly —
every change in your intonation will attract the attention of your listeners.

9. Compose a motivating and memorable ending

Your audience will get a general impression from your speech, but the only thing that they
probably will remember is the ending. You have to do your best while composing your final
sentences.

10. Give a test speech

Even professionals rehearse before going on stage. Practice at home, with your friends, and in
front of the mirror to make sure that you’re ready for a bigger challenge.

How to Write an Entertaining Speech: Quick-Fire Tips

A good plan isn’t enough to write an impressive entertaining speech. You need some tips to
make it smooth and memorable. Below, you’ll find tips both about the writing process and public
speaking:

 Start with a greeting

An unusual greeting will grab the attention of your audience and make them interested. Instead
of a standard “Hello everyone,” you can say something unexpected or ask a question to make
contact with your listeners.

 Keep in mind your audience

Although you don’t know everyone in your audience personally, you are probably aware of some
basic characteristics — average age, interests, level of education, etc. You should understand that
entertaining speeches for college students, adolescents, and grown-ups are totally different.
Students won’t understand jokes about raising kids, while adults won’t get your superhero
movies quotations.

 Smile

This tip is basic, but amateur speakers frequently find it challenging. Smiling is an indispensable
part of your charisma. Remember that even though your listeners don’t know you as a person,
they can still see the difference between a sincere smile and a forced facial contortion. So, forget
about your worries and give your audience your best smile!

 Visual aids

Pictures are much easier to memorize than words. If you want to entertain your audience but also
teach them something at the same time, prepare a presentation for your speech.

 Be confident
Being confident is key to a successful speech. You should worry about how you speak, look, and
move before your performance. As soon as you walk on the stage — forget about your anxiety.
Be 100% confident about your words, clothes, and gestures. And you’ll rock it!

 Engage with the audience

Engaging with the audience is crucial for an entertaining speech. There are three basic methods
to build a connection with your listeners. The first and most classy technique is eye contact. You
can’t look at all the faces simultaneously, but you should never look at the ceiling or floor.
Imagine that you’re serving champagne to your listeners: focus on one guest, then move to the
next.

The second standard way to interact with your audience is to ask questions — rhetorical or real.
The third technique is to make your listeners do something, for example, raise hands or clap.
That will keep them awake!

 Forget about complex sentences

You’re not at an exam! Forget about complexity. Use simple words, expressions, and sentences.
Don’t make your audience google every single word you say.

 Adopt your speeches

When you’re giving a speech, you always need a back-up plan. If your audience seems bored —
add some humor. If your audience is eager for communication — don’t be afraid of asking some
extra questions.

 Keep an eye on time

Inspiration and adrenaline may take you far, but don’t forget that you have time limits. If you’re
bad at sensing the time, then you should take care of it before the presentation. You may wear a
watch or ask an assistant to give you a sign.

 Enjoy your speech

Sincerity is the key to the heart of your audience. Your entertaining speech is your opportunity to
share your emotions and worldview with the general public. It might be scary, but you’ll enjoy it
– we promise!

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memorized speaking is reciting a written message that the speaker has committed to
memory. Actors, of course, recite from memory whenever they perform from a script
in a stage play, television program, or movie. When it comes to speeches,
memorization can be useful when the message needs to be exact, and the speaker
doesn’t want to be confined by notes.

The advantage to memorization is that it enables the speaker to maintain eye contact
with the audience throughout the speech. Being free of notes means that you can
move freely around the stage and use your hands to make gestures. If your speech
uses presentation aids, this freedom is even more of an advantage.

Memorization, however, can be tricky. First, if you lose your place and start trying to
ad lib, the contrast in your style of delivery will alert your audience that something is
wrong. If you go completely blank during the presentation, it will be extremely
difficult to find your place and keep going. Obviously, memorizing a typical seven-
minute classroom speech takes a great deal of time and effort, and if you aren’t used
to memorizing, it is very difficult to pull off.

Chapter 32: Methods of Speech Delivery – Effective Professional Communication: A Rhetorical Approach
(usask.ca)

A memorized speech is also fully prepared in advance and one in which the speaker
does not use any notes. In the case of an occasion speech like a quick toast, a brief
dedication, or a short eulogy, word-for-word memorization might make sense. Usually,
though, it doesn’t involve committing each and every word to memory, Memorizing a
speech isn’t like memorizing a poem where you need to remember every word exactly
as written. Don’t memorize a manuscript! Work with your outline instead. Practice with
the outline until you can recall the content and order of your main points without effort.
Then it’s just a matter of practicing until you’re able to elaborate on your key points in a
natural and seamless manner. Ideally, a memorized speech will sound like an off-the-
cuff statement by someone who is a really eloquent speaker and an exceptionally
organized thinker!

