Limited Preparation Events

About Limited Preparation Events

Limited Preparation Events assess a student's ability to quickly analyze a topic, develop a thesis, and prepare supporting materials under pressure. Speakers start their rounds with no prior knowledge of the topic, and then quickly draft and perform a speech on the spot.

Extemporaneous

Extemporaneous speakers are given a prompt and 30 minutes to research and develop their speech. Competitors then deliver a 7-minute speech on their topic. This event requires competitors to stay informed about current events or social issues both domestically and around the world—the prompts will usually be niche and require more than just a cursory internet search. Whether it is keeping up with the U.S. annual inflation rate or the Russo-Ukrainian War, extemp speakers develop fast critical thinking, logical argumentation skills, and a greater awareness of the world around them.

Sample Speech

Impromptu

Impromptu Impromptu speakers are given three prompts to choose from—usually, these prompts are proverbs or maxims making broad statements about life. Competitors are then given 2 minutes to prepare a 5-minute speech on the topic. Speakers are expected to develop their own interpretation of the quotation and then defend that interpretation with supporting examples or evidence without outside aid.

Speech Sample