Extemporaneous speaking
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Extemporaneous speaking, also known as "Extemp," is an event in high school and college debate in which students speak persuasively about current events. In Extemp, a speaker chooses a question out of three offered, then prepares for thirty minutes with the use of previously prepared articles from magazines, journals and newspapers before speaking for seven minutes on the topic.
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[edit] Basic Information and Format
The actual speech is delivered without the aid of notes and, at top levels, is a smooth, dynamic peformance that incorporates research, background knowledge, humor and opinion. A successful extemp speech has an introduction that catches the listener's attention, introduces the theme of the speech, and answers the question through three, or sometimes two, areas of analysis which develop an answer to the question. The preview of the three or two areas of analysis to come is called the "menu". The conclusion summarizes the speech and ties everything together, relating back to the introduction and body of the speech.
Debate and public speaking (collectively called "Forensics") are generally stratified into novice, or beginning and varsity, or experienced, levels. A varsity level extemper is expected to cite anywhere from five to ten sources within the speech to substantiate the credibility of the analysis and demonstrate ample preparation. References are often referred to as a "cite" or "citation." Quality sources include newspapers like the New York Times and Christian Science Monitor, magazines like the Economist and Foreign Policy and journals like the Fletcher Forum on World Affairs and Foreign Affairs. Also, on a speech dealing with a certain region's issues, say Africa or the Middle East, it is good to include regional sources as well.
During the speech, competitors are evaluated by way of comparison to the other speakers in a 'round' of competition. Generally, there are five to eight competitors in a given round. Judges give speakers time signals to help them pace their presentations and in most tournaments, judges are permitted to allow a 30-second grace period; the normal maximum time for a speech is therefore seven and a half minutes. Judges rank all students in a room in order, with one being the best and the worst speaker ranked last (sixth, for example in a round of six competitors).
The National Forensics League (NFL) and the National Catholic Forensics League (CFL) host most Extemp tournaments. Both leagues have a national tournament at the end of every year, with the NFL tournament drawing a larger number of competitors. Other good national extemp tournaments include the MBA (Mongomery Bell Academy) Round Robin, Harvard University Invitational, Princeton Classic, the Crestian Classic at Pine Crest High School and the Barkley Forum at Emory University.
Currently, there are many top extempers in High School throughout the United States.
[edit] The Different Types of Extemp
Most high school level districts offer two different kinds of Extemp Speaking. Normally, those are FX (or Foreign Extemp or IX) and DX (or Domestic Extemp USX). Both follow the same format but have questions concentrated on either foreign or domestic political/economic topics. Some states, like Pennsylvania, offer a different event called Extemp Commentary. In Extemp Commentary the speaker, seated behind a desk, gives a five-minute speech about a topic rather than about a question.
In college forensics, as well as at a number of large tournaments like the Barkley Forum at Emory University, the Harvard Invitational and the NCFL National Championship, there is only one mixed category for Extemporaneous Speaking, referred to as simply 'Extemp' (with the event code 'EX'). Mixed extemp can prove more challenging, calling upon a speaker's broad awareness of possible topics ranging for questions about American culture to foreign policy or obscure international economic issues.
[edit] The Extemp Speech Structure
Extemporaneous Speaking, both at the high school and college level, is highly structured and many of the top speakers adhere to some variation on the customary structure. Most speakers choose to answer their questions in either two or three 'points' or areas of consideration. The most common approach is the three-point method.
Extemp speeches require an introduction and a conclusion. Top speakers are good at bridging the introduction with the conclusion and referencing that theme continually throughout the speech. Introductions are often metaphorical and speakers commonly use historical anecdotes, humor and literature, among other themes. Some criticize Extemp for the conformity displayed by winning competitors. There is more individuality and creativity, though, at the top levels of competition. This echelon would include top national invitational tournaments at the high school level like the Barkley Forum at Emory, Harvard, MBA Round Robin in Tennessee and the crown prizes, championships at CFL and NFL Nationals.
A common speech structure is described below.
Introduction
- Attention Getter - This should be something fun, uplifting, funny or interesting. This is the first thing a judge will hear and is considered by many the most important part of the speech. This step should introduce the listener to the topic by way of direct discussion of the top or by crafting a metaphor to the question chosen by the speaker.
- Link - A description of how the attention getter relates to the actual topic (for example, a speaker might describe how the movie "The Godfather" applies to a topic like American foreign policy).
- Significance Statement - A sentence justifying the importance and relevance of the chosen topic.
- Question - A word-for-word recitation of the question (topic) as selected (e.g. "Is Pakistani President Musharraf doing all he can to fight extremism in his country?")
- Definition - A definition of any vague words that are critical to your argument (e.g. "extremism")
- Answer - A summary of the position to be taken on the issue.
- Preview - A preview of the body areas of the speech. Each point should be a short declarative sentence. ("First, Brazil's economic performance will outweigh the alleged corruption.")
Body
It is common that Extemporaneous speeches will have good deal of structure. One of the most frequently employed speech structures will accommodate three contentions or points, each containing two or three sub-points. A popular and easy to follow method of composing contentions includes the three sub-points: Theory, Application and Case Study.
Example
In this example, the first point is illustrated in detail.
Question: Will Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi win his campaign for re-election? Answer: Yes, because he is seen as an effector of necessary reform.
First Point - Koizumi is placing emphasis on the privatization of the Japanese Postal System
Theory - When a candidate focuses their energies on a limited issue that the public supports, they have a greater chance for success.
Application - While Koizumi's approval rating often dips below 50%, his pledge to privatize the Postal System keeps him more popular than any other person or party
Case Study - An Economist article date June 9th, 2005 notes that The Japanese Postal system currently sits at ¥386 trillion ($3.6 trillion) in assets, making it the world's biggest financial institution. It continues to explain that Mr. Koizumi is now close to getting a vote on a bill that will—eventually—turn it over to the private sector.
Impact - Because Prime Minister Koizumi will so effectively reform the postal service he will be seen as an effector of reform which will easily win him the re-election.
Second Point
Theory Application Case Study Impact
Third Point
Theory Application Case Study Impact
Conclusion
The conclusion is an opportunity to recap the ideas discussed in the speech and contains many elements of the introduction. A conclusion may look like this:
- Question - A word-for-word restatement of the question.
- Answer - A review of the answer and points discussed.
- Tie to Introduction/Conclusion - This should be along the same lines as the opening attention getter. The same 'vehicle' or theme (for example, an anecdote about Margaret Thatcher) is employed to conclude the speech as was used initially to introduce it. A clever closing line is common place and many strong competitors will remind the judge of the question, while simultaneously referencing the theme discussed in the introduction and conclusion.
