In what context do you imagine you will encounter impromptu speeches (or presentations) in the future?

Fundamentals of Public Speaking

Impromptu Speech Assignment Imagine attending a meeting where your company is hosting important stakeholders. You are extremely familiar with the topic of discussion, which is a project that you and your team has been working on for the last few months. You have planned and practiced your part of the presentation however, you must also answer an array of questions that the stakeholders may ask. This is just one example of the many impromptu, or unplanned presentations we are likely to encounter in our personal and professional lives. There is nothing like being put on the spot and feeling like you have had no time to prepare. However, with the right tools and communication strategies, AND a little bit of practice, you can be more prepared for these types of scenarios than you’d think. The purpose of this speech is to practice delivering impromptu presentations so that you can hone your delivery skills and build confidence to succeed in these types of presentations in the future. The context for this speech is: You have been asked to speak at Stony Brook University’s new student orientation. You are

one member of a panel of current Stony Brook students who will answer questions about your experience at the university, posed by incoming students.

You will have to respond to one question about your experience at as a Stony Brook student. You will not know the question until it is your turn to present. You might be thinking that means you don’t need to prepare ahead of time. Wrong! There are a number of things you can and should do to prepare for this presentation:

1. Remember why are you on this panel. You are a student at SBU and are being asked to speak about your experience as a college student. You are already an expert on this topic, so you can rest assured that you will not be asked a question that you don’t already know the answer to. None of these questions have a right or wrong answer. They are simply based on your experience. For example, one question might be: What do you like most about being a student at SBU?

2. You might not know the question but you do know the topic of discussion. To prepare for your question, spend some time reflecting on your experience as an SBU student so far. Here are some things to consider: likes; dislikes; expectations vs actual experience; athletics; student organizations; campus services; online courses; living arrangements; application process; etc. There is no need to go out and find/memorize information about Stony Brook. This is about your experience.

3. When you are asked the question, don’t jump right into your response. Take a few seconds to gather your thoughts, think about the one or two main point(s) you want to get across. How can you grab the audience’s attention or peak their interest in your first sentence? Begin your response, and remember to end with something memorable and uplifting. Perhaps you tie back to your opening line, offer them a call to action for the future, or find some point of connection between you and them.

4. Set the right emotional tone. This key to successful impromptu speeches. Keep in mind

COM 120: Fundamentals of Public Speaking

who is in the audience. You are talking to new SBU students. They are likely new to college life, nervous, excited, and look up to you. Think about what else you might be able to infer about them based on your own experience as a new SBU student. How can you use your delivery to help put them at ease and feel welcome? Rather than get lost in what you are trying to say, keep your focus on those incoming students in the audience and what they need most from you.

Length: 1 min 30 seconds – 2 minutes 30 seconds Personal Reflection: After you present your impromptu speech, you will write a 2-3 page (double-spaced) reflection on your speech. Please format this as you would a final paper, rather than just “filling in” your responses into a worksheet. In your reflection, you should address the questions listed below. Use specific examples from your speech to support your statements.

1. In what context do you imagine you will encounter impromptu speeches (or presentations) in the future? This could be in either your professional or personal life. Please share some examples.

2. What are two things that you did well and in the delivery (e.g., eye contact, posture,

facial expressions, tone of voice, etc.) of this speech? What are two things that you did well in terms of the content you shared?

3. Looking back, what could you have done to enhance the delivery of this speech? What could you have done to enhance the content of this speech?

4. What can you say about the organization of your speech? Did it follow the introduction –

body – conclusion format? What could you have done to improve the organization of this speech?

5. Do you feel like you set an appropriate emotional tone and provided adequate

information for an audience of new SBU students? Why or why not? If you feel like the emotional tone could have been strengthened, please explain how.

6. Did you use language that an audience of new SBU students could easily understand?

Was there “jargon” present? What impact did you think your language had on the tone of the speech and your credibility?

7. What have you learned from your impromptu speech? How can you build on this experience and improve before your next speech? Keep in mind for your next speech you will use an outline to plan your talking points.