Extemporaneous Speaking

Overview:

Students in this event prepare for competition by analyzing the news and spending months creating files with thousands of articles on potential topics. Only 30 minutes prior to speaking they draw 3-5 topics from an envelope and choose one as the question they will answer in their speech. They then use their files to quickly build an outline that typically includes an intro, 3 elaborated internal points with properly cited sources, and a conclusion. They may have a few minutes to practice delivering their speech by "speaking" their speech silently before their name is called and they go to their assigned room and speak to the judge. As a judge you will rank them from first to last.

How to Judge

Instructions from the National Speech & Debate Association

Questions to Consider

As you rank students from first to last, consider all elements of their performances. Using the questions to the left can assist you in writing helpful ballot comments and accurately ranking a very competitive room of extemporaneous speeches.


International and Domestic:

Extemporaneous speaking typically has two categories that students may choose to enter. There is International Extemp which focuses on issues in various countries around the world, and Domestic Extemp which is based upon United States issues.


International

Domestic

Time Signals

Many speakers will ask for you to give them a time signal countdown as their 7 minutes elapses. Many ask for "5 down" or "3 down" and "a fist at grace." The best technique is to set your phone timer (or one of the timers shown below) to count down from 7. Time begins when they speak the first word. You hold up fingers for the time remaining. (as pictured in the video) and make a fist at zero. At 0 minutes remaining the speaker has 30 seconds to finish. It is wise to consult with the tournament or check your ballot about rules regarding time.

Helpful Tools:

Online Timer

Grab this helpful tool to keep track of time.

This well--researched chart will help you to consider the quality of sources used in each speech.