Impromptu
In an impromptu speech a student speaks on a randomly drawn prompt for a maximum of 5 minutes while having two minutes to prepare. The students picks their topic among the three topics drawn at the beginning of their prep time.
No note cards are allowed to be used while speaking.
The prompts may be anything from single words or ideas to quotes or maxims.
Examples of students giving an Impromtu speech in Stoa are given at the bottom of this page.
Click below to see the official Stoa rules and ballot for 2022-2023:
Rules for Impromptu for 2023-2024
Ballot for Impromptu for 2023-2024
Helpful Tips about How to Generally Structure Your Impromptu Speech by Steve Barth:
The above video contains general information on how to structure a speech. The gentleman giving the speech is a coach for a different league but gives very good information. Below are a few things to add:
The conclusion can also contain a recap of the road map and at the very end ties back into the introduction.
The examples of the written speeches used is an event that Stoa does not offer but is 100% applicable.
Even though impromptu is a limited preparation event, this is the general thought process you should go through when thinking through an impromptu speech.
Video about How to Do Impromptu Speaking
The above video is about the Impromtu speaking event in another league. Below are some of the corrections to the video in light of the Stoa rules:
The grace period is only 15 seconds; not 30 seconds. Really you should be through speaking at 10 minutes. 15 seconds is the grace period for the judge to turn off the timer.
Stoa gives the competitor 2 minutes to prepare the speech instead of 30 seconds.
In Stoa, the competitor selects 3 separate slips of paper, each with a single topic. The competitor selects one to speak on and returns the remaining two to the judges table.
The conclusion can also contain a review of the road map and then tie into the introduction.
EXAMPLES OF A STOA IMPROMPTU SPEECH