Impromptu Speaking Cheat Sheet
by ruthsong via cheatography.com/27810/cs/8145/
START HERE
Define the meaning of your topic
in 3 - 4 words
Competition is necessary
Love conquers all
Practice makes perfect
STEP ONE: CONTENT
What are 1 - 3 main things you
can say about the topic?
Remember Yes, And
Point 1:
Point 2:
Point 3:
Brainstorm! Don't hold anything
back! Sometimes, your intuition is
your best weapon to improvise.
STEP TWO: THE ENDING
What is the inspirational message
you want to end your speech with?
Failure is the mother of success
Accept each other's differences
Friends are important, treasure
them
Each day is important, don't waste
it
Your Message:
You can end with a
Quotation (same one or another
relevant one)
Story (to summarise your speech)
Ask them to DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT
Audiences love positive endings
that call them to action!
By ruthsong
cheatography.com/ruthsong/
STEP THREE: GRAB
ATTENTION
Choose 1 attention grabber to
engage your audience
QUESTION - rhetorical, simple
poll, check for understanding
QUOTATION - Use the quotation
given or another relevant quotation
PROP - choose something that
can symbolise the meaning of your
topic
ANECDOTE - a quick 2 -3 line
story to set the context
STATISTICS - to shock or
demystify a topic
Asking a question is easy, but
creativity counts! Make your
beginning POP! Your audience will
be eager to hear more from you.
STEP FOUR: FRAMEWORK
Does your speech follow any of
these frameworks?
PREP - POSITION, REASON,
EXAMPLE, POSITION
PSC - POINT, SUPPORT,
CONCLUSION
PPF - PAST PRESENT FUTURE
PROS & CONS
DEFINING WHAT SOMETHING IS
NOT, TO DEFINE WHAT IT IS
BEFORE / AFTER
SITUATION (PROBLEM), ACTION
TAKEN, RESULT GAINED
Frameworks help your speech to
be clearer. Audiences LOVE an
easy to follow speech! It takes
more time to listen and understand
so give them time for the message
to sink in.
Published 8th May, 2016.
Last updated 8th May, 2016.
Page 1 of 1.
IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY BE MINDFUL OF (cont)
QUOTATION - Who is the author? PITCH / TONE - varied and not
What is/was he/she famous for? monotone
Why would he/she say such a CREATIVITY - with your content
quote?
ENTHUSIASM - do you look like
How does the quote relate to your
you LIKE what you're saying?
life?
POLITICS / BUSINESS - Can you
RELAXING STRATEGIES
link the topic to a similar
DEEP BREATHING - Suck in air
situation(s) that happened in your
family / CCA / with friends? through your nose and exhale
through your mouth
SOCIAL / CURRENT - Imagine
TENSE AND RELEASE - Make
that you are involved in the
your entire body tense up and
situation mentioned, what would
you do? What would it mean for slowly release
you and your future? PREPARE OUTSIDE - step outside
before your turn to quiet down and
WHEN YOU GET UP ONSTAGE clear distracting thoughts
1. Start with an attention grabber
2. State what your topic is
3. State your first point
3a. Support with evidence (story,
statistics, interesting facts)
4. Repeat 3/3a if you need to
extend the time
5. Start your ending (at least by the
yellow card)
6. Say "Thank You" and leave the
stage
BE MINDFUL OF
APPEARANCE - polished,
professional, neat
EYE CONTACT - at least 75% on
someone in the audience
VOLUME - loud enough for the
back to hear
MOVEMENT - open gestures, not
fidgety or distracting
FACIAL EXPRESSIONS - varied
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