The advantage of a memorized speech is that the speaker can fully face their audience
and make lots of eye contact. The problem with a memorized speech is that speakers
may get nervous and forget the parts they’ve memorized. Without any notes to lean on,
the speaker may hesitate and leave lots of dead air in the room while trying to recall
what was planned. Sometimes, the speaker can’t remember or find his or her place in
the speech and are forced to go get the notes or go back to the PowerPoint in some
capacity to try to trigger his or her memory. This can be an embarrassing and
uncomfortable moment for the speaker and the audience, and is a moment which could
be easily avoided by using a different speaking method.
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IMPROMPTU

The word impromptu means something done in the spur of the moment.
As the word impromptu implies, an impromptu or
extemporaneous speech is a type of speech a speaker delivers with little to
no prior preparation.

Here, someone assigns random Impromptu speech topics to speakers to

think over for a few seconds and come up with relevant content on it.

Impromptu speech topics are common during declamation contests,

debates, public speaking courses, panel discussions, school, group
discussions, and more. In debates, the Impromptu speech topics generator
is usually the argument the opponent raises.

Impromptu speaking is a huge part of communication since we don’t

have a speech structure while talking to our colleagues and friends.
Extemporaneous speech delivery is becoming more popular, so
understanding it and getting better will help you in different aspects of
life.

How to Present an Impromptu Speech: A Complete Guide to Ace Your Next Speech - Orai

TIPSZ
1. Hold it Together (Be Confident)
Impromptu speeches might happen suddenly for many
reasons, and often, you might find yourself in front of the
audience without even agreeing to it.

No matter what happens during the speech, you must

assure yourself that you’ll be alright. This means you
should look up, never avoid eye contact, and breathe
deeply. Thinking about something positive is a confidence
boost you might need to get through the speech.

2. Focus on Your Audience

When you’re starting your impromptu speech, keep in mind
that you’re not going against the audience, yet the
audience will be on your side.

Therefore, you should work with the audience and focus

your speech on something positive and helpful to the
audience.

The goal is to have the audience listen and understand

what you’re saying in your impromptu speech but also
respond to the things you’re saying. Being confident in
front of the audience is one thing you should do, while the
other is to focus on the audience and plan a structure
you’ll learn in the next tip.
3. Plan a Structure
Even though you might not be prepared for a speech, you
will still be able to quickly develop a speech structure in
your head as soon as you hear the topic, question, or
object you’re given to talk about.

Every speech structure should include three steps and the

speech can be structured around almost anything. The
most popular structures are:

 Past/present/future
 Cause/effect/remedy
 Before/the event/the result
Think of the structure as a guideline of your speech that
will help you get from start to finish as smoothly as
possible. Another thing to keep in mind is that you can tell
your structure/plan to your audience so they can easily
keep up with your speech and know what to expect from
it.

4. Don’t Ramble
When you come up with a quick structure for your
impromptu speech, you’re left to deliver the speech, but
one thing you should keep in mind is not to ramble.

Rambling won’t get you anywhere; you’ll feel unease, and

your audience won’t follow your speech easily.
Instead, it would help if you stuck to the “less is more”
saying, stick to the target, and keep things short and to
the point.

With a proper structure plan, you’ll have three key points

(no matter what they are), so by splitting your speech into
three sections, you’ll be able to judge how much time you
should spend talking about each section.

5. Stand Out
Many try to stand out by actions, gestures, and confidence
during their impromptu speech. While this is also
important, there’s something even more important.

The first and the last sentence are the most memorable.
It’s all about the primacy and recency, and most of the
audience will most likely remember the first and the last
thing you say.

Therefore, starting and finishing with powerful sentences

that go well with your given topic and are linked to the
message you deliver in the speech is super important as it
will have the biggest impact if properly executed.

6. Talk as if You Were Talking to a Friend

Talking in front of the audience can be scary, but without
preparation, talking in front of the audience can be even
scarier.
Instead of feeling the pressure, feeling uncomfortable, or
sweating buckets, you should go on with your impromptu
speech as if you were talking to a group of friends.

You don’t have to fake anything, as the audience will see

right through it. Instead, be yourself and try to do your
best as this will always provide a better result.

7. Tell a Relevant Story to Personalize Your

Speech
The great thing about impromptu speeches is that they
can go in your favor. If you don’t know what to talk about
or what to include in your speech, here’s one tip that can
help change the way you do your speech.

Try to think of a personal story that will be relevant to the

subject of your impromptu speech. This will give you a
topic to talk about, you won’t have to do any research or
try to come up with facts that you will have to somehow
back up, and your audience will love a personal story.

