ESL 113

Impromptu Speeches

by Sheila Lebedenko

teacher notes:

1) need one 50 minutes class period.

2) first 10 minutes discuss impromptu speech, give directions, give task (tasks below. Teacher can also pick cartoons or pictures or art postcards to explain.) and students briefly prepare. don't write speech! prepare 2 minute speech

3) last 40 minutes, each student gives a 2 minute speech. others take notes and prepare for possible listening comp quiz. next class(sample at the end of the document). also use notes to write journal on good and bad impromptu speeches and to evaluate self.

4) Students can ask questions afterwards only to clarify if they don't understand.

5) students can draw quick visual aids during prep to put on overhead camera.

6) Students go in order of number on their task.

7) Students must put away all plans for their own speech while listening to other speeches.

Tasks

(Give one to each student.)

1) Today you will give a 2 minute impromptu (spontaneous) speech. You may jot down notes for yourself on a small piece of paper in the 5 minute preparation period, but you may not write out your speech. Since your classmates will be taking notes and preparing for a quiz about what you say, you should make your speech clear and well-organized. You may start with a one sentence attention-getter and move quickly into the main point. You might preview 2 or 3 of your main points. If you wish, you may draw a quick visual aid for the overhead camera.

Your topic: Capital Punishment (Death Penalty). Should a criminal ever be executed?

Advice: Define capital punishment first. State your position early on. Give reasons. Anticipate the opposing side's argument and refute it.

Homework: Journal #9. What was one of the best and one of the worst impromptu speeches you saw today? Why? Also, evaluate your own performance. 1-2 pages.

2) Today you will give a 2 minute impromptu (spontaneous) speech. You may jot down notes for yourself on a small piece of paper in the 5 minute preparation period, but you may not write out your speech. Since your classmates will be taking notes and preparing for a quiz about what you say, you should make your speech clear and well-organized. You may start with a one sentence attention-getter and move quickly into the main point. You might preview 2 or 3 of your main points. If you wish, you may draw a quick visual aid for the overhead camera.

Your topic: Imagine you are a salesperson. Try to sell the class a bottle of whiteout.

Advice: You need to be very persuasive. Organize your speech according to the main benefits of the product. Also anticipate reasons why someone wouldn't want to buy whiteout and try to refute those reasons.

Homework: Journal #9. What was one of the best and one of the worst impromptu speeches you saw today? Why? Also, evaluate your own performance. 1-2 pages.

3) Today you will give a 2 minute impromptu (spontaneous) speech. You may jot down notes for yourself on a small piece of paper in the 5 minute preparation period, but you may not write out your speech. Since your classmates will be taking notes and preparing for a quiz about what you say, you should make your speech clear and well-organized. You may start with a one sentence attention-getter and move quickly into the main point. You might preview 2 or 3 of your main points. If you wish, you may draw a quick visual aid for the overhead camera.

Your topic: Give a summary and review of the last movie you saw. Critique it.

Advice: State your opinion of the movie in the introduction. Then summarize it. Then organize your critique into a few main points, such as costumes, scenery, and use of suspense, for example. Give examples.

Homework: Journal #9. What was one of the best and one of the worst impromptu speeches you saw today? Why? Also, evaluate your own performance. 1-2 pages.

4) Today you will give a 2 minute impromptu (spontaneous) speech. You may jot down notes for yourself on a small piece of paper in the 5 minute preparation period, but you may not write out your speech. Since your classmates will be taking notes and preparing for a quiz about what you say, you should make your speech clear and well-organized. You may start with a one sentence attention-getter and move quickly into the main point. You might preview 2 or 3 of your main points. If you wish, you may draw a quick visual aid for the overhead camera.

Your topic: Smoking. Should it be prohibited in public places? Why or why not?

Advice: State your position early on. Give reasons. Anticipate the opposing side's argument and refute it.

Homework: Journal #9. What was one of the best and one of the worst impromptu speeches you saw today? Why? Also, evaluate your own performance. 1-2 pages.

5) Today you will give a 2 minute impromptu (spontaneous) speech. You may jot down notes for yourself on a small piece of paper in the 5 minute preparation period, but you may not write out your speech. Since your classmates will be taking notes and preparing for a quiz about what you say, you should make your speech clear and well-organized. You may start with a one sentence attention-getter and move quickly into the main point. You might preview 2 or 3 of your main points. If you wish, you may draw a quick visual aid for the overhead camera.

Your topic: Imagine you have just won the Mr. or Miss Universe pageant, a beauty and talent contest. You need to give a speech on television, expressing how happy you are, saying what the award means to you and thanking everyone.

Homework: Journal #9. What was one of the best and one of the worst impromptu speeches you saw today? Why? Also, evaluate your own performance. 1-2 pages.

6) Today you will give a 2 minute impromptu (spontaneous) speech. You may jot down notes for yourself on a small piece of paper in the 5 minute preparation period, but you may not write out your speech. Since your classmates will be taking notes and preparing for a quiz about what you say, you should make your speech clear and well-organized. You may start with a one sentence attention-getter and move quickly into the main point. You might preview 2 or 3 of your main points. If you wish, you may draw a quick visual aid for the overhead camera.

Your Topic: Animal experimentation. Currently many medical and cosmetic companies test their products on animals, such as rats or monkeys This often leads to severe pain or death for the animals. Should animals be used for experiments? If so, under what conditions?

Advice: First define animal experimentation. State your position early on. Give reasons. Anticipate the opposing side's argument and refute it.

Homework: Journal #9. What was one of the best and one of the worst impromptu speeches you saw today? Why? Also, evaluate your own performance. 1-2 pages.

7) Today you will give a 2 minute impromptu (spontaneous) speech. You may jot down notes for yourself on a small piece of paper in the 5 minute preparation period, but you may not write out your speech. Since your classmates will be taking notes and preparing for a quiz about what you say, you should make your speech clear and well-organized. You may start with a one sentence attention-getter and move quickly into the main point. You might preview 2 or 3 of your main points. If you wish, you may draw a quick visual aid for the overhead camera.

Your topic: Imagine you are an art critic. Interpret the famous painting depicted in the postcard. Use your imagination and explain what the people in the painting are doing and thinking. You could create a narrative of the events that led up to the picture.

Advice: In the Introduction give the name of the painting and the artist. You could give your general impression of the painting in the thesis statement.

Homework: Journal #9. What was one of the best and one of the worst impromptu speeches you saw today? Why? Also, evaluate your own performance. 1-2 pages.

8) Today you will give a 2 minute impromptu (spontaneous) speech. You may jot down notes for yourself on a small piece of paper in the 5 minute preparation period, but you may not write out your speech. Since your classmates will be taking notes and preparing for a quiz about what you say, you should make your speech clear and well-organized. You may start with a one sentence attention-getter and move quickly into the main point. You might preview 2 or 3 of your main points. If you wish, you may draw a quick visual aid for the overhead camera.

Your topic: Is it important to know a second language? Should everyone learn a second language?

Advice: State your position early on. Give reasons. Anticipate the opposing side's argument and refute it.

Homework: Journal #9. What was one of the best and one of the worst impromptu speeches you saw today? Why? Also, evaluate your own performance. 1-2 pages.

9) Today you will give a 2 minute impromptu (spontaneous) speech. You may jot down notes for yourself on a small piece of paper in the 5 minute preparation period, but you may not write out your speech. Since your classmates will be taking notes and preparing for a quiz about what you say, you should make your speech clear and well-organized. You may start with a one sentence attention-getter and move quickly into the main point. You might preview 2 or 3 of your main points. If you wish, you may draw a quick visual aid for the overhead camera.

Your topic: Imagine you are at an interview for your dream job. The interviewer starts the interview by saying, "So tell me about yourself." Answer the question.

Advice: In a job interview, you want to "sell yourself." You must be very persuasive and use every opportunity to demonstrate your good qualities. It is very appropriate and expected for Americans to brag about themselves in a job interview. You might organize your speech according to certain adjectives that describe yourself and supporting them with examples. Or you might give a historical overview of your major accomplishments. You have many options! You need to give an overview of many good things about yourself so that hopefully the interviewer will ask you more questions about some of those things later in the interview. Good luck! Be confident!

Homework: Journal #9. What was one of the best and one of the worst impromptu speeches you saw today? Why? Also, evaluate your own performance. 1-2 pages.

10) Today you will give a 2 minute impromptu (spontaneous) speech. You may jot down notes for yourself on a small piece of paper in the 5 minute preparation period, but you may not write out your speech. Since your classmates will be taking notes and preparing for a quiz about what you say, you should make your speech clear and well-organized. You may start with a one sentence attention-getter and move quickly into the main point. You might preview 2 or 3 of your main points. If you wish, you may draw a quick visual aid for the overhead camera.

Your topic: Euthanasia is the practice of terminating the life of someone suffering with an incurable and usually painful illness. Is it ever justified? If so, when?

Advice: Define Euthanasia in your introduction. State your position early on. Give reasons. Anticipate the opposing side's argument and refute it.

Homework: Journal #9. What was one of the best and one of the worst impromptu speeches you saw today? Why? Also, evaluate your own performance. 1-2 pages.

11) Today you will give a 2 minute impromptu (spontaneous) speech. You may jot down notes for yourself on a small piece of paper in the 5 minute preparation period, but you may not write out your speech. Since your classmates will be taking notes and preparing for a quiz about what you say, you should make your speech clear and well-organized. You may start with a one sentence attention-getter and move quickly into the main point. You might preview 2 or 3 of your main points. If you wish, you may draw a quick visual aid for the overhead camera.

Your topic: Give a detailed physical description of the most beautiful person you have ever seen.

Advice: Your thesis statement could include why you think this person is so beautiful. Try organizing your speech spatially. You might start from the top and work down. Or you might start from the biggest, most obvious features, such as clothing, and work toward the smaller, less obvious features. You could try using analogies (comparisons) to make the description more vivid. ex: Her eyes were like scrumptious chocolate chip cookies.

Homework: Journal #9. What was one of the best and one of the worst impromptu speeches you saw today? Why? Also, evaluate your own performance. 1-2 pages.

