Impromptu speaking

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Impromptu speaking is a speech and debate consolation event that involves a seven minute speech, with up to three of these seven minutes available for use as preparation time (known as prep time, or simply prep). The speaker receives a slip of paper, which provides three choices for their speech. The topics can be abstract or concrete nouns, people, political events or quotations. While the format is simple, it takes time to construct a speech in that time and talk on your feet. Mastery of this event is difficult, but many enjoy it, because one does not have to prepare for the event beforehand. Similar in theory to extemporaneous speaking, however unlike that category, impromptu speeches need not be factual and are indeed encouraged to be humorous. In some impromptu rounds, there is a "triad" prompt, in which the participant is given three key words to talk about and connect during the speech.

OHSSL Impromptu differs from the rules provided above in the fact that you are provided with seven minutes of time to divide at your discretion between prepping and speaking. Additionally, all topics are quotations--occasionally themed but generally random. Ohio Impromptu is also more factual and less humour based, resembling extemp. Analysis of quotations typically follows a general structure of:

I. Intro, Statement of Quotation, Thesis

II. First contention

III. Second contention

IV. Third contention (optional and time permitting)

V. Conclusion

Experienced speakers usually divide the prep and speaking time at a 1:6 ratio.

Not all state competitions, however, follow the same rules for impromptu. In Indiana, for instance, the event is not a consolation event. A speaker will walk into his or her speaking room and receive the topic from the judge. The speaker then has 30 seconds to prepare a speech that lasts up to 5 minutes. In the three preliminary rounds, a speaker generally receives a word, a quotation, and a current event.