Personal stories are always easier to follow, and they’ll

always go down well with any audience. Another piece of
advice is to include a personal story in the middle section
of your speech, but you can place it somewhere near the
beginning of the speech.
8. Pay Attention to Your Voice Tone
When you take care of everything else before the speech
and during the speech itself, many speakers forget to
think of the voice tone.

There’s not much to overthink and you should speak

slowly. Rushing might get you near the end sooner, but
your speech won’t be a smooth ride.

Instead, take your time, focus on your breathing, rely on

pauses, and have an impact while you deliver the key
parts of the speech.

9. Make Sure to Follow Your Speech with

Confident Actions

Confident actions are the most powerful body language

actions that are not hard to get right, yet you might have
to remind yourself to be “presentable”.

Standing tall on both your feet, not slouching over,

keeping eye contact, using hand gestures, and avoiding
fiddling are some of the things that will make you look
confident.

Such confident actions will go well with your speech

structure, confident voice tone, and relaxed, personalized
speech.
Learning a couple of hand gestures will also put you at
ease as you won’t have to wonder what to do with your
hands during the speech.

10. Don’t Aim for Perfection

Every speaker wishes for their speech to be perfect, but
an impromptu speech is the worst time to expect a
perfect speech from yourself.

Therefore, it’s okay to lower the bar and focus on the

execution and let the main goal be the smooth flow.

Setting the bar too high will only put you under pressure.
In reality, most impromptu speeches happen due to
unpredicted reasons, so if you’re put under the spotlight
unwillingly and unprepared, the audience will notice, and
they’ll understand, so there’s nothing to be afraid of.

11. Practice Beforehand

You might not ever be prepared for a specific impromptu
speech, but if you’ve been put into the spotlight once, you
can be put under the spotlight again.

What you can do is practice quickly coming up with a

speech structure on any given topic. Even if you have only
a couple of minutes, you can develop a quick and concise
structure and rehearse it in your head or in front of a
mirror before you go in front of the audience.
And if you have a couple of hours, you can do a lot of
practicing and even go through all these tips and be fully
ready, no matter what the audience throws at you.

12. Use Humor to Break the Ice

No matter what the speech is about, you can always add a

bit of humor to it. Don’t overdo it, but even a tiny bit of
humor can help you make a better connection with your
audience, ensure they pay attention to what you’re saying,
and that they’re intrigued to hear what’s next.

Followed with a personalized story, you’ll have the

audience hooked up until the end of the speech.

Of course, humor should come naturally, and you shouldn’t

do it if you feel like you have to force it. But keep in mind
that humor can be a great ice breaker, so it’s never a bad
idea to keep it as a “secret weapon”.

13. The Meaningful Pause

Unfortunately, you’ll likely feel stuck or not know what to
say next during your impromptu speech.

Just the thought of this can paralyze many speakers who

are put under the spotlight. However, there’s a quick tip
you can use to turn the block in your head into an
advantage.
Instead of worrying if your audience noticed, try to “fake”
a meaningful pause whenever you’re feeling stuck. During
this pause, you can relax, and sooner than you know it,
you will think of something.

The best thing is, your audience will never notice that
“something’s wrong”, and yet this will also give them a
breather and help them continue following your speech.

14. Keep Things Short

Less is more, and during impromptu speeches that can go
extremely wrong, it’s better to cut your speech short and
yet deliver everything you believe is valuable to the
audience.

In other words, it’s better to regret not saying something

than to say too much and then be on the spot from where
you can’t turn back.

Also, keeping things short will help you stay in control of

your impromptu speech and even look a lot more confident
during your performance!

15. Try Turning the Impromptu Speech into

Q&A Session
Since most impromptu speeches happen unexpectedly,
not only will you have to come up with something from
nothing, but you’ll also have to give the audience
something you’re looking for.
Therefore, depending on the setting of your speech, you
might try and turn your impromptu speech into a Q&A
session, just like the journalistic interview type.

This will help you think less about what your whole
speech will look like and focus on things the audience
asks you in pieces.

You’ll still have full control over the answer, so turning a

speech into a Q&A session is never a bad idea.

15 Best Impromptu Speech Tips (With Examples) (rigorousthemes.com)

EXTEMPORANEOUS

Extemporaneous speaking is a fancy way of saying: delivering a well-prepared

speech. Extemporaneous speaking is not delivering a monologue or a memorized
speech. Public speaking students often fall into the trap of under-preparing and under-
practicing their speeches. This results in an, “Oh! no! I am not prepared and now I
must read this outline word-for-word and hope for the best.” However, the best does
not come to fruition and students that engage in this practice are disappointed when
they lose substantial points from their speech grade due to lack of preparation,
practice, and reading word-for-word from an outline. Just – don’t – do -it.

Here are a few ways you can engage in extemporaneous speaking:

 Know your speech topic

 Research your topic
 Create a timeline – research, writing, peer-review, practicing, editing,
practicing again
 Create note cards to guide your speech
 Practice, practice, practice
 Know the difference between a memorized speech/monologue and dialogue
 o connecting with your audience is key in extemporaneous speaking

Extemporaneous Speaking: The Basics – Public Speaking (maricopa.edu)

Step 1
Identify your topic and start brainstorming on topic details. If possible, choose a topic
with which you are familiar. If you have thirty minutes, spend the first ten minutes
brainstorming to think of everything you can about the subject in that time. For
example, if you want to persuade your audience to recycle, write down as many
reasons as you can think of to recycle. Jot down quick notes like "reduce pollution,"
"setting example for future generations," "conserve resources," "conserve land" and
"create new jobs." Write everything that comes to mind; you may later decide to
delete some ideas.

Step 2
Outline your speech. Start with the title, then list a few sentences for the introduction.
For example, write "This morning I had a soda, and I almost threw away the can. But
then I thought I should recycle." Then write what you will be talking about,
specifically "Everyone should recycle and today I'm going to tell you why." Use a
highlighter to stress your main point, "everyone should recycle."

Step 3
Create the body of your speech. Limit yourself to the most important points you want
to make and be sure they all relate directly to your subject as you do not have time to
go off topic. Choose a few notes from your initial list and further clarify them. For
example, write a paragraph about conserving land, another about reducing pollution
and a third about creating new jobs.

Step 4
Expand your main points. Take your three or four main topics and list a few
examples, quotes or statistics for each section. Provide three pieces of supportive
information for each of the three sections that are legitimate and backed by source.
For example,"recycling reduces air pollution because the production of glass releases
harmful gasses into the environment."

Step 5
Write your conclusion. Use only about two or thee minutes of your preparation time
to do this; conclusions don't need to be long. Restate your main arguments. End with
an anecdote, quote or call to action. For example, "I encourage you all to go home
tonight and gather up your old bottles to take to the recycling center tomorrow."

How to Write an Extemporaneous Speech - The Classroom

Because extemporaneous speeches are not read or memorized, the extemporaneous speaker needs to
stay in the moment and be able to “think on their feet” a process which can be stressful, but can also
allow for a high level of spontaneity, leading to a natural, conversational style. Because they are
composed almost entirely in the moment, extemporaneous speeches have a higher level of spontaneity.
However, because they require extensive research and preparation, they tend to have significantly more
depth, and therefore are generally the preferred method for speech delivery.

What Are the Elements of an Effective Extemporaneous Speech?

Speak About Something Worth Saying

The first element of an effective extemporaneous speech is having something to say that has meaning
for yourself and for your audience. Having an interesting topic alone isn’t enough.

2Without innovative ideas, up-to-date information, and thoughtful personal opinion, even the most
eloquent words coming out of your mouth won’t matter. When you’re preparing to deliver your speech
extemporaneously, it’s especially important that you think clearly and thoroughly about the content of
the message. Because you’ll be choosing your words in the moment, you will need to be an expert about
your message.

Speak with Sincerity

As an extemporaneous speaker, you’ll be expected to thoroughly believe in the message you’re

conveying to your audience. If you don’t believe in your message—if you’re not sincerely convinced that
your topic matters—your audience will quickly pick up on your lack of sincerity. Projecting insincerity is a
sure-fire way to lose your audience’s attention. Nothing is more unsettling to the extemporaneous
speaker than looking out at the audience and seeing a roomful of blank expressions. To help you
maintain your composure and continue to think on your feet throughout your speech, keep it real.
Believe in your topic.

Speak with Your Own Style

Speaking in a natural, conversational style means that you shouldn’t try to imitate the speaking style of
other speakers. Learn from other speakers. Observe what they do that works from them. Follow the
rules for preparing and delivering an effective extemporary speech. But, when it comes to style, figure
out how to express a style that’s authentic to you.

Practice and Rehearsal Tips

The following guidelines are tips for how to practice and rehearse your extemporaneous speech:

• Write an easy-to-follow speech outline that includes all of the essential elements of your speech.

• Create index cards to act as cues to keep you on track throughout your speech. (Alternatively, use the
note feature of your graphic technology.)

• Never read from your index cards unless you’re reading a direct quotation or a statistic.

• Rehearse with your graphic technology and/or other visual aids and coordinate them with your talk.

• Display images from your graphic technology and/or other visual aids only when you are talking about
them

. • Develop your conversational speaking style.

• Rehearse in front of others and solicit feedback.

• Record and listen to a timed version of your practice speech.

• Prepare for your entire speech.

Microsoft Word - Types_Section_01_Module03.docx (sagepub.com)

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