Well done! You’re here because you probably have finished the first part of this article where you learned how to craft a well-timed and organized introduction. Let’s see an example:
Sometimes, even when we’re dealt with lies and tricks, we find a way. This was the case for one young woman who grew up with a stepmother who treated her poorly, so much so, that she was close to certain death until she finally escaped. The woman lived for months in hiding with friends. But still, she couldn’t escape. Her kindness nearly became her downfall when she was unknowingly poisoned by what was supposed to be a simple apple. As you know, this young woman is Snow White, and her tale does end as a happy one when the princess wakes up after a true love’s kiss from her Prince Charming. But fairytales such as these do not exist, with innocent people often getting hurt rather than living out their “happily ever after.” This unfortunate belief is exactly what Stephen King described in his quote, “The trust of the innocent is the liar's most useful tool.” He means to say that those with less experience are more likely to trust others, and this is something that will be taken advantage of by bad people. I believe Mr. King’s outlook towards life is overly cynical. It is better for us to be naïve than to live as pessimists. Let’s explore, through these three individuals, why innocence is better for our souls. First, Xiao Bao, the trusting dog who found help. Then, Peter Mellark, the naïve boy who survived the Hunger Games, and finally, J.K. Rowling, the woman who kept hoping and succeeded.
Now you’ve seen an introduction example, in this part of the article, you’ll learn how to manage the body and conclusion of your speech in order to successfully plan the last three and a half minutes.
First, the body. You should have three varied examples, told in the form of stories, each of which is about one minute long, for a total of three minutes. In impromptu, each story should showcase a slightly different angle of your thesis. There are a variety of different genres you can pick from, such as literature, history, or science. Try not to use a personal anecdote for your body paragraphs because this is the opportunity for you to showcase the different types of knowledge you have. There are two important elements to include in every story. One: Weave in key words from your prompt so your audience can be reminded of your topic and stay on track. And two: Include reasons and impact into each story to explain the link to your thesis. Phrases you could use for this can be: “This relates to (X) in that…” or “This is exactly why…” or “This story shows that (X) is important because…”
Lastly, the conclusion. This should take 30 seconds of your speech, about two or three sentences. Here you should remind your audience of both the prompt and your thesis, linking them together as a takeaway for your speech. You should then briefly mention the three stories you’ve introduced and have a final sentence that ties back to the hook. For instance, your conclusion could be:
From Xiao Bao to Peeta Mellark to J.K. Rowling, it is easy to see the importance of staying innocent. Because when we know too much, we become easily jaded by our experiences, like Stephen King is when he said, “The trust of the innocent is the liar's most useful tool.” But living this kind of life is sad and stressful, which is why I believe, it is better for us to be naïve than to live as pessimists.
There you have it! You now know how to organize the introduction, body, and conclusion of your impromptu speech so that you can speak for the full time in an organized manner. It might seem intimidating at first, having only two minutes to prepare a five-minute speech, but with some practice, you’ll become a natural impromptu speaker. And let’s be honest, would you rather speak for five minutes, or have to run a kilometer in five minutes?