Impromptu speaking is a speech that a person delivers without predetermination or preparation. The speaker is most commonly provided with their topic in the form of a quotation, but the topic may also be presented as an object, proverb, one-word abstract, or one of the many alternative possibilities. While specific rules and norms vary with the organization and level of competition, the speeches tend to follow basic speech format and cover topics that are both humorous and profound.
Collegiate impromptu speaking
Impromptu speaking is an individual event offered and regulated by both the National Forensic Association (NFA) and the American Forensics Association (AFA), both of whom follow nearly identical formats in proctoring the event. Both organizations provide seven minutes of time to be allocated between speaking and preparation as the speaker sees fit, allow minimal notes (usually a 3"x5" index card) to be used, and provide undisclosed prompts to determine the speech's topic.
While the competitor's success and ranking is ultimately determined by the judge's decision, there are several general criteria that many competitors and judges adhere to: Experienced speakers are generally expected to avoid exceeding two minutes of preparation time, with some speakers preferring to use only one minute or less. The speaker is to create an interpretation of the prompt and use it to establish an argument/thesis that the speech will support. The speaker is heavily encouraged to use examples (e.g. historical events) in the "body" of their speech to support their argument. Advanced speakers often use theories in conjunction with examples that illustrate them. As with any competitive speech, the speaker is expected to offer a clear and defined structure in their speech. Competitors are advised to avoid giving pre-prepared, or "canned" impromptu speeches.
Neither the AFA nor NFA regulate specific speech formats to be used by competitors, however there are two formats that are predominantly used:
Two point format:
I. Introduction (Attention getter, interpretation of prompt, argument/thesis) II. First main point A. Supporting example B. Supporting example III. Second main point A. Supporting example B. Supporting example IV. Conclusion
Three point format:
I. Introduction II. First main point A. Supporting example III. Second main point A. Supporting example IV. Third main point A. Supporting example V. Conclusion
Editorial impromptu
In 2008, the National Forensic Association introduced a new form of impromptu competition. In this experimental event, students were given a short editorial (ideally 3 to 5 paragraphs) to which they developed a response. Students were allowed nine minutes to divide between preparation and speaking. Speakers were required to speak for at least five minutes. Limited notes, prepared in the round, were permitted. The speech was intended to involve the development of an argument in response to the thesis or opinion shared in a given editorial. The event was offered at the National Championship Tournament only twice. Stan Polit from Northwestern University was the 2009 champion and Joshua Hiew from Northwestern University was the 2011 champion.
High school competitions Typically in high school speech competitions, a competitor is given 30 seconds to select a topic from a set of topics (usually three). The competitor will then have 5 minutes to compose a speech of five minutes with a 30-second grace period. There is a general outline for impromptu speeches, it is as follows:
Introduction/roadmap (1 minute) First section (1 minute) Second section (1 minute) Third section (1 minute) Conclusion (1 minute)
The introduction begins with an attention-getter, the statement of the topic and an outline of the speech. The conclusion is usually like the introduction except backwards, ending with a profound statement, although a lighthearted ending is also accepted. For the three body points, there are many kinds of formats that can be used. For example, if the topic is a quote, a competitor may go over how the quote is true, how the quote is false, and why he or she believes what he or she believes. Other examples are: past, present, future; local, national, international. More advanced speakers will use formats that look deeper into a subject such as: physical, moral, intellectual; books, video, digital (media).
However, many speakers choose not to follow a format at all. That being said, most beginners who fail to follow a solid format often find themselves lost in a jumble of ideas.
Judging usually involves one judge in the preliminary round, one to three judges in the semi-finals/qualifying round, and a panel of three judges in the finals round. Judges look for overall coherency, impact, and confidence, and usually overlook basal errors due to the short preparation time.
Past champions in impromptu speaking
Past AFA Champions
Year Competitor Academic Institution 1979 Dwight Rabuse Macalester College 1980 Camille Bammes University of New Mexico 1981 Andy Heaton Bradley University 1982 Kate Joeckel University of Nebraska–Lincoln 1983 Bart Coleman Concordia College 1984 Dave Fowler George Mason University 1985 Bucky Fay University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 1986 Debra Williams Gonzaga University 1987 David Bickford Brown University 1988 Cam Jones Cornell University 1989 Cort Sylvester Concordia College 1990 Michael Jacoby Bradley University 1991 Randy Cox University of Texas at Austin 1992 Joe Kennedy George Mason University 1993 Mark Price University of Colorado Boulder 1994 Joe Kennedy George Mason University 1995 Eric Wolff Concordia College 1996 Kurtis McCathern Rice University 1997 Chris Grove Illinois State University 1998 Amir Brown Rice University 1999 Julie Bolcer Seton Hall University 2000 Chris McLemore Kansas State University 2001 Bryan Gray University of Texas at Austin 2002 Rob Barnhart Ohio University 2003 Rob Barnhart Ohio University 2004 Jackson Hataway University of Alabama 2005 Stephanie Cagniart University of Texas at Austin 2006 Stephanie Cagniart University of Texas at Austin 2007 Jill Collum University of Texas at Austin 2008 Saeed Jones Western Kentucky University 2009 Jessica Furgerson Western Kentucky University 2010 Dan Glaser Ohio University 2011 Omar Orme Eastern Michigan University 2012 Dexter Strong University of Alabama 2013 Harrison Postler University of Northern Iowa 2014 Andrew Neylon Ball State University 2015 James Qian Arizona State University 2016 Nathan Leys George Mason University 2017 Lily Nellans Western Kentucky University 2018 Suchinder Kalyan University of Texas at Austin 2019 Nathan Dowell Kansas State University 2021 Rahmane Dixon Western Kentucky University 2022 Anna Kutbay University of Alabama 2023 Gustavo Lanz George Mason University 2024 Margot Treadwell Cornell University 2025 Ishika Bhasin University of Texas at Austin 2026 Ishika Bhasin University of Texas at Austin
Past NFA Champions
Year Competitor Academic Institution 1971 Lisa Uhrig Ball State University 1972 Michael Muth Ohio University 1973 Jerry Bluhm Eastern Michigan University 1974 Alberto Coll Princeton University 1975 Jan Marrow California State University 1976 Alberto Coll Princeton University 1977 Butch Maltby Wheaton College (Illinois) 1978 William Allen Young University of Southern California 1979 George Denger Eastern Michigan University 1980 Justin Hughes Oberlin College 1981 Mary Foersch University of Virginia 1982 Tom McCarthy Bradley University 1983 Sam Marcosson Bradley University 1984 David Alabach Bradley University 1985 Michell Patrick La Salle University 1986 Mitchell Fay University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 1987 Scott Wilson University of Minnesota Twin Cities 1988 Cam Jones Cornell University 1989 Cam Jones Cornell University 1990 Ed Wisniowski Illinois State University 1991 Nick Fynn Ohio University 1992 Ronnie Stewart Bradley University 1993 Eric Martin Bradley University 1994 Kevin Minch Wayne State University 1995 Jeff Archibald Cornell University 1996 Paul Higday University of Pennsylvania 1997 Mike Thompson Miami University 1998 Chris Kristofco St. Joseph's University 1999 Chris Kristofco St. Joseph's University 2000 Nathan Mather Northwestern University 2001 Bryan McCann Ohio University 2002 Rob Barnhart Ohio University 2003 Rob Barnhart Ohio University 2004 Allison Rank Miami University 2005 A.J. Moorehead Arizona State University 2006 Saeed Jones Western Kentucky University 2007 Joelle Perry Western Kentucky University 2008 Jessica Furgerson Western Kentucky University 2009 Merry Regan University of Texas at Austin 2010 Todd Rainey Western Kentucky University 2011 Shira DeCovnick Northwestern University 2012 Joshua Hiew Northwestern University 2013 Andrew Neylon Ball State University 2014 Patrick Seick Eastern Michigan University 2015 Paige Settles Western Kentucky University 2016 Jerome Gregory Bradley University 2017 Kohinoor Gill Arizona State University 2018 Annie Schuver Bradley University 2019 Jordan Auzenne University of Texas at Austin 2021 Jacob Thompson George Mason University 2022 Aaron Lutz Lewis & Clark College 2023 Gursimrat Dahry University of Minnesota Twin Cities 2024 David Jacobson University of Minnesota Twin Cities 2025 Gursimrat Dahry University of Minnesota Twin Cities 2026 Gursimrat Dahry University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 tournament was canceled. However, the NFA permitted competitors in their senior year to submit recordings of their speeches for an asynchronous competition. The top performing student in each category was ranked as the Performance of Highest Distinction. The Performance of Highest Distinction in Impromptu Speaking was awarded to Andrew Yohanan from Bradley University.
Past NSDA Champions