12) Today you will give a 2 minute impromptu (spontaneous) speech. You may jot down notes for yourself on a small piece of paper in the 5 minute preparation period, but you may not write out your speech. Since your classmates will be taking notes and preparing for a quiz about what you say, you should make your speech clear and well-organized. You may start with a one sentence attention-getter and move quickly into the main point. You might preview 2 or 3 of your main points. If you wish, you may draw a quick visual aid for the overhead camera.

Your topic: Abortion. Should it be legal?

Advice: Define abortion in your introduction. State your position early on. Give reasons. Anticipate the opposing side's argument and refute it.

Homework: Journal #9. What was one of the best and one of the worst impromptu speeches you saw today? Why? Also, evaluate your own performance. 1-2 pages.

13. Today you will give a 2 minute impromptu (spontaneous) speech. You may jot down notes for yourself on a small piece of paper in the 5 minute preparation period, but you may not write out your speech. Since your classmates will be taking notes and preparing for a quiz about what you say, you should make your speech clear and well-organized. You may start with a one sentence attention-getter and move quickly into the main point. You might preview 2 or 3 of your main points. If you wish, you may draw a quick visual aid for the overhead camera.

Your topic: Imagine the class is having a party and you need to teach the class how to play your favorite card game. Teach them.

Advice: Organize your speech chronologically because this is a process speech. You are describing the process of how to play the game. In your intro, say why the game is interesting and that it's easy to learn. Include the object of the game. In your body, describe the steps. You might say, "First, shuffle the cards, second . . ., Next, Then, Finally"

Homework: Journal #9. What was one of the best and one of the worst impromptu speeches you saw today? Why? Also, evaluate your own performance. 1-2 pages.

14. Today you will give a 2 minute impromptu (spontaneous) speech. You may jot down notes for yourself on a small piece of paper in the 5 minute preparation period, but you may not write out your speech. Since your classmates will be taking notes and preparing for a quiz about what you say, you should make your speech clear and well-organized. You may start with a one sentence attention-getter and move quickly into the main point. You might preview 2 or 3 of your main points. If you wish, you may draw a quick visual aid for the overhead camera.

Your topic: Genetic Cloning (making an exact copy of a person) Should it be allowed?

Advice: Define genetic cloning in your introduction. State your position early on. Give reasons. Anticipate the opposing side's argument and refute it.

Homework: Journal #9. What was one of the best and one of the worst impromptu speeches you saw today? Why? Also, evaluate your own performance. 1-2 pages.

15. Today you will give a 2 minute impromptu (spontaneous) speech. You may jot down notes for yourself on a small piece of paper in the 5 minute preparation period, but you may not write out your speech. Since your classmates will be taking notes and preparing for a quiz about what you say, you should make your speech clear and well-organized. You may start with a one sentence attention-getter and move quickly into the main point. You might preview 2 or 3 of your main points. If you wish, you may draw a quick visual aid for the overhead camera.

Your topic: Compare or Contrast the government of the United States with the government of your home country.

Advice: Use the same organization that you used for your first major writing assignment, comparing some aspect of culture between the U.S. and your country. You may want to state what kind of government each country has and define it. pure democracy? democratic republic? Socialist republic? Monarchy? ?? Or you might talk about some other aspect of government, such as efficiency or size.

Homework: Journal #9. What was one of the best and one of the worst impromptu speeches you saw today? Why? Also, evaluate your own performance. 1-2 pages.

Sample Quiz for next class

Name:_____________________

Listening / Notetaking Quiz

5 minutes Circle the correct letter. 2 points each Open-Note

1. Which of the following is true?

A. Michelle said she thought the bar in the painting she interpreted was located in Korea.

B. Michelle said she thought the painting showed a bar that was very dangerous on the weekends.

C. The painting was called "Night Hunks," and it was painted in 1942.

D. None of the above

2. Which of the following is/are true?

A. Hanae tried to sell you a bottle of glue.

B. The movie Laura reviewed was a historical documentary.

C. During the Miss Universe Pageant, Mie was able to meet many of the participants and learn about their various cultures and talents.

D. Both B and C.

3. Which of the following is false?

A. Mika was interviewing for her first job.

B. Pablo thinks it's important to learn a foreign language because it's important to open your mind to different viewpoints.

C. Timur thinks euthanasia (assisted suicide in the case of terminal illneses) should be forbidden.

D. None of the above.

4. Which of the following is false?

A. Timur made an analogy between physiological pain and psychological pain.

B. Mie, the new Miss Universe, admits that she is very talented.

C. Sheila thinks Clinton should not be impeached.

D. Both A and C

E. Both B and C

5. Which of the following is false?

A. Jungsik made an analogy between humans experimenting on animals and humans experimenting on drug patients.

B. Jungsik thinks animal experimentation, at the expense of the animal's enjoyment of life, is necessary to help humans.

C. Hiro said that some people smoke to relieve stress.

D. None of the above.

Extra Credit (2 points): Summarize either Timur's speech about euthanasia or Jungsik's speech about animal experimentation. Do not summarize your own